Lemon Velvet Tart Recipes

LEMON TART RECIPE

Steps:

• To make the lemon curd: In a medium heatproof bowl, place eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and heavy cream, if using, and whisk to combine. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (bain-marie). Cook on moderate heat, whisking constantly, until mixture becomes thick (mine was ready in 10 minutes, but it can take up to 20). If you have a thermometer, it should register 170°F/75°C; otherwise, it should coat the back of a wooden spoon and leave a clear pass if you run your finger through it. The curd will thicken more once cooled.
• Remove from heat and immediately strain mixture through a sieve. Add butter, a few cubes at a time, and whisk until completely melted and incorporated, and mixture is smooth. Take your time with it-the whisking makes for an airy and light texture. Allow to cool to room temperature before filling the tart. (Lemon curd can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or can be frozen for up to 2 months. To thaw, place overnight in the fridge. Whisk the mixture to smoothen it before using.)
• Fill the tart shell with lemon curd, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours until chilled. Serve with berries and whipped cream if you like. The tart is rich, so cut your servings small.

LEMON VELVET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Butter and flour a 9 x 13 cake pan.
• Mix together flour, baking powder and salt.
• Cream butter in large bowl with mixer.
• Add lemon and orange zest.
• Cream until smooth and light, about 2 minutes.
• Slowly add sugar, blending well and scraping sides of bowl.
• Add eggs, one at a time.
• In a small bowl, combine water, lemon and orange juices.
• Add the dry ingredients alternating with the liquids.
• Mix well until smooth.
• Spoon into prepared pan--smoothing the surface.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until golden on top and springy to the touch.
• Remove from oven and cool on a rack.
• Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar before serving.
• A thin lemon glaze also works nicely.

LEMON VELVET TART

Steps:

• Fit piecrust into a lightly greased 9 1/2-inch tart pan; press into fluted edges. Fold any excess dough over outside of pan, and pinch to secure to pan. (This will keep piecrust from sliding down pan as it bakes.) Generously prick bottom and sides of piecrust with a fork, and freeze 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425°. Place piecrust on a baking sheet, and bake 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack 20 minutes or until completely cool. Gently tap excess crust from sides of pan, using a rolling pin.
• Microwave white chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals.
• Beat softened cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add melted chocolate, and beat until blended, stopping to scrape down sides. Add Lemon Curd, and beat until blended.
• Spoon into prepared crust. Smooth filling with a spatula. Chill 4 hours.
• Arrange lemon candies evenly on top of tart. Prop Caramelized Sugar Spirals against lemon candies.
• Note: For testing purposes only, we used Lemon Drops candies.
• Lime Velvet Tart: Substitute Lime Curd for Lemon Curd, and prepare recipe as directed.
• Lemon Mousse Tart: Prepare recipe as directed through Step 4. Beat 2 cups heavy cream at high speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Gently fold into lemon mixture. Spoon mixture into prepared crust, mounding mixture in center of tart. (Mixture will be about 2 inches higher than top edge of crust.) Chill 4 hours. Garnish with lemon curls and fresh raspberries, if desired.
• Lime Mousse Tart: Substitute Lime Curd for Lemon Curd, and proceed with Lemon Mousse Tart recipe as directed.
• Directions for Lemon Curd:.
• Bring sugar, zest, and juice to a boil in a heavy nonaluminum 3 1/2-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove from heat, and gradually whisk about one-fourth hot juice mixture into egg yolks; add egg yolk mixture to remaining hot juice mixture, whisking constantly until well blended.
• Place saucepan over medium heat, and cook, whisking constantly, at least 10 or up to 12 minutes. (Mixture will be a pudding-like thickness.).
• Add butter, in 6 batches, whisking constantly until butter melts and mixture is well blended after each addition. Remove from heat, and pour mixture through a wire-mesh strainer into a bowl. Place plastic wrap directly on warm curd (to prevent a film from forming); chill 3 hours.
• Lime Curd: Substitute lime zest and lime juice for lemon zest and lemon juice. Proceed with recipe as directed.
• Directions for Caramelized Sugar Spirals:.
• Stir together sugar, corn syrup, and 1/2 cup water in a 3 1/2-qt. heavy saucepan until blended. Place pan over medium-high heat, and cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 305° to 315° or until mixture begins to turn a golden caramel color (about 25 to 30 minutes). Remove from heat, and stir just until color is evenly distributed, using a clean wooden spoon. Carefully place bottom of saucepan into cold water to stop the cooking process. Remove from water, and let stand 2 to 3 minutes or until slightly thickened.
• Sprinkle crushed lemon candies over a piece of parchment paper. Carefully spoon about 1 tablespoons hot syrup over candies in a circular motion, creating 3-inch discs. (If syrup gets too thick, place saucepan back over heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until syrup slightly melts. Use a clean spoon to continue making spirals.) Let cool 10 minutes or until completely cool. (Mixture will harden as it cools.).

