Delicious Cranberry Curd Tart Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.

With a smooth tangy filling and Biscoff crust, this cranberry curd tart is a must-make for the holidays. It’s as delicious as it is beautiful!

Need more amazing desserts for your holiday party? Creme brûlée, cranberry Christmas cake, and eggnog cheesecake are sure to win over the hearts of your guests!

Delicious Cranberry Curd Tart Recipe (1)

Biscoff Crust Cranberry Tart Recipe

Tart recipes have a special place in my heart. I’ve posted recipes for lemon, strawberry, and apple tarts- but I think this cranberry curd tart is my new favorite. Not only is it crazy festive, but it’s one of the most delicious holiday recipes I’ve ever tasted. Like lemon curd, cranberry curd is the perfect balance of tangy and sweet! This helps to balance out desserts so you don’t die of richness after one bite. I swear, I could eat a whole cranberry curd tart by myself. It’s so fruity and delicious! Cranberry pairs amazingly well with the nutty spiced flavor of Biscoff. Each bite is heaven!

And can we talk about how stunning this tart is? It’s a showstopper dessert for sure! The deep red curd filling will stand out wherever it goes. In this recipe, I’ve added a few sugared cranberries and rosemary sprigs on top as the final touch. It’s so easy to put together but looks like something you’d get from a bakery. With how good this tart both looks and tastes, you’ll want it front and center at your holiday dinner! Just make sure to save a piece or two for yourself. It’s going to go fast.

Cranberry Tart Ingredients

For a dessert this beautiful, it uses super simple ingredients! Simple is best- this way the amazing natural flavors of cranberry can shine through. See the recipe card below for measurements.

Biscoff Crust

  • Biscoff Cookie Crumbs: Spiced, nutty, with hints of caramel, Biscoff cookies pair perfectly with tart cranberry. I like to pop my cookies in a food processor to get them finely milled.
  • Brown Sugar: I add brown sugar for a deeper sweetness.
  • Unsalted Butter: Melted, unsalted butter will give your crust a richer flavor. It also helps it to solidify.

Cranberry Curd Filling

  • Fresh Cranberries: I find that fresh cranberries give the curd the best flavor, but you can use frozen cranberries as well. Fresh cranberries can be difficult to find, especially around the holidays when they’re in high demand.
  • Lemon and Orange Zest: I love the aromatics that citrus zest adds!
  • Lemon and Orange Juice: Adds a complex fruity flavor to the curd.
  • Granulated Sugar: Keeps the curd from being too sour. You can adjust the sweetness to your preference!
  • Large Eggs: Eggs help the curd to keep its shape and set in place.
  • Large Egg Yolks: Egg yolks alone add richness and moisture to the tart.
  • Unsalted Butter: I like mine to be at room temperature before I add it to the mix. This helps the curd consistency be as smooth as possible.
  • Salt: Just a dash is needed to enhance the overall flavor of your cranberry curd tart!
Delicious Cranberry Curd Tart Recipe (2)

Making Your Cranberry Curd Tart

Don’t be intimidated if you’ve never made a curd tart before! It’s actually really easy. Follow these straightforward steps and you’ll have the perfect Christmas dessert baking in no time!

Preparing the Crust

  1. Preheat: First, preheat the oven to 375° F.
  2. Blend and Mix: Use a food processor or blender to pulse whole cookies into crumbs. Once you have 2 cups of fine crumbs, add the brown sugar and melted butter to the food processor and mix together until fully combined.
  3. Press Into Pan: Next, press the crumb mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch tart pan. Bake for about 7-8 minutes, until it just barely begins to brown. Allow to cool completely before adding the filling.

Making Curd Filling

  1. Cook Cranberries: In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, both zests, both juices, and sugar. Cook over medium-low heat until simmering. Continue until the cranberries have burst and the sugar has fully dissolved, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.
  2. Puree: Use an immersion blender or a regular blender to puree the mixture and press through a fine mesh sieve. Return strained liquid to the pot.
  3. Temper Eggs: In a small bowl, combine the whole eggs and egg yolks. Next, temper the eggs by slowly whisking in a cup of the warm cranberry mixture. Once the eggs are warmed, add the egg mixture into the pot and whisk until combined.
  4. Add Remaining Ingredients: Cook over low heat for about 10 minutes, until the mixture has thickened and is bubbling. Remove from the heat and whisk in the softened butter and a dash of salt.
  5. Transfer: Pour the curd into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap touching the surface of the curd so it doesn’t create a film as it cools.
  6. Chill: Let the curd chill in the fridge at least 3 hours before pouring into the chilled crust. Smooth the top and garnish with sugared cranberries and fresh rosemary before serving.
Delicious Cranberry Curd Tart Recipe (3)

Perfecting Your Curd

Curds can be a little tricky to get right. Here are a couple of steps to keep yours smooth and delicious!

