Forget about fussing with piecrust, pastry cream or gelatin, this gorgeous gluten free berry tart looks impressive, tastes even better, and couldn’t be easier to make! In other words, it’s the perfect summertime dessert. [Video below!]
Easy berry tart
This gluten free berry tart is the best kind of nostalgia. In high school I experimented with pies, crisps and crumbles, but it wasn’t until college that I made my first tart. It was a simple affair of graham crackers, cream cheese and strawberries, but man did I glow as I slid that tart out of its ring (it held together!) and served the glistening dessert to my friends.
Gluten free berry tart
This beauty takes me right back to those days, but it tastes way better than the original. It's an updated gluten free berry tart that's sophisticated but easy. There's no gelatin, no pastry cream, not even pastry dough (in other words, nothing I later learned in culinary school). This is old-school baking at its very best.
Gluten free almond tart crust
I kept the graham cracker crust (using gluten-free graham crackers), because there’s no easier tart crust on the planet (and seriously, it’s hard to beat), but I added in cinnamon and almonds for flavor and texture.
Cream cheese tart filling
The filling is made with softened cream cheese and crème fraiche, which creates a lighter, creamier texture. Fresh vanilla bean seeds (or you can use vanilla paste or extract) and almond extract give it an irresistible flavor.
How to make a gluten free fruit tart
You can use any fresh berries you like for the topping, although I love strawberries and blueberries. You can watch how I make the red, white and blue firecracker design in the video below (it's perfect for the Fourth of July!). Brushing a bit of apricot jam over the berries makes them glisten just like a fancy French tarte aux fruits.
While it might look awfully refined, this gluten free berry tart pure is nostalgia at heart. It's the perfect dessert for potlucks and parties, but it's easy enough to throw together as as a special mid-week treat.
FAQs
Fresh berries work best in fruit tarts, as they don't give off too much liquid (think strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and/or blackberries). Pitted cherries and kiwis are also delicious! Avoid peaches and nectarines, which are too juicy and will brown.
If you don't have a tart pan you can use a 9-inch pie plate! Press the crust about halfway up the sides of the plate.
For a super easy gluten free tart crust, use gluten free graham crackers. Grind them in a food processor with melted butter and sugar (I also add almonds and cinnamon for more flavor).
Here’s what you’ll need for the tart recipe:
- A 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom makes for a pretty presentation, and I love how easy it is to slide the tart out of the ring.
- A small off-set spatula makes it easy to spread the cream cheese into the crust. It’s also a great tool for getting muffins out of tins, frosting muffins and cakes, and spreading Nutella on toast (enough said).
- A long, thin utility knife is my tool of choice for slicing the tart. It’s a great everyday knife to have on hand. I call it my “lunch knife” because it’s what I pull out at lunchtime to slice up tomatoes for sandwiches or vegetables for salads.
- A thin pie server takes the stress out of getting perfect slices. You can also simply use a large off-set spatula.
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Easy Gluten Free Berry Tart
Ingredients
For the crust:
- ⅔ cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs, gluten-free or regular
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 4 tablespoons melted butter, cooled slightly
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the filling:
- ½ vanilla bean (or ½ teaspoon vanilla paste or extract)
- ⅔ cup (about 5 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- ¼ cup sugar
- Pinch salt
- ⅓ cup crème fraiche
- 1 ½ quarts strawberries, hulled and halved
- 1 cup blueberries
- 2 tablespoons apricot jam
Instructions
For the crust:
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
- Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and toast, stirring once or twice, until light golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Let cool (keep the oven on). Transfer the nuts to the food processor, and process until finely ground. Transfer to a bowl. Add the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, butter and cinnamon, and stir to combine.
- Spray a 9-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom with cooking spray. Press the crust into the bottom and ¾-inch up the sides of the pan. Bake until lightly browned, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool (you can pop it in the fridge to cool it faster).
For the filling:
- Cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds using the back of a small knife. Add the vanilla seeds to the cream cheese along with the almond extract, and beat until smooth. Add the sugar and salt, and beat again until the sugar is dissolved. Add the crème fraiche and beat until creamy and smooth.
- Scrape the filling into the tart shell and spread in an even layer.
- Arrange the strawberries and blueberries over top (you can watch how I do it in the video above!).
- Thin the apricot jam with about 1 teaspoon of water and heat on the stovetop or microwave until runny. Carefully brush the glaze over the fruit on the tart (try not to get it on the filling). Refrigerate the tart until ready to serve.
Notes
- To make the graham cracker crumbs, simply blitz graham crackers (regular or gluten-free) in a food processor until finely ground.
- The crust can be made up to 1 day in advance. Cover and store it at room temperature. The finished tart is best the day it's made, but it can be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 day.
- The tart can also be made in an 8-inch square pan or 9-inch pie plate.
- A vanilla bean is a bit of an extravagance, but the flavor is unparalleled, especially in a dessert as simple as this one. However, you can go for vanilla paste or extract instead!
- You can use any berries you like to decorate the top. If using strawberries, try to buy ones that are evenly sized. Also, make sure the berries are completely dry before arranging them on the tart.
- While I usually include weight measurements in my recipes, this recipe is so simple that I didn’t even add them (you can literally eyeball everything and it will be okay!).
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