This simple Frozen Lemon Cream Tart with Browned Butter Crust is rich in texture and flavor, and super refreshing on a hot day! You’ll love this easy recipe.
This crust is flaky and buttery, with that rich deep flavor that comes from browning the butter slowly. It has a shortbread-like texture that has just the right amount of bite and crumbles into deliciousness as soon as you take a bite. It’s melt-in-your-mouth good.
The flavors in the crust need a little while to meld, so give yourself an hour of various other activities while you wait for the shortbread crust to get all nice and brown-buttery. Or, you can do it at night and resume in the morning if you’re not into the waiting game. But I urge you to not skip that step, it makes a difference.
If you don’t want it frozen, this tart would be great refrigerated too, but the filling with be a little less thick and ice cream-like. It turns super cold and refreshing and almost like a creamy lemon sorbet after hanging out in the freezer, and it’s too perfect on these hot summer days. Best of all? It keeps for a while in the freezer, so you can make it for yourself without having to share before it goes bad :D enjoy!
- 1½ sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter
- ½ cup lightly packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup lemon curd
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
- Lightly grease a 9-inch round fluted tart pan with a removable bottom.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and continue to cook until it caramelizes and emits a nutty, butterscotch aroma. You will notice brown flecks in the bottom of the pan as the butter deepens in color. This should take about 3-6 minutes. Be careful not to burn the butter. Remove from the heat.
- In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter with the brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Add the flour and mix until incorporated. Spread the dough evenly and up the sides of the prepared pan. Let stand for at least 1 hours or up to overnight (do not refrigerate).
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- Bake the shortbread for 45 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven. Let cool completely.
- Place the lemon curd in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- Place your metal bowl and whisk attachment or beaters in the freezer for about ten minutes to chill. Remove from the freezer. When chilled, add the heavy cream. In the stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the cream on low speed for about 30 seconds.
- Increase the speed to high and whip until soft peaks form, 2-3 minutes. Add half of the whipped cream to the bowl with the lemon curd and fold in gently. Once combined, add in the rest of the whipped cream and fold it in. Pour the creamy lemon mixture into the cooled crust and spread evenly.
- Freeze for at least two hours before serving. Keep stored in the freezer for up to 3 weeks.
Hungry for more? Check out some of my similar recipes!
Berry Tart with Brown Butter Shortbread Crust Brown Butter Pear Bars Berry Rhubarb Pie Lemon Meringue Pie Parfaits Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Pie No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart (GF & Vegan)