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Grapefruit Crème Brûlée Tart

An elegant, show-stopping dessert featuring a buttery crust, a vibrant and tangy ruby red grapefruit custard, and a crackling caramelized sugar topping.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
Course: Baking, Dessert
Cuisine: American, French
Calories: 385

Ingredients
  

Tart Crust
  • 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter cold and cubed
  • 0.25 cup powdered sugar
  • 0.25 tsp sea salt
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2 tbsp ice water more if needed
Grapefruit Custard
  • 0.75 cup Ruby Red grapefruit juice strained
  • 1 tbsp grapefruit zest finely grated
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs room temperature
  • 2 large egg yolks room temperature
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream
  • 1 pinch salt
Topping & Garnish
  • 4 tbsp superfine sugar for brûlée
  • 3-4 pink carnations or roses food safe, for garnish

Equipment

  • 9-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom
  • Food processor
  • Kitchen Blowtorch
  • Pