Cherry Tart is celebrated on June 17th. I chose to make this treat today to honor the occasion and enjoy fresh, sweet cherries. This delightful dessert makes an excellent choice for a birthday cake.
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Cherry tart recipe
Cherry tart is a dessert made with cherries. It typically consists of a pastry crust with a sweetened cherry mixture. Other ingredients are often added to enhance its flavor and texture. This dessert has a balance of sweet and tart flavors.

I did not use a regular cherry tart recipe. Instead, I mixed cocoa into the pastry dough to create a unique base. For the custard, I used the British method. The cream was heated first for the custard. One extra egg yolk was added later.
This tart goes well with caramel sauce, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce for added richness. Crème fraîche and vanilla ice cream balance the sweetness, while fresh cherries and grated chocolate enhance flavor and presentation.
You can pair this dessert with Maraschino Cherry Manhattan, tart cherry juice cocktails, Tart Cherry and Hibiscus Beer Margarita, or wine. Sweet sparkling wines, coffee, or tea also pair nicely.
Here is how to make cherry tarts.

Cherry Tart for a Special Birthday
Nutrition
Ingredients
For the dough
- 125 g butter melted and cooled
- 90 g caster sugar
- 170 g plain flour I used a gluten-free blend
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp ground almonds
For the filling
- 200 ml double cream
- 2 whole eggs and 1 egg yolk lightly beaten.
- 50 g caster sugar
- A few drops vanilla extract
- 300 g cherries canned, fresh, or frozen
Instructions
- Grease a pie dish and preheat the oven to 180oC.
- Mix the butter and caster sugar, then add the flour, cocoa powder and half the ground almonds. Stir until you have a ball of dough.
- Press the dough into the dish with your fingertips, making sure that it is even and not too thick. Bake for about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, halve and pit the cherries.
- Remove the pastry case from the oven and lower the oven temperature to about 150oC.
- Sprinkle the remaining ground almonds over the pastry base.
- To make the custard, put the cream in a pan and gently heat over a low temperature until warmed through. Whisk the eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract together in a jug until light and frothy. Slowly pour the cream onto this mixture, continuing to whisk all the time.
- Place the cherries into the pastry case, then pout over the custard. Return to the oven for about 40 mins, but keep an eye on it. You want to keep a slight wobble in the center.
Variations
Cherry tarts come in a variety of delicious forms. Each showcases the unique flavors of cherries. Here are some notable variations:
- Classic Variations
- Traditional French Clafouti uses a custard batter with cherries. The dish is ideal for brunch or dessert. It has a soft texture and almond flavor.
- Rustic Free-Form Cherry Galettes have a flaky crust and cherry filling. It’s served warm with ice cream or whipped cream.
- Cherry Custard Tart has vanilla custard and cherries. The crust is simple and requires no rolling.
- Creative Twists
- No-bake cheesecake tarts use fresh or frozen cherries.
- Cherry Berry Pie mixes cherries, raspberries, and blueberries. It creates a rich, complex flavor.
- Cherry Crisp with Chocolate Chips offers a sweet and tart flavor.
- Quick and Easy Options
- Cherry Pie Bars use pantry staples and canned cherries. It’s ready in just 20 minutes.
- A simple recipe uses a pre-made crust with cherry filling. It’s ideal for quick desserts.
- Rustic Cherry Tarts use fresh cherries and simple crusts. They are easy to assemble and flavorful.