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Grapefruit Tart

This Grapefruit tart is made from a Tender, buttery crust filled with vibrant grapefruit and lemon curd. It is topped with clouds of hand-whipped cream.  Bake this sunny tart to chase away those winter blues as we await spring's arrival!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Resting Time4 hours
Total Time5 hours 10 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: fruit tart, grapefruit tart
Servings: 12

Ingredients

Grapefruit Lemon Tart

  • 3 whole eggs
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoon fresh grapefruit juice
  • 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 4 tablespoon unsalted butter diced and softened
  • par baked tart shell

Sweet Pastry Dough

  • 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup confectioner's sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 9 tablespoon unsalted butter diced and chilled
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 to 2 tablespoon ice cold water

Whipped Cream

  • ¾ cup heavy whipping cream chilled
  • 1 to 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 splash vanilla extract

Instructions

Grapefruit Lemon Tart

  • Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a medium saucepan, whisk together the eggs, yolks, sugar, and salt.  Stir in the grapefruit and lemon juice.  Place the butter in a heat-safe dish or large glass measuring cup and set aside.
  • Place the saucepan over medium heat.  Stir constantly but slowly until the mixture thickens and registers 170 degrees (about 8 to 10 minutes).   Do not let the mixture come to a boil or it will curdle.
  • Once hot and thick strain the curd with a mesh sieve over the butter.  Stir until combined.Pour the citrus curd into the partially baked crust.  Bake until the edges of the curd puff up but the center still wiggles when you move the pan (about 20 minutes).  Cool at room temperature for about 20 minutes before refrigerating.  Allow the tart to set in refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight before slicing.  Top with whipped cream, if desired. 

Sweet Pastry Dough

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt.  Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut in the butter until the bits of butter are about the size of a pea.  Stir in the egg yolk.
  • Working with only a teaspoon or two at a time, gradually add just enough water so that when you press the dough together it stay intact. The dough should still be shaggy and crumbly when done.  Do not at too much water.
  • Press the dough into a 9-inch tart pan.  Start by pressing the dough up the sides as evenly as possible, then fill in the bottom.  Reserve a bit of the dough to repair any cracks that may occur during baking.  Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes as you pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees.
  • Once chilled, line the tart pan with foil, shinny-side down.  Fill with pie weights or dry beans and bake for 20 minutes.  Remove the tart pan from the oven and very carefully take out the weights and foil.  At this point, patch up any minor craks with the reserved dough.
  • Return the tart back to the oven for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until the crust is light golden brown.  If the center puffs up during baking, gently press is back down with a piece of foil or parchment paper.
  • Resume recipe for the Grapefruit Lemon Tart, or cool completely before wrapping in plastic.  The tart shell may be stored wrapped well in the refrigerator for a couple of days or frozen in the freezer for a few months.

Whipped Cream

  • By hand of with an electric mixer, whip the cream until it begins to thicken.
  • Add the sugar and whip until soft peaks.  
  • Add the vanilla and whip until medium/firm peaks.
  • By hand, this will take about 3 to 5 minutes.  Do not over-mix.