I do not like summer. Really, what’s all the fuss? It’s just hot, and I don’t like being hot. Of course, if I lived somewhere other than the South, I might feel differently. Here, our summer seems to last half of the year.
I don’t mean to be start out being so negative, but all of my summer-related whining does have a point. There are a couple of things that I like about summer. Well, now that I think about it, there may just be one: fresh berries.
Tarts like this just aren’t the same in any other season. All those berries piled on top of a lovely, cool pastry cream. And all that on top of sweet cookie crust.
This is a bit unlike my usual recipe offerings. It is a bit more involved, although I wouldn’t classify it as difficult. Quinn and I teamed up on this one, and that made the process much easier.
Any berries can be used on the tart. We chose raspberries and blackberries because they were the freshest, prettiest ones we could find. This is the cover recipe for The Pie and Pastry Bible. That tart is covered with a much bigger variety of berries. I like the adaptability of recipes like this. You can change the berries as the season progresses or as your tastes demand.
By the way, normally I would proudly display a photo of a slice of this tart. But, as it was consumed fairly quickly, all we have are photos of an intact tart taken right before it was served. Hopefully, you will enjoy them anyway.
46 responses so far ↓
1 Mandy // Jun 3, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Tell me about the summer heat. We have just moved down to the south. I can’t imagine how hot it will get in the coming months. I need berries dessert like this to cheer up my days. :p
2 magpie // Jun 3, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Ohhh I adore fresh berries too. That tart is beautiful
3 Tanya // Jun 4, 2008 at 12:26 am
That looks delicious. I love raspberries and blackberries on a fruit tart.
By the way, I live in Chicago, where winter goes on forever. Cold, nasty winters. I’m jealous of people who live in warm weather climates!
4 peabody // Jun 4, 2008 at 1:18 am
I hate Summer. I write about how much I hate Summer all the time. That tart on the other hand I love.
5 rachel // Jun 4, 2008 at 6:03 am
Oh yum! I love summer berries too! And am not a fan of the heat. My mother on the other hand LOVES hot, humid weather.
6 Bridget // Jun 4, 2008 at 7:34 am
If summer never happened, I’d be happy. I’ve lived in the northeast and the midwest, and summer is no better there than anywhere else, trust me!
Like you though, I think that berries are the best part of summer!
7 Patricia Scarpin // Jun 4, 2008 at 8:43 am
Jen, don’t worry - the photos you posted are enough for us to drool!!
I don’t like summer, either - too hot. I prefer milder days, like the ones we have in the fall and spring.
8 Elizabeth // Jun 4, 2008 at 9:45 am
I’m not a fan of July and August - but I do enjoy the milder summer times. Your tart is gorgeous and the pictures are fantastic!
9 Amanda // Jun 4, 2008 at 10:00 am
I’m all about spring. Cold nights where a comforter is needed, but warm afternoons when lying in the sun is necessary. By the way, how is that Pie & Pastry Bible book? I’ve been debating on my next baking book. Between The Cake Bible & The Pie & Pastry Bible, I’ve got a lot of options here.
10 Sandie (Inn Cuisine) // Jun 4, 2008 at 11:04 am
Oh, I’ve always wanted to make the cover recipe from this cookbook! Your photos are lovely and I agree. A cool, fruit tart is a perfect dessert to enjoy on the dog days of summer.
11 giz // Jun 4, 2008 at 11:32 am
Great photos, great ingredients - (great because I have them in my fridge) - just printed the recipe - oh yeah!!!
12 The Spotted Apron // Jun 4, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Wow. How crazy. I just made a very similar fruit tart! Yours looks delicious. It’s such a great idea for the summer.
13 megan // Jun 4, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Those are very tempting.
Beautiful berries!
14 Sophie // Jun 4, 2008 at 3:13 pm
OOOH! I completely agree with you about Summers in the South! I currently live in Texas; it’s been 100 degrees for more than half the week already, and I’m dying!!! The only thing I like about summer are the tasty berries, too, and you’ve captured these beautifully :). Lucky for me, this is my last summer here in TX for awhile, since the hubby and I will be moving to the Boston area this coming July…I will miss the summer berries though; they don’t go in season over there until Fall :(.
