Caramelized Citrus Cream Tart

Looking to jazz up your winter menu? Meet the Caramelized Citrus Cream Tart—part dessert, part edible work of art, and entirely irresistible. This winter showstopper proves that winter citrus isn’t just for fruit salads.

What is Quark?

The base is a velvety custard made from quark and egg yolks. What’s quark, you ask? No, it’s not a sci-fi alien. Actually, it’s a creamy, tangy dairy product. It’s kind of like Greek yogurt’s cooler European cousin. Popular in countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, quark is a versatile superstar. Spread it on toast, swirl it into cheesecake, or let it shine in a tart like this one.

Now, let’s talk about that crust. Forget soggy pastry—this crust is a buttery dream made from layers of filo dough. Each sheet gets a treatment with melted butter before joining its friends in the pan. The result? A crispy, flaky base that crackles with every bite of this Caramelized Citrus Cream Tart.

Use a Varied Color Palette of Citrus

But the real star is the citrus topping. Thin slices of pink grapefruit, blood oranges, navel oranges, and tangerines create a kaleidoscope of color. It’s almost too pretty to eat—but only almost. These vibrant slices are arranged like nature’s stained glass window, ready to brighten even the gloomiest winter day.

After baking, this Caramelized Citrus Cream Tart gets a glow-up. Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top and break out your culinary torch—or crank up your broiler if you’re feeling old-school. The heat caramelizes the sugar into a crackly, golden crust that’s part crème brûlée, part citrus carnival.

Not only does this tart taste like sunshine, but it also doubles as a conversation starter. Guests will love how it looks before diving fork-first into its tangy, creamy deliciousness.

So brighten up your winter spread with this tart, and watch it steal the spotlight. Because let’s face it: in a season of stews and sweaters, we all deserve a little citrusy magic.

Print

Caramelized Citrus Cream Tart

Course Dessert

Cuisine European

Keyword Caramelized Citrus Tart, Citrus Cream Tart, Filo Dough Tart, Orange Tart, Quark Tart

Prep Time 35 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Servings 8

Author Lora Wiley-Lennartz

Ingredients

• 2+ 1/2 oranges
• 1/2 blood orange
• 2 tangerines
• 1/2 pink grapefruit
• 1 cup quark*
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 5 egg yolks
• 6 sheets filo dough
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoon butter
• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Instructions:
2. Squeeze the juice from 2 oranges
3. Boil down to about 3 tablespoons of liquid.
4. Slice the rest of the citrus thinly. Carefully slice off the rinds.
5. Preheat oven to 325F
6. Beat the boiled orange juice, quark, sour cream, sugar, egg yolks, flour, and sugar until smooth.
7. Melt the butter. Brush the filo dough sheets individually with the butter.
8. Line a tart pan (approx. 8” x 12”) with the sheets one on top of another.
9. Pre-bake in the oven for 5 minutes.
10. Spread the cream on the pre-baked sheets and top with the citrus slices.
11. Bake for another 35 minutes. Allow to cool.
12. Dust the tart with powdered sugar and caramelize it with a gourmet flame burner.
13. Alternatively, place the tart under the broiler for a few minutes.
14. Let cool then slice and serve.

Recipe Notes

*Quark recipe:
10 ounces ricotta cheese
2 ounces of sour cream 
Place the ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Makes 1+1/2 cups.

So, do you like this Caramelized Citrus Cream Tart? Also, check out some of these other delicious recipes:

LEMON LIME YOGURT TORTE

APRICOT FLOWER TARTLETS

PECAN PINEAPPLE LINZER COOKIES