  • Temperature: Your cooking temperature is the most important thing to be aware of when making a curd. If the temperature’s too high, your curd may burn and end up grainy. Temperature too low, and your curd won’t set. I like to cook on low to medium-low and stir constantly to keep my mixture from burning.
  • Add Eggs Slowly: When adding eggs to your warm cranberry mixture, add slowly and make sure temperature isn’t too high. You also want to make sure you are stirring constantly or else you run the risk of your eggs scrambling.
Delicious Cranberry Curd Tart Recipe (4)

Cranberry Curd Tart Tips and Variations

Your cranberry curd tart is going to be the star of the show. Use these tips and tricks to make the best one possible! It may just become a holiday tradition!

  • Make Curd Ahead: If you want to do some prep work ahead of time, the curd is great to make first. It can be stored for 1-2 weeks in the fridge before you add it to your crust.
  • Check Consistency: Before you add butter to your curd, one way to make sure it’s done is to see if it coats the back of a spoon. Also, add butter slowly until you reach your desired richness.
  • Add Spices: In addition to citrus zest, feel free to add other herbs and spices to your curd! Mint, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg are all great ways to add a little extra flavor and aromatics to this holiday dessert.
  • Switch Crust: If you’re not a fan of Biscoff, you can use my grandma’s perfect pie crust instead. Using pie weights, bake until golden brown. It’s then ready for your cranberry filling!
Delicious Cranberry Curd Tart Recipe (5)

Storing Tart Leftovers

Here’s how to store your cranberry curd tart so you can enjoy it later! Trust me, with how tasty it is, you’re going to want more. Best have it on hand!

  • In the Refrigerator: Wrap your tart in plastic wrap or keep in an airtight container. It will last for 4-5 days.
Delicious Cranberry Curd Tart Recipe (6)

Other Cranberry Desserts to Try

Cranberry is the fruit of the season! Here are some other great ways to utilize this versatile superfood. You may just want to make these desserts year-round! They’rethat good!

Desserts

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

1 hr 5 mins

Breakfast

Orange Cranberry Muffins

55 mins

Side Dishes

Cranberry Cheesecake Fluff

4 hrs 10 mins

Pin this now to find it later

Pin It

Delicious Cranberry Curd Tart Recipe (11)

Save

PinPrint

Cranberry Curd Tart

5 from 5 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

With a smooth tangy filling and Biscoff crust, this cranberry curd tart is a must-make for the holidays. It's as delicious as it is beautiful!

Prep Time: 45 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes

Chill: 3 hours hours

Total Time: 3 hours hours 53 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 slices

Ingredients

Crust

Curd Filling

Instructions

Crust

  • Preheat the oven to 375°.

  • Use a food processor or blender to pulse whole cookies into crumbs. Once you have 2 cups of fine crumbs add the brown sugar and melted butter to the food processor and mix together until fully combined.

  • Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch tart pan. Bake for about 7-8 minutes, until it just barely begins to brown. Allow to cool completely before adding the filling.

Curd Filling

  • In a medium saucepan combine the cranberries, both zests, both juices, and sugar. Cook over medium-low heat until simmering. Cook until the cranberries have burst and the sugar has fully dissolved for about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

  • Use an immersion blender or a regular blender to puree the mixture and press through a fine-mesh sieve. Return strained liquid to the pot.

  • In a small bowl combine the whole eggs and egg yolks. Temper the eggs by slowly whisking in a cup of the warm cranberry mixture. Once the eggs are warmed, add the egg mixture into the pot and whisk until combined.

  • Cook over low heat for about 10 minutes, until the mixture has thickened and is bubbling. Remove from the heat and whisk in the softened butter and a dash of salt.

  • Pour the curd into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap touching the surface of the curd so it doesn’t create a film as it cools.

  • Let the curd chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours before pouring into the chilled crust. Smooth the top and garnish with sugared cranberries and fresh rosemary before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 201kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 2gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 86mgSodium: 17mgPotassium: 65mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 378IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

Read More About Me

More Ideas

Desserts

Marry Me Cookie Bars

45 mins

Desserts

Lemon Tiramisu

3 hrs 6 mins

Cake

Carrot Cake Roll

5 hrs

Delicious Cranberry Curd Tart Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you know when a curd tart is set? ›

It can take up to or even more than 20 minutes to bake fully but what you are looking for is set sides and a slight jiggle in the center – this is when it's done baking. The top will be matte all over. Let the tart cool to room temperature then chill it in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

How do you get the bitterness out of cranberry sauce? ›

Add A Splash Of Vinegar

While citrus is a natural pairing for cranberry sauce, bright, savory vinegars like sherry vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and apple cider vinegar play well with the bitter-tart berries. Start with a little, then add more gradually. It's easy to overdo it when in comes to bold vinegars.

