Blueberry Tart 2.2

I have made this tart many times. This time I used a simple, sweet, press in, gf pie crust. It adds a bit of sweetness and is super easy; no rolling out the pie dough. In the past I always had leftover filling that I baked in a separate pan. This version endeavors to end that practice; I reduced the volume to make just enough to fill the tart pan, success!

Notes; you can leave out the lemon ingredients if you don’t want that flavor. I use King Arthur’s basic gf flour blend when I make a homemade crust, the one that is just flours, no xanthan in it. I used blueberries but I am sure you could make this with raspberries or a mixture of the two.

The ricotta adds a delicate texture and crumb. These were definitely end of season blueberries but tasty none the less. I used a little of the rind and juice of a lemon but even better is the Meyer lemon which has a delicate flavor compared to regular lemons. Do let the ricotta cheese and eggs warm up to room temp before using them, always good advice with gf baking.

Ricotta Blueberry Tart

Cookie crust:

1 cup brown rice blend; King Arthur Basic GF Blend

1 tsp. xanthan gum

¼ cup sugar

5 Tbsp. cold butter cut into 10 pieces

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix the dry ingredients in stand mixer bowl.  Add the butter, mix until fine like sand.  Add extract. Blend briefly.  Spray pan with cooking spray.  Sprinkle in the mixture into the pan and spread evenly. Press lightly in with your hands. DO not press too hard or it becomes way too firm.

Or, roll out that premade pie crust and fit into your pan; trim off extra crust. Fill.

Filling:

1 cup ricotta cheese, whole milk is best but any will do.

2 lg eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

½ tsp. lemon extract

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. lemon rind grated

1 Tbsp. plus 1 Tsp. tapioca starch or corn starch

Pinch sea salt

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 350 degrees/ Mix ricotta with eggs in the mixer bowl you just made the crust in and then add the rest of ingredients except the blueberries.  Carefully pour into the tart crust. Top with the berries.

Bake tart 40-45 min at 350 degrees. It should be fairly firm in the center.  Let cool before slicing.  You can sprinkle it with powdered sugar if desired. I am always so eager to try it I totally forget to do this! Enjoy.

GF Flour blend (if you want to make it yourself)

2 cups brown rice flour

2/3 cup potato starch

1/3 cup tapioca starch

Blueberry Tart 2.0; Cookie Crust

A press in cookie crust made in stand mixer is a great option if you are in a hurry or are not good at rolling out pie crust. Bonus: it is delicious! Perfect fit in my blueberry tart, with almond crumble topping.  It was tender and held together well. It was not soggy. Best eaten within 24 hours if humid and hot.  Have to say it was still rather tricky to get out of my oven due to my cast and the inability to lift much with my right hand. I did the almonds but honestly, I think next time I’m ditching them, just wanna taste the blueberries! It was delish as made but I want simpler next tart/pie. I did freeze a slice for Joe who wasn’t around to enjoy any.

blueberry tart with cookie crust unbaked

Before baking – sorry for rough quality, blame my freaking cast!

Make sure you wash the blueberries and pick out any bad ones, buy top quality, matters always. I really didn’t miss the rolled-out crust; this simple press in crumb recipe by Annalise Roberts is the very best crust for one handers! Hah!

blueberry tart baked, cookie crust

Blueberry Tart with Cookie Crust

 

Ingredients:

CRUST:

1 cup gf flour (King Arthur basic gf blend)

¼ cup sugar

1 tsp. xanthan gum

¼ tsp. cinnamon, optional

5  Tbsp. cold butter

FILLING:

3 1/2 cups blueberries

2 Tbsp. Instant Tapioca

1/3 c sugar

¼ tsp. cinnamon

1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

CRUMBLE:

3/4 cup gf flour

5 Tbsp. butter

1/2 cup sugar

¼ tsp. cinnamon

1/3 cup sliced almonds (optional)

DIRECTIONS: Make crust in stand mixer; put dry ingredients in, add butter and mix on medium until crumbly. Spray 9 inch tart pan with cooking spray and press in crust, heat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix filling in medium bowl; dump everything in and let stand while you make crumbs. Standing helps the tapioca dissolve. Pour into tart pan on crust and sprinkle top with crumble to mostly cover the fruit;

Mix crumbs: use stand mixer: no need to clean bowl. Dump in flour and sugar and cinnamon, mix, blend in butter and then sprinkle 1 ¼ cups on tart; top with almonds

Bake on lowest shelf in oven, 35-40 minutes until lightly browned and blueberries are bubbling. Remove from oven and cool before serving. Best eaten within 24 hours. Vanilla ice cream is great with blueberries! Enjoy.

blueberry tart, slice , cookie crustNote: I used convection setting; took about 25 minutes to bake.