Australian home cooks are about to elevate their dessert game with a stunningly layered tart that combines creamy vanilla custard with a vibrant berry panna cotta. This recipe, perfect for a sophisticated afternoon tea or a dinner party finale, guides you through creating a visually impressive and delicious treat from scratch.
Mastering the Tart Shell Foundation
The journey to this exquisite dessert begins with a classic, buttery tart shell. You will need 225g of plain flour and 50g of icing sugar, pulsed together in a food processor to combine. Into this, add 125g of cold, chopped butter and process until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
Next, incorporate 1 egg yolk and about two tablespoons of chilled water, processing just until the dough forms a smooth ball. This pastry must be enclosed in plastic wrap and chilled for 30 minutes to ensure it's manageable and doesn't shrink during baking.
After chilling, roll the dough out on a floured surface and use it to line six greased, 10cm loose-bottomed tart pans. Chill these lined pans for another 15 minutes before baking. To bake, preheat your oven to 175°C, line the shells with baking paper and weights, and bake for approximately 10 minutes or until they achieve a pale golden brown colour. Allow them to cool completely before filling.
Crafting the Luscious Vanilla Crème
The first layer of flavour is a rich vanilla crème. Begin by heating 250ml of milk with 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste in a saucepan until it just begins to simmer. In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 eggs, 75g of caster sugar, and 25g of cornflour until the mixture is completely smooth.
Gradually, pour the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from scrambling. Return this combined mixture to the saucepan and stir over a medium heat. Continue cooking and stirring until the custard thickens significantly. Remove it from the heat and stir in 25g of chopped unsalted butter until melted and incorporated.
Transfer the finished vanilla crème to a bowl and immediately cover the surface with cling wrap to prevent a skin from forming. It is crucial to let this cool completely before assembling the tarts.
Assembling Your Gourmet Dessert Masterpiece
To bring the dessert together, start by spooning the cooled vanilla crème into the prepared tart shells, creating an even base. Unmould the set berry panna cottas—which should be prepared a day ahead—and gently place one on top of the vanilla crème in each tart shell.
Finally, serve each tart with a generous spoonful of the simple berry compote and decorate with fresh, quartered strawberries and a scattering of edible flowers for a truly professional and Instagram-worthy finish.
