Lemon Tart

Jul 6, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pies tarts Vanilla: Beans Medium

A lemon tart on a cake stand with one slice cut out and served on a small plate

A crisp, tender vanilla-infused pâte sucrée crust envelops a smooth, vibrant lemon custard with a hint of real vanilla bean, creating a perfectly balanced citrus tart.

Prep 45 min

Cook 35 min

Cooling 1 hr

Total 2 hr 20 min

Yield 8 slices

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

slices

1 ¼ cups (150.0 g)all-purpose flour
¼ cup (30.0 g)confectioners' sugar
¼ tsp (1.0 g)fine sea salt
8.0 tbsp (113.0 g)cold unsalted butter, diced, for pâte sucrée
1.0 large (18.0 g)egg yolk, for pâte sucrée
1 ½ tbsp (22.0 ml)ice water, for pâte sucrée
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped, for pâte sucrée
3.0 large (150.0 g)eggs, for filling
¾ cup (150.0 g)granulated sugar, for filling
½ cup (120.0 ml)fresh lemon juice, for filling
6.0 tbsp (85.0 g)unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, for filling
½ tsp (2.5 ml)pure vanilla extract, for filling

Make it at home

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Instructions

Combine flour, confectioners' sugar, and salt in a bowl. Scrape seeds from the vanilla bean and mix into the dry ingredients.
Add cold diced butter and rub in with your fingertips or a pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized butter pieces.
Whisk egg yolk with ice water and mix into the flour mixture until dough just comes together. Do not overwork.
Shape dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Roll out chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 12 inches. Transfer to a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom, pressing dough into edges. Trim excess.
Freeze tart shell for 15 minutes to prevent shrinking.
Line shell with parchment and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes.
Remove weights and parchment, bake 10 more minutes until golden. Cool slightly.
For filling, whisk eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract in a heatproof bowl.
Place bowl over simmering water to create a double boiler. Stir continuously until mixture thickens and reaches 170–175°F (77–79°C).
Remove from heat, whisk in butter pieces one at a time until smooth and glossy.
Pour lemon custard into baked tart shell. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate at least 45 minutes to set.
Remove tart from pan, slice, and serve chilled or slightly chilled for best flavor.

Tips

Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent shrinking and cracking during baking.
Use a whole vanilla bean in the crust and vanilla extract in the filling to layer the vanilla flavor subtly.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make lemon tart?

Plan on 45 minutes of prep and 35 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour to chill and rest. The recipe makes 1 9-inch tart (8 slices).

How should I store lemon tart?

Store the tart covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Can I make lemon tart ahead?

Prepare the tart shell and filling separately a day ahead and assemble before chilling to set.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped, for pâte sucrée. Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

A crisp, tender vanilla-infused pâte sucrée crust envelops a smooth, vibrant lemon custard with a hint of real vanilla bean, creating a perfectly balanced citrus tart.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

372 Calories / serving

22.7g Fat

38.4g Carbs

5.0g Protein

23.0g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~2976 cal · 182g fat · 307g carbs · 40g protein · 184g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 372 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 70 min·4.1 mi·~8200 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 50 min·2.5 mi·~5000 steps
Moderate cycling 38 min·7.6 mi
Swimming laps 52 min
Jogging 36 min·3.0 mi·~5750 steps
Stair climbing 34 min·~3050 steps
Dancing 60 min
Bodyweight circuit training 38 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 86 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.