Summer Fruit Creme Brulee Tart

Instructions

For the Sweet Butter Pastry

1. Mix together the flour, salt and sugar.
2. Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles a coarse meal and pea sized pieces of butter still remain in the mixture. You can also use a food processor to pulse the butter into the flour mixture if you prefer.
3. Whisk together the water, vanilla and egg yolk. Pour over the dry ingredients and toss together gently with a wooden spoon only until a soft dough forms.
4. Form the dough into a round, wrap in plastic wrap and let the dough rest in the fridge for at least 20 minutes before rolling it out to about a 10 inch round and place in a 9 inch ungreased tart pan.
5. You will need to blind bake the pastry before adding the filling. Blind baking is essential so that the bottom of the pastry will not get soggy.
6. To blind bake a crust simply place a piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil over the dough and fill the pan with baking weights. (Marbles, dry beans, peas, rice or barley work just as well as anything else.) Bake at 375 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes. Remove baking weights and parchment and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
7. Remove from oven and reduce the temperature to 325 degrees F.
8. Arrange the fruit slices in the pastry crust, ensuring that they do not touch and that there is room to pour in the custard.

For the custard

1. In a small saucepan, whip together the egg yolks, vanilla and sugar until light in color and slightly foamy.
2. Scald the cream to almost boiling and slowly whisk into the egg yolk mixture.
3. Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon and you can draw a line through the custard with your finger on the back of the spoon.
4. Slowly pour the custard into the tart pan between the fruit and bake for approximately 35- 40 minutes.
5. Cool completely to room temperature before refrigerating to completely chill the tart. You can serve the tart at this point or you can add a caramelized sugar crust on top.
6. Lightly sprinkle about 2 - 3 tbsp sugar over the top of the tart. Using a butane kitchen torch, wave the flame constantly and lightly over the surface of the dessert until it begins to brown. A light touch is important. Alternatively, you can try to caramelize the sugar under the broiler. You will need to watch it very closely and spin the pan frequently to evenly distribute the heat over the surface of the tart. Chill before serving.