LEMON VELVET CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Directions Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Roll out pastry portion on a floured surface to a circle about 12-inches in diameter. Transfer to a 9-inch pie tin or plate without stretching. Trim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under extra pastry. Crimp edge as desired. Prick bottom and sides of pastry with a fork. Place in freezer 10 minutes. Line pastry with foil pie pan (see Blind Baking*); fill with dried beans or pie weights. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet; bake 30 minutes. Carefully remove foil pan. Bake 15 minutes more. Cool on wire rack. (If using rolled refrigerated crust, bake according to package directions.) In a small bowl soften gelatin in water 5 minutes. Heat in microwave for 14 seconds; set aside. In large bowl combine egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk. With an electric mixer, beat on high speed for 2 to 3 minutes until well combined. Beat in gelatin, whipping cream and salt on low speed. Add lemon juice and beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Pour into prepared crust (pie will be full). Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until center of pie looks set when gently shaken; cool on wire rack 1 hour. Cover loosely and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Top with whipped cream and lemon peel slivers just before serving. Makes 8 servings.

LEMON VELVET TART

Steps:

• Ingredients 1/2 (15-oz.) package refrigerated piecrusts 2 (4-oz.) white chocolate bars, chopped 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened Lemon Curd 8 lemon candies Caramelized Sugar Spirals Preparation 1. Fit piecrust into a lightly greased 9 1/2-inch tart pan; press into fluted edges. Fold any excess dough over outside of pan, and pinch to secure to pan. (This will keep piecrust from sliding down pan as it bakes.) Generously prick bottom and sides of piecrust with a fork, and freeze 20 minutes. 2. Preheat oven to 425°. Place piecrust on a baking sheet, and bake 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack 20 minutes or until completely cool. Gently tap excess crust from sides of pan, using a rolling pin. 3. Microwave white chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. 4. Beat softened cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add melted chocolate, and beat until blended, stopping to scrape down sides. Add Lemon Curd, and beat until blended. 5. Spoon into prepared crust. Smooth filling with a spatula. Chill 4 hours. 6. Arrange lemon candies evenly on top of tart. Prop Caramelized Sugar Spirals against lemon candies. Note: For testing purposes only, we used Lemon Drops candies. Lime Velvet Tart: Substitute Lime Curd for Lemon Curd, and prepare recipe as directed. Lemon Mousse Tart: Prepare recipe as directed through Step 4. Beat 2 cups heavy cream at high speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Gently fold into lemon mixture. Spoon mixture into prepared crust, mounding mixture in center of tart. (Mixture will be about 2 inches higher than top edge of crust.) Chill 4 hours. Garnish with lemon curls and fresh raspberries, if desired. Lime Mousse Tart: Substitute Lime Curd for Lemon Curd, and proceed with Lemon Mousse Tart recipe as directed. Southern Living, FEBRUARY 2008