15 Nan (and Jim) // Jun 4, 2008 at 3:38 pm
So good! Sorry you had no chance for photos of this one since we gobbled it up! This may be one of my favorite things you have ever made. It is so light and cool–perfect for summer. This one’s a keeper!
16 jennifer // Jun 4, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Mandy, I feel for you and your first summer in the South. Just wait until July and August.
Thanks, magpie!
Tanya, most days I’d take cold weather over the endless hot days. I’m sure too much of either one is tough.
Thanks, Peabody. Glad I’m not alone.
Rachel, I don’t get how people like being hot. To each his own, huh?
Bridget, I could definitely pass right over summer and go straight from spring to fall.
Thanks, Patricia! I’m beginning to think no one likes hot weather!
Thanks, Elizabeth! I’m fine until it gets 80+. Then, I just know it’s going to get worse.
Amanda, I’ve marked several recipes to try from this book. This was my first one to make. It looks like a fantastic book, though.
Thanks, Sandie!
giz, I hope you like it!
Spotted Apron, great minds, right?
Thanks, megan!
Sophie, we haven’t quite made it to 100, but these 90s are bad enough. I’m sure your Boston summers will be much more pleasant, even without the berries.
Thanks, Nan! Glad you liked it.
17 brilynn // Jun 4, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I just made fruit tarts in baking class last week and now I see them pop up everywhere, it looks great!
18 Maria // Jun 4, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Hi
I’m from Australia and have never heard of half & half could you explain what it is so maybe I could use something similar to it.
Thanks
19 kelley // Jun 4, 2008 at 5:28 pm
i literally want to pick those berries right out of my computer screen.
20 jennifer // Jun 4, 2008 at 5:31 pm
brilynn, I guess it’s just the season for berries!
Maria, half-and-half is equal parts whole milk and cream. Hope that helps!
Thanks, kelley! I’ll take that as a compliment.
21 Kelly // Jun 4, 2008 at 7:27 pm
This looks really yummy–especially for fruit lovers! I’m new to food blogging, and I am glad I found yours! I’ll definitely be coming back!
22 LorY // Jun 4, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I did not miss the summer until I moved to NY. I hated it because it was no different than any other season in South Texas. However, now that I live in NY I try to enjoy being outside as much as I can. However, don’t get me wrong I do enjoy the a/c on high when I get a chance. Do you think this recipe can be used with frozen berries?
23 Jessica Starr // Jun 4, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Your Berry Tart looks amazing! My dad is coming home from a trip to India on Friday, and now I want to make him something with fresh berries to welcome him home. Thanks for the inspiration!
24 Emiline // Jun 5, 2008 at 1:22 am
Gorgeous!
25 stacie // Jun 5, 2008 at 10:30 am
I’m also a Chicago girl and wish I lived south, althouh you are right, I’d get sick of the warmth before I know it, I’ll have to aim in between if I ever move. The tart looks so delicious!
26 RecipeGirl // Jun 5, 2008 at 10:49 am
Slice picture not needed at all… the other pictures are amazing!!
Other than Florida in May, I’ve never been to the south. So I don’t think I’ve experienced the miserable heat you describe. We have pretty nice, mild weather here in San Diego with pretty much zero humidity. You should escape here for a vacation!
27 jennifer // Jun 5, 2008 at 11:03 am
Thanks, Kelley! I’m glad you found me.
LorY, I could put up with most any weather if I lived in New York!
Jessica, hope you and your dad like the tart!
Thanks, Emiline!
stacie, it wouldn’t take long to get tired of the hot weather. It’s only June and I’m already wishing for October.
Thanks, RecipeGirl! I’d love zero humidity. I wouldn’t know what to do! I’d love to visit San Diego some time.
28 Deborah // Jun 5, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I love summer, but mostly because I hate the winter so much. And here in Utah, the winter seems to last about 8 months. But this tart is gorgeous, and makes me crave some fresh berries!
