Soft fruit tart
- Difficulty: Average
- Prep time: 40 min
- Cook time: 40 min
- Serving: 8
- Cost: Average
PRESENTATION
La crostata morbida alla frutta is this classic soft fruit tart—super popular at Italian family get-togethers and birthdays. Seriously, it’s the real deal. What makes it so so special? It’s all about the tipico stampo furbo—a clever pan with a groove that creates a cavity perfect for loads of smooth pastry cream and fresh fruit. And unlike your usual crunchy tart shell, this base is tender and slightly moist. Really cake-like. Plus, you keep all the joy of a fruit tart recipe.
Italians adore how easy it is to swap out fruit with the seasons. You know, strawberries in spring, peaches or berries in summer, and maybe figs as fall comes around. All those bright colors? They make it look like something right out of a bakery window—so festive, so happy. And listen, the easy fruit tart style means anyone can whip it up at home. But it still feels special, especially with that glossy fruit finish. Pretty cool, huh?
Whether it’s a big gathering or just a Sunday meal that needs extra sparkle, a soft fruit tart like this is ready to shine. People love that balance of sweet cream, soft base, and juicy fruit on top—it’s the kind of dessert that gets folks reaching for seconds. No question. Each region in Italy has its own twist, sometimes adding a touch of citrus to the cream or brushing the fruit with apricot jam for that shiny, golden look.
Compared to other desserts, this one feels more fresh and lively, thanks to all the fruit and that moist pastry. As far as summer desserts go, a fruit tart recipe like this is a real crowd-pleaser. And look, you get that homemade feel with a touch of celebration. And the colors? Almost too pretty to cut into—almost! Whether it’s a big family lunch or a quiet coffee break, a homemade fruit tart is always welcome on the Italian table, bringing a little taste of summer all year round. Really, for real.
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INGREDIENTS
- For the base (9.5 in)
- Eggs 2
- Sugar ½ cup (100 g)
- Butter 4 tbsp (60 g) - melted
- Whole milk 3 ¼ tbsp (50 g)
- Potato starch 6.7 tbsp (50 g)
- Type 00 flour 3.5 oz (100 g)
- Baking powder 2 tsp (8 g)
- Lemon peel to taste
- For the pastry cream
- Whole milk 1 cup (250 g)
- Egg yolks 2
- Cornstarch 1.1 tbsp (9 g)
- Rice starch 0.3 oz (9 g)
- Sugar 6 tbsp (75 g)
- Lemon peel ½
- For the soak
- Orange juice to taste
- For decorating
- Strawberries 0.8 cup (130 g) - About 3/4 cup
- Bananas 1.8 oz (50 g)
- Kiwi 3.5 oz (100 g)
- Peach 5 oz (140 g)
- Blueberries ¼ cup (40 g)
- Raspberries 5 tbsp (40 g)
- Blackberries 0.3 cup (40 g)
- Mint to taste
How to prepare Soft fruit tart
To prepare the soft fruit tart start with the base. Whisk the eggs with the sugar 1 until you obtain a pale and frothy mixture. Gradually add the warm melted butter 2 and the milk 3, continuing to mix.
Fold in the sifted flour, cornstarch and baking powder 4, then flavor with the grated lemon zest 5. Pour the batter into a buttered and floured furbo pan (9.5 in) and level the surface with a spatula 6. Bake in a preheated convection oven at 356 6F for about 25-30 minutes, doing the toothpick test before removing from the oven. Let the base cool completely before filling.
Meanwhile, prepare the pastry cream: heat the milk in a saucepan without bringing it to a boil. In a bowl pour the egg yolks and the sugar 7, whisk them with a whisk 8, then add the cornstarch and rice starch 9, mixing well to avoid lumps.
Aromatize with the lemon zest 10, then slowly pour the hot milk over the yolk mixture 11, stirring continuously with a whisk 12.
Return everything to the heat 13 and cook over low heat, stirring constantly 14, until the cream has thickened 15.
Transfer the cream to a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap directly on the surface 16 and let it cool completely first at room temperature and then transfer it to the fridge while you continue with the preparation. Clean the fruit for decoration. Cut the kiwis into pieces 17 and the peaches 18.
Also slice the banana 19. Take the cooled base 20 and invert it onto the work surface 21 or directly onto the serving plate.
Moisten the surface with the orange juice 22 and fill the well created by the furbo pan with the pastry cream 23. Now decorate the tart as you like with all the fruits: distribute blackberries, raspberries and blueberries 24.
Then continue with strawberries, kiwis and bananas 25. Finish with fresh mint leaves 26 and serve your soft fruit tart immediately 27.