Easy Lemon Lime Tart with Shortbread Crust
Posted: 10/10/2011
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You’ll love this beautiful lemon lime tart, bursting with tart citrus flavor and encased in an irresistible shortbread crust!
Isn’t this a beautiful dessert? I love how tart pans make a dessert look so fancy. Take a regular shortbread crust and press it into a tart pan with its fluted edges and wowza! it’s an elegant creation.
Lemony desserts are so refreshing. I love this lemon pudding and adorable lemon parfaits. When I want a really spectacular lemon dessert, I go for layer cake with homemade lemon filling and lemon cream cheese frosting.
Are you a fan of lemon bars? I just love lemon bars with the sweet buttery crunchy crust and smooth tangy filling. They are a perfect combination, aren’t they?
You’ll love this lemon lime tart, too. It’s pretty much lemon bars dressed up in a tart pan. I like the combination of lemon and lime, too, for a little extra pizzazz!
About this lemon lime tart
This is a pretty easy dessert to make. The shortbread crust doesn’t have to be rolled out or anything. You just press it into the tart pan with your fingers as evenly as you can. The crust is prebaked before adding the filling.
The filling is easy, too. Once you juice a lemon and a couple of limes, it takes about two minutes. Just whisk a few eggs, add flour and sugar, and the juice. You can mix it up while the crust is baking.
Once the crust bakes for 15-20 minutes, carefully pour in the filling.
Okay, this is the trickiest part, for sure. That tart pan is shallow and the filling goes nearly up to the top. Unless you have really steady hands, it’s hard not to jostle it, making it spill over the edges.
Pro tip: leave the crust right in the oven, placed on a baking sheet to catch any spills. Pull the oven rack out a bit, and pour the filling in. Then carefully slide the oven rack back into the oven. Phew! Pat yourself on the back if you don’t slosh any of the filling out!
Bake the tart an additional forty minutes or until the filling is nearly set. Give the pan a little shake and see if the filling jiggles. If it looks really liquidy yet, it’s not done. Bake it for a few more minutes.
Once the tart is cooled, sprinkle it with powdered sugar. It’s wonderful at room temperature or chilled. Store leftovers in the fridge.
Like pies and tarts?
Here’s a few more recipes you’ll enjoy!
- Chocolate Tart — so easy, only 4 ingredients and no-bake!
- Coconut Custard Pie
- Sprinkle Ice Cream Pie with Rice Krispie Crust
- Chocolate Pudding Pie
- Cherry Lime Galette
- Fresh Blueberry Pie
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
You'll love this beautiful lemon lime tart, bursting with tart citrus flavor and encased in an irresistible shortbread crust!
Ingredients
For Crust
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For Filling
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 2 limes)
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Set a rimmed baking sheet on oven rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a 9- or 10-inch tart pan by spraying lightly with non-stick spray.
- In a medium sized bowl, mix together powdered sugar, flour, and salt. Add butter, and mix ingredients together until a dough forms. Pat dough evenly into bottom and sides of tart pan.
- Bake crust for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare filling.
- In a medium sized bowl, lightly whisk eggs. Add the rest of the ingredients and whisk until smooth. Carefully pour filling into baked crust. I leave the crust in the oven and pour the filling into it so I don’t have to transfer it.
- Bake for 40 minutes at 350°F or until mostly set. Cool completely on wire rack.
- Dust with powdered sugar and slice. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Refrigerate leftovers.
Notes
- If desired, make with all lemon or all lime juice.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1g, Calories: 361kcal, Carbohydrates: 53g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 92mg, Sodium: 79mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 36g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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Husband’s take: Ben loves this!
Changes I would make: I might try it with all lime for a change.
Difficulty: Easy!
Note: This post was extensively updated June, 2020.
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Dinner Dress says
That’s a really lovely and delicious looking tart.
megan says
Love lemon anything!!
Karriann Graf says
wow! I love it!
Must try it at home.. :)
Rachel says
Yes, delicious!
Mom says
I love how convenient this is. I buy lemons or limes just in case I need them and end up throwing them out. I paid 75 cents for one lemon last week! The lemon tart reminds me of when we had our French daughter here and she helped us make one. She served it with a dollop of sour cream. Sounds weird, but tastes great!
Itherapy says
We try to keep lemons in the house, but they often end up in the compost pile. I think Tom could make some yummy lemon meringue pie with this (or the tart). Wait … then he’ll have the excuse he’s looking for to buy a tart pan:)
Rachel says
I have the same problem, I always end up throwing them out too. My tart pan was new–this was my first time using it :)
sarah@spinach and spice says
I would love to make that tart! It looks incredible.. and I love fruity desserts!
Rachel says
Thank you!
Rochelle says
I’m so excited to make this. Looks so good. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Keep them coming! :)
Nancy says
I am a follower of your entertaining blog-really just for the pictures of that cute baby.
Nancy says
Hey girlie–you are just moving up in the food world! Next thing you know, you’ll be a guest on the real Rachel Ray :) I’m not much of a cook or baker but this looks interesting and something I would try with drinks and with fruit. Thanks for the great post!
claire @ the realistic nutritionist says
That tart looks INCREDIBLE!!!