Why is my cranberry sauce so tart? ›

Cranberries are bitter, tart and vibrant by nature, so cranberry sauce is sweetened to help balance their tartness. A basic cranberry sauce has only three ingredients: cranberries, water and sugar. Obviously, we can't lose the cranberries, but you can swap out the water for orange juice, apple cider or grape juice.

What is curd tart made from? ›

Fresh from our Craft Bakery where we make them daily by hand, these traditional individual Curd Tarts have sweet, all-butter pastry and are filled with curd cheese, butter, currants and nutmeg and a touch of lemon curd.

How many hours does it take for curd to set? ›

While in a warm climate, the curd will take around 4 to 7 hours, while it will take a bit longer in winters. In a cool climate it can easily take around 8 to 10 hours. Make sure the temperature of the milk before setting the curd is warm enough during winters, otherwise the curd won't set properly.

Why is my curd tart not setting? ›

If the filling is runny and flowing out of the tart when you cut into it, then it is likely that the curd was not cooked for quite long enough. You need to be patient when cooking citrus curds as if you heat the mixture too quickly then it can curdle and become lumpy. You need to keep a low heat and stir constatntly.

What to do when cranberry sauce doesn t set? ›

Another possibility is that the cranberries need to boil for longer, releasing their pectin and ensuring a jelly consistency. Still stumped? Try reducing the sauce down even further so more of the liquid cooks off and the mixture thickens.

Why do my cranberries taste bitter? ›

Cranberries are generally considered safe whether they are cooked or raw. However, because of their notoriously bitter, sharp taste, most people prefer not to eat them raw or unsweetened. This bitterness is due to the high tannin content of cranberries.

Should cranberry sauce be served warm or cold? ›

Typically served chilled, our recipe can be made up to 3 days ahead.

What cancels tart flavor? ›

If a dish is too sour, add a little bit of sugar! Sweetness balances out sour flavors, so if something makes your mouth pucker, a dash of sugar may help soften the blow of the sour food.

How do you fix tartness in sauce? ›

You can smooth out your sauce and remove the tartness by adding cream, butter, cream cheese, and/or grated cheese such as Parmesan.

How to jazz up cranberry sauce? ›

Adding a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or orange zest, a tablespoon of chopped candied peel, or even a splash of juice to your canned sauce will brighten flavors and bring in some homemade flavor.

How do you know when curd tart is set? ›

Stir constantly for about 5 minutes. Strain lemon curd and stir in heavy cream. Transfer mixture to pre-baked tart crust. Bake lemon tart at 375 F for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges are set and the center jiggles just slightly.

What is the difference between curds and curd? ›

This increase in acidity results in the formation of solid blocks of milk (which are called curds). But, Curd, which is popularly known as dahi in India, is prepared via a different process. So, from now on, when we mention curd in this article, we mean Indian dahi, not the solid blocks of milk.

How to tell when curd is set? ›

Dip a spoon into the curd then run your finger over the back of it. If it leaves a clean line in the curd, it's cooked enough and ready to cool. Curd will thicken up more once cooled completely. Spoon into a container, cover and refrigerate.

How do you know when a tart is ready? ›

To test, gently jiggle the tart pan- if the centre of the tart jiggles slightly, the tart is done. If the centre is still watery, return tart to the oven for another 3-5 minutes. Allow the tart to completely cool before serving. Enjoy!

Why didn't my curd set? ›

CURDS THAT WON'T COME TOGETHER

This is often caused by improper temperatures; either you used UHT (Ultra High Temperature) pasteurized milk or your curds got too hot when you were preparing for the stretching stage, or they didn't get hot enough. The temperature of the curds before stretching should be 160° to 170°F.

Can you overcook curd? ›

What happens if I over-cook lemon curd? Overcooking will cause proteins to bond too tightly, squeezing water out from between them and giving them a rubbery, lumpy texture.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rueben Jacobs

Last Updated:

Views: 6064

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rueben Jacobs

Birthday: 1999-03-14

Address: 951 Caterina Walk, Schambergerside, CA 67667-0896

Phone: +6881806848632

Job: Internal Education Planner

Hobby: Candle making, Cabaret, Poi, Gambling, Rock climbing, Wood carving, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Rueben Jacobs, I am a cooperative, beautiful, kind, comfortable, glamorous, open, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.