29 Mrs Ergul // Jun 5, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I love tarts and I love berries. This is a perfect recipe for me! And about the heat, tell me about it! It’s summer all year round here in Singapore
30 Jamie // Jun 5, 2008 at 8:21 pm
This looks delicious. I’m pretty sure I gained half a pound just drooling over the photos. Time to pay a visit to the produce section of the grocery store and see what they have in the way of raspberries (my favorite!)
I hate the summer, too. It’s like living in an oven for 7 straight months; I enjoy baking, but not like that.
31 jennifer // Jun 5, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Deborah, I guess we all want what we can’t have. You want summer and I want more winter.
Thanks, Mrs Ergul! I don’t think I could take year-round hot weather!!!
Thanks, Jamie! Raspberries are my favorite, too. I agree about summer - it’s hard to turn the oven on when it’s so hot.
32 Heather and mynda // Jun 7, 2008 at 11:42 am
Summer in the Northwest is what we wait for. Take a long vacation in this direction. You will once again love summers.
33 Kim // Jun 7, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Jennifer- Your tart looks wonderful! I hate the summer too and swear I am going to move to get away from the heat every year. My body is already registered at 200 degrees, so the heat kills me. We can complain together. Fabulous photos.
34 hannah // Jun 7, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Every single one of your recipes are beautiful!
35 Tartelette // Jun 7, 2008 at 9:22 pm
On their recent visit my aunt and uncle asked about our seasons and I replied “we have summer and less summer”…today was already scorching hot and it’s not summer yet! The tart however reminds me of all the good points about summer like berries…lovely!
36 jennifer // Jun 8, 2008 at 10:09 am
Heather and mynda, I may have to do just that some time!
Thanks, Kim! Rest assured I’ll be complaining about the heat for the remainder of the summer.
Thanks, hannah!
Tartelette, that’s an apt description. It certainly feels that way to me.
37 Elle // Jun 9, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Oh, this is gorgeous! We’re in a heatwave right now in NH, and yuck! it’s hot. I hate it. Give me cool fall days or a blizzard any day!
38 jennifer // Jun 9, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Thanks, Elle! I’ll take those kinds of days, too. But, I’ll have a long time to wait to get there….
39 Susan at Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy // Jun 9, 2008 at 8:42 pm
I hear ya girlfriend! This Florida girl is no fan of summer either. What’s to love about 95 degree temps and humidity?
I am, however, a big fan of beautiful and delicious looking fresh fruit tarts! It looks to die for!
40 the caked crusader // Jun 10, 2008 at 6:24 am
I agree that there is nothing quite like a good raspberry or strawberry. Great minds must think alike - I made raspberry and coconut cupcakes this week!
41 nina // Jun 10, 2008 at 8:13 am
Oh, this looks absolutely scrumptious. The berries are so beautiful, you could pick them off the screen…
42 Patti // Jun 11, 2008 at 7:52 am
Your picture of that tart looks absolutely beautiful! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a berry look so heroic in my life…
43 jennifer // Jun 11, 2008 at 10:10 am
Susan, all that heat is definitely not for me. Yuck.
caked crusader, I love raspberry and coconut together. I’ll bet those cupcakes were delicious!
Thanks, nina!
Thanks, Patti! I don’t think I’ve ever heard a berry described as “heroic.”
44 Constance // Jun 15, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Mmmm, love the berries too. Plus ice cold watermelon, fresh corn on the cob and sun ripened tomatoes. So summer has some blessings.
But our summers here in Philadelphia are much like yours, hot, hazy and humid. Though they don’t last quite as long as yours (thank goodness).
45 jennifer // Jun 15, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Constance, summer does have a few good points. I might like it better if it were the same length here as there.
46 Sophie // Jun 20, 2008 at 12:17 pm
We’d like to invite you to participate in our July berry recipe contest. All competitors will be placed on our blogroll, and the winner will receive a fun prize! Please email me, sophiekiblogger@gmail.com, if you’re interested. Feel free to check out our blog for more details. (Click on my name in the message to visit our blog.
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