A perfectly balanced Lemon Tart Recipe - not too tart and not too sweet. I use whole lemons, sans the seeds, in this recipe so the powerful flavor of the zest shines through in the tart. The recipe produces a classic lemon tart and does not require making a curd for the filling.
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What you will love about this recipe
This lemony tart is great anytime of the year but I especially like it during the spring and summer months. I am a fan of anything lemon with fresh, seasonal berries - so when serving consider some raspberries or strawberries to add to the dessert plates.
Recipe tips
- Bake the tart in a sweet dough recipe (aka Pate Sucree) but you can use any recipe you like or a store-bought crust. The tart shell does not need to be par-baked.
- Just a few ingredients are needed to make the filling for this pie: one lemon, granulated sugar, an egg and an egg yolk, cornstarch and melted butter.
- One medium-sized lemon is needed for the recipe. Wash the lemon, slice thinly and remove any seeds. Add the lemon slices and the granulated sugar to a food processor and puree well. Pour into a bowl.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the lemon/sugar puree in the following order, whisking between each addition:
- One egg and one egg yolk (save the egg white to add to your next omelet!).
- Cornstarch
- Melted and slightly cooled butter
- Pour filling into the pie shell and bake at 350° F for 35 to 40 minutes. The top of the pie will be a light brown and bubbling.
- Cool the tart completely before serving. The tart is best served the day it is made.
Please check out my easy Key Lime Pie recipe if you are a citrus lover - another refreshing pie!
I hope you enjoy this lemon tart recipe as much as my family and friends do!
📋 Recipe
Lemon Tart Recipe
Equipment
- Food Processor
- 9" Tart Pan with removeable bottom
- Bowls, measuring cups and spoons
- Hand whisk
Ingredients
- 9" Tart Pan with Sweet Dough our pie dough recipe works well with this dessert
- 1 Medium Lemon Washed, do not peel
- 1 ¼ Cups Granulated Sugar
- 1 Large Egg room temperature
- 1 Large Egg Yolk room temperature
- 2 Tablespoon Cornstarch
- ½ Cup Butter melted and cooled slightly
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉ (180℃)
- Slice lemon thinly - do not peel the lemon Remove seeds.1 Medium Lemon
- Placed lemon slices and granulated sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Blend until thoroughly processed. Scrape side of food processor bowl as needed.1 ¼ Cups Granulated Sugar
- Place lemon/sugar mixture in a bowl.
- Add egg yolk and egg. Whisk until well combined.1 Large Egg, 1 Large Egg Yolk
- Add cornstarch and whisk until combined.2 Tablespoon Cornstarch
- Add melted butter and whisk until combined.9" Tart Pan with Sweet Dough
- Pour filling into unbaked pie shell.½ Cup Butter
- Bake for 35 - 40 minutes. The top of the pie will be a light brown and bubbling.
- Cool completely on a rack before serving.
Ben says
This is the best lemon baked good I've ever made. I loved that it was fairly easy to make, and it was absolutely delicoius.
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed this for dessert last night and it was a sweet success! Turned out easy, smooth and delicious; definitely, a new favorite recipe!
Jill says
I've never made a recipe using the whole lemon before so I was intrigued. Turned out so delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Nicolle Spohn says
Always LOVE your recipes and they are always super easy to follow too! And yes, tasty!!!!
Marilyn says
This lemon pie recipe worked well for me. I made another recipe several days ago and it was too sour. This one is tangy with the right amount of sweetness.
Jayleen K says
Super simple recipe! Lemony but not too tart.
Christine says
Such a classic recipe! Thanks for sharing
HannaB says
Oh my - this is so good. I served it with a side of berries and sweet whipped cream. I need to get a tart pan - so I used a big pie tin.
JoLynn says
The perfect amount of lemon in this tart. At first I thought just one lemon wasn't going to be enough.