This fruit tart is simple, buttery, and beautiful, perfect for showing off fresh fruit without a lot of fuss. You get a classic shortbread crust, a creamy vanilla filling, and a shiny citrus glaze that keeps the fruit bright and juicy. It looks fancy, yet it’s a truly doable dessert for a busy home cook.
Tarts are fresh, light, and have just the right amount of sweetness. This fresh fruit tart is very simple to make! It looks so impressive when it’s all finished, but it only requires a few ingredients and just a few steps.
If you love fruity treats, you’ll also like our Fruit Pizza, Berry Icebox Cake, and Mini Fruit Tarts.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Family friendly. The creamy filling and fresh fruit win over kids and adults.
- Weeknight easy. The crust bakes fast and assembly is straightforward.
- Flexible. Swap fruits and extracts to match seasons or what you have.
Fruit Tart Ingredients
Crust
- Powdered sugar (½ cup) – Powdered sugar sweetens the crust and helps powdered sugar create a tender, shortbread texture.
- All-purpose flour (1 ½ cups) – Flour provides structure so the crust bakes sturdy enough to slice.
- Butter (12 tablespoons, softened, cut into pieces) – Butter brings rich flavor and helps create that melt-in-your-mouth crumb.
Filling
- Cream cheese (8-ounce package, softened) – Cream cheese makes a tangy, creamy filling that balances the sweet fruit.
- Granulated sugar (½ cup) – Sugar sweetens the filling so it tastes like cheesecake without baking.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon) – Vanilla extract adds a warm aroma and rounds out the dairy notes in the filling.
Topping
- Fresh berries and/or fruit of your choice (kiwis, mandarin oranges, etc.) – Fresh berries and fruit add color, juiciness, and freshness, letting the fruit shine.
Glaze
- Frozen limeade concentrate (6-ounce can) – Limeade concentrate forms the base of the glossy glaze with a bright citrus note.
- Corn starch (1 tablespoon) – Corn starch thickens the glaze so it clings to the fruit.
- Fresh lime juice (1 tablespoon) – Lime juice sharpens the flavor and keeps the fruit tasting lively.
- Granulated sugar (¼ cup) – Sugar balances the tart citrus and helps the glaze set with a pretty sheen.
How to Make a Fruit Tart
The Crust
PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
DOUGH. Add the powdered sugar, flour, and butter to a food processor, and pulse until the dough starts to come together.
BAKE. Press the crust mixture into a 12-inch tart pan, making sure to press it into the fluted edges. Bake 12-15 minutes until lightly browned around the edges.
There is no need to use pie weights or dry beans when baking.
COOL. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
The Filling
FILLING. In a bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Spread the filling evenly in the baked tart crust.
BERRIES. Arrange the berries and fruit on top of the filling, covering evenly.
Fruit Tart Glaze
COMBINE. Add the limeade, cornstarch, lime juice, and sugar to a small saucepan and whisk.
SIMMER. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat – stir frequently. Cook until clear and thick, about 2-3 minutes.
COOL. Let cool to room temperature.
BRUSH. Using a pastry brush, gently brush the glaze over the top of the tart, being careful not to crush the fruit. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Mini Fruit Tarts. Divide the dough into five 4-inch tart dishes. Bake at 350°F for 7-9 min. Once cool, divide the filling evenly into the crusts. Add the fruit and glaze.
- Switch the flavor of the filling, replace the vanilla extract with almond extract or lemon extract.
- The crust for this tart is more like a Shortbread Cookie, but you can use a flaky Pie Crust or a Graham Cracker Crust.
- Cover the pie using one type of fruit or mix and match. The tart is particularly pretty when placing the different fruits in a circular pattern.
- Some non-fresh fruit toppings to use include toasted coconut or sliced almonds.
Fruit Tart Recipe
Video
Ingredients
Crust
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 12 tablespoons butter, softened, cut into pieces
Filling
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- fresh berries and/or fruit of your choice, kiwis, mandarin oranges, etc.
Glaze
- 1 (6-ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Add the powdered sugar, flour, and butter to a food processor, and pulse until the dough starts to come together. Press the crust mixture into a 12-inch tart pan, making sure to press it into the fluted edges. Bake 12-15 minutes until lightly browned around the edges. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
- To make the filling, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Spread the filling evenly in the baked tart crust. Arrange the berries and fruit on top of the filling, covering evenly.
- To make the glaze, add the limeade, cornstarch, lime juice, and sugar to a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently. Cook until clear and thick, about 2-3 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
- Using a pastry brush, gently brush the glaze over the top of the tart, being careful not to crush the fruit. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Mini Fruit Tarts. Divide the dough into five 4-inch tart dishes. Bake at 350°F for 7-9 min. Once cool, divide the filling evenly into the crusts. Add the fruit and glaze.
- Switch the flavor of the filling, replace the vanilla extract with almond extract or lemon extract.
- The crust for this tart is more like a Shortbread Cookie, but you can use a flaky Pie Crust or a Graham Cracker Crust.
- Cover the pie using one type of fruit or mix and match. The tart is particularly pretty when placing the different fruits in a circular pattern.
- Some non-fresh fruit toppings to use include toasted coconut or sliced almonds.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
The glaze serves two purposes: one being that it preserves the color and moisture of the fruit, and two, it makes the fruit tart look nice and shiny.
Make the crust and filling the day before, cover and refrigerate, or wrap tightly with plastic and foil and freeze for up to 1 month. The glaze can also be made ahead, and fruit prepped and refrigerated. Add fruit and glaze to the tart before serving.
Because of the fruit, I would keep this covered in foil in the fridge for only 1-2 days.
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This post was originally published June 2020.
My son always requests fruit tart for his birthday. Of course, homemade is better, but we have used storebought sugar cookie dough from the refrigerator section when we need something fast and easy. We also like to include kiwi, grapes, and blueberries.
Your recipes; especially this one! Makes me realize I have to get a food processor and stop working so much!!
Delicious and so easy to make! Thank you!!
The best!!!! I have made at least 40…yes 40. Can’t just make one, I always make 2 at the same time. My husbands friends are always asking for this tart so I started selling them. I would do it for free but they insist on paying me.
Great and super easy. I made it and shared the recipe with several people.
Thank you!! So glad you enjoy the tart!
This is the perfect dessert for any time of the year. I love fruit tarts.
Delicious and easy. Even the crust!
Yay!! That’s what we are going for… yummy and easy. Thanks for sharing!
Delicious! Thank you for posting this recipe.
You’re welcome! So glad you love the dessert!
Easy steps to follow; great suggestions on prepping; picture looked like cherries but being berry season must be strawberries + blueberries
I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for sharing!
Such a great recipe for the 4th of July! Looking forward to enjoying this for the holiday this year!
This is so good! from the crust to the glaze! it all pairs well together!
This fruit tart is my go-to dessert to make during parties and events!
The lime glaze really makes this shine. Delicious!
This has my hubby’s name written all over it!! Fruity desserts are all we want during the summer! This one is easy & delicious!
ThEse are the kind of recipes that we crave during the summertime. Fresh fruit with cream cheese over a pie crust base. Cool and refreshing!