10+ Tart Recipes You’ll Love for Every Occasion
Tart recipes are a fun way to bring together sweet and savory flavors in one dish. Whether you’re craving a light dessert or something more filling, tarts cover a lot of ground.
You can play with all sorts of fillings and crusts, so it’s easy to match your mood or the occasion.
Making your own tart means you get to pick the ingredients and tweak things the way you like. From juicy fruit to melty cheeses, there’s no shortage of options.
Tarts can turn out simple, or you can dress them up and go all out.
1) Chocolate Pecan Caramel Tart
This tart brings together chocolate, caramel, and crunchy pecans. The buttery pecan crust holds a silky chocolate ganache and caramel sauce.
It’s a top pick for special treats or when you’re feeling generous with friends.
The salty-sweet combo and creamy texture just work. If you want, add a dollop of whipped cream for a lighter finish.
Making it takes a little patience, but honestly, it pays off.
You can pick a graham cracker or pecan crust for more crunch. The filling is all about melted chocolate and heavy cream for a thick ganache.
Drizzle warm caramel over the top for that sticky, dreamy finish.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups pecans (for crust)
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 6 oz chocolate, chopped
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup caramel sauce
- Whipped cream for topping (optional)
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix pecans, graham cracker crumbs, and butter, then press into a tart pan.
- Bake the crust for 10 minutes and let it cool.
- Heat cream, pour over chocolate, and stir until smooth.
- Pour ganache into the crust and chill until firm.
- Drizzle caramel over the top before serving.
- Add whipped cream if you’re feeling it.
For more details, check this Chocolate Caramel Pecan Tart recipe.
2) Raspberry Mascarpone Tarte Tropezienne
Here’s a tart that’s both simple and a little fancy. The soft brioche base holds a creamy mascarpone filling, and the fresh raspberries add just the right amount of tartness.
The mascarpone makes every bite smooth and rich. Brioche keeps things light and fluffy.
If you want to try a French dessert without too much fuss, this one’s for you.
You can serve it as dessert or even as a dressed-up snack. It doesn’t need a ton of special ingredients, but the payoff is big.
Ingredients:
- Brioche dough or pre-made brioche
- Mascarpone cheese
- Fresh raspberries
- Sugar
- Vanilla extract
Cooking Instructions:
- Prepare or buy brioche and bake it.
- Mix mascarpone with sugar and vanilla until smooth.
- Let the brioche cool, then slice it in half.
- Spread mascarpone filling over the bottom half.
- Top with fresh raspberries.
- Place the other brioche half on top.
- Chill for at least an hour before serving.
Learn more about this recipe at Raspberry Mascarpone Tarte Tropezienne.
3) Caramelized Onion & Butternut Squash Tart
This tart is all about sweet caramelized onions and roasted butternut squash. The creamy cheese filling—usually Gruyère and crème fraîche—brings in even more flavor.
Start by rolling out a flaky dough and pressing it into your tart pan. Layer on the roasted squash and onions, then bake until golden and bubbling.
It works well as a vegetarian main or a side. If you’re after something cozy but not too heavy, this is a solid choice.
Ingredients
- Tart dough
- 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded
- ½ cup crème fraîche
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Toss squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roast until tender.
- Cook onions slowly in a pan until caramelized.
- Roll out dough and fit into a tart pan, then freeze for 15 minutes.
- Line shell with foil and pie weights, bake 15 minutes.
- Remove weights, add onions and squash to the shell.
- Mix Gruyère and crème fraîche, then spread over veggies.
- Bake 20-25 minutes until the crust is golden and the filling is set.
4) Potato, Egg, Kale & Manchego Tart
Here’s a tart that works for breakfast, lunch, or whenever. It’s got tender potatoes, fresh kale, and manchego cheese, all held together with eggs.
The potatoes are soft, the kale adds a leafy bite, and manchego melts in for a nutty flavor. You can use a crust or skip it if you want something lighter.
Eggs and a splash of milk help bind everything together. The flavors just click, and it looks pretty nice on the table too.
Ingredients
- 3 medium red potatoes
- 1 leek, thinly sliced
- 1 bunch lacinato kale, roughly torn
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil
- 1 cup grated manchego cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Boil potatoes until tender, then slice thin.
- Sauté leek and kale in oil until soft.
- Whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together.
- Layer potatoes, leek, kale, and manchego in a tart pan.
- Pour egg mixture over the top.
- Bake 30-35 minutes, or until set and golden.
You can find a detailed recipe for the Potato, Egg, Kale & Manchego Tart here.
5) Savory Plum Tart
Savory plum tart is a bit unexpected, but it’s honestly delicious. The crust is buttery and flaky, and the tangy plums really pop.
Try adding goat cheese or mascarpone for a creamy balance to the fruit. You might layer in some sweet onions or a spiced plum jam for more depth.
This tart works as a summer appetizer or a light meal. Even if you’re new to baking, you’ll find it pretty straightforward.
Bake it at 375°F (190°C) until the crust turns golden, about 40-45 minutes.
Ingredients
- Tart crust dough
- Plums, sliced
- Goat cheese or mascarpone
- Sweet onions (optional)
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Roll out crust and lay it on a baking tray.
