Name: Lemon Crumble Tartelettes
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 6 tartelettes
Ingredients: 180 g all-purpose flour (1½ cups); 110 g cold butter (½ cup); 70 g sugar (⅓ cup); 2 egg yolks (size M); zest of ½ lemon; 1 pinch of salt; 400 ml milk (1⅔ cups); 60 g sugar (¼ cup); 1 egg yolk; 35 g cornstarch (3 tbsp); juice of 1-2 lemons (approx. 3 tbsp); zest of 1 lemon; 15 g butter (1 tbsp); 100 g all-purpose flour (¾ cup); 60 g sugar (¼ cup); 70 g cold butter (⅓ cup); 1 pinch of salt; powdered sugar (for dusting)

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FAQ

Lemon Crumble Tartelettes Questions

How do you know the lemon filling is thick enough before adding it to the tartelette shells?

You want the mixture to visibly thicken and coat the back of a spoon while it's still on the heat, since the cornstarch needs that gentle cooking to set properly. If you pull it off too early, it stays runny and soaks into your crust instead of sitting nicely on top. Give it a good minute or two of cooking after it starts to thicken, stirring the whole time so it doesn't catch on the bottom.

Can you swap the lemon for another citrus fruit in this recipe?

Yes, you can use the same amount of zest and juice from lime or orange instead of lemon, since the filling structure relies on the cornstarch and egg yolk, not the citrus itself. Just keep in mind that orange is sweeter and less tart, so the flavor balance will shift a bit. Lime will give you a similarly bright, punchy filling close to the original.

How far ahead can you prepare the tartelette dough and crumble?

You can make the tart dough a day or two ahead and keep it chilled in the fridge, wrapped well, until you're ready to roll it out and line your molds. The crumble mixture also holds up fine in the fridge for a day, just crumble it again with your fingers if it clumps together from the cold butter. This way, on baking day you only need to blind-line the molds and cook the filling.

How should you store the finished tartelettes and how long do they keep?

Once they've cooled completely and you've removed them from the molds, keep the tartelettes in an airtight container in the fridge because of the egg-yolk custard filling. They're best enjoyed within two to three days, and you'll want to dust the powdered sugar on top only right before serving so it doesn't dissolve into the filling. Let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before eating so the crust isn't ice cold.

What's the most common mistake that makes the crust soggy or the crumble mushy?

The biggest issue is filling the tartelette shells with the lemon cream while it's still warm, since the residual heat softens the pastry base before it has a chance to set. Always let the filling cool down first, then fill and add your crumble on top. Also make sure your butter for the crumble stays cold going in, otherwise the topping melts flat instead of baking into distinct crumbs.