- Spread cheese over the crust.
- Arrange plum slices on top.
- Add onions if you like, then drizzle with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Bake 40-45 minutes until golden.
- Cool a bit before serving.
6) Ham, Gruyère & Thyme Tart
This tart mixes salty ham, nutty Gruyère, and fresh thyme. It’s easy to make but feels a little fancy, whether you’re having guests or just want a comforting meal.
Start with a crisp pastry base. Add ham chunks, sprinkle on Gruyère, and toss thyme leaves over everything.
Pour a creamy egg and cream mixture on top, then bake at 375°F (190°C) until golden and set.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- 150g cooked ham, chopped
- 100g Gruyère cheese, grated
- 2 eggs
- 100ml cream
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Roll out pastry and fit it into a tart pan.
- Spread ham on the base.
- Sprinkle Gruyère and thyme over the ham.
- Beat eggs with cream, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the mixture into the tart.
- Bake 25-30 minutes until golden.
- Let it cool a bit before serving.
7) Lemon Blueberry Tart with Shortbread Crust
This tart is all about zesty lemon and sweet blueberries. The crust is a buttery shortbread that bakes up perfectly at 350°F (177°C).
The lemon filling is creamy but not too heavy. Pour it onto the warm crust so it sets just right.
Add blueberries on top for a juicy, tangy finish. You can make this tart a day ahead—just bake, cool, and chill before serving.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ¾ cup butter, softened
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup sugar (for filling)
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Mix flour, sugar, and butter for the shortbread dough.
- Press dough into a tart pan and bake 15-20 minutes until golden.
- Whisk eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and zest for the filling.
- Pour filling onto the warm crust and bake 20 minutes more.
- Cool completely, then top with blueberries.
- Chill at least two hours before serving.
8) Fresh Fruit Tart with Pastry Cream
A fresh fruit tart with pastry cream is a classic way to show off seasonal fruit. Start with a crisp tart shell and fill it with smooth, creamy pastry cream.
Pick your favorite fruits—berries, kiwi, peaches, whatever looks good. Arrange them on top in any pattern you like.
Chill the tart before serving so the cream sets. Making both the crust and the cream takes a little time, but if you’re in the mood to fuss a bit, it’s a rewarding dessert.
You can find a detailed recipe for this kind of tart with pastry cream here.
Ingredients
- Tart shell (pre-baked)
- 2 cups milk
- 4 egg yolks
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Fresh fruit (berries, kiwi, etc.)
Cooking Instructions
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Heat the milk in a saucepan until it’s hot, but don’t let it boil.
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In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch.
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Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking all the time so you don’t end up with scrambled eggs.
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Pour everything back into the pan and cook over medium heat, stirring, until the mixture thickens.
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Take it off the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla.
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Let the pastry cream cool down completely.
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Fill your pre-baked tart shell with the cooled pastry cream.
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Add fresh fruit on top—whatever you like or have on hand.
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Chill the tart in the fridge before serving.
9) Easy Cream Cheese and Sour Cream Fruit Tart
If you’re after a dessert that’s easy and looks impressive, this fruit tart with cream cheese and sour cream filling is a solid choice. The filling turns out creamy and cool, and it pairs so well with fresh fruit.
Mix softened cream cheese and sour cream with powdered sugar and some vanilla. You’ll get a sweet, smooth filling that’s hard to resist.
Spread that mixture onto a cooled crust. Then, just pile on your favorite fruits—berries, kiwi, whatever’s in the fridge.
Let the tart chill in the fridge for a couple hours. It’ll slice up nicely when you’re ready to serve.
Ingredients:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- Fresh fruit for topping
- 1 prepared tart crust
Cooking Instructions:
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Beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until you’ve got a smooth filling.
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Spread the filling onto your cooled tart crust.
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Arrange the fresh fruit on top however you like.
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Put the tart in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.
You can check out more tips at Easy Fruit Tart Recipe.
10) Simple Vanilla Custard and Fruit Tart
This tart is all about a creamy vanilla custard and whatever fruit you’re craving. Start with a basic tart crust that stays crisp, even after chilling.
Make the custard and pour it into the crust. Top it with berries, apples, or pears—honestly, it’s hard to go wrong.
You can store this in the fridge for a few days, so leftovers aren’t a problem. If you want, try making mini tarts in muffin tins for something cute and snackable.
Ingredients
- Tart crust (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 cups milk
- 3 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Fresh fruit (berries, apples, pears, etc.)
Cooking Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the tart crust until it turns golden brown.
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Heat the milk in a saucepan. Don’t let it boil—just get it nice and warm.
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In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch.
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Gradually pour the warm milk into the egg mixture. Whisk the whole time so nothing scrambles.
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Pour everything back into the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until it thickens up.
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Take it off the heat and mix in the vanilla extract.
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Pour the custard into your cooled tart crust.
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Arrange fresh fruit on top however you like.
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Pop the tart in the fridge and chill it for at least 2 hours before serving. Trust me, it’s worth the wait.
For more inspiration, you might want to check out this vanilla custard fresh fruit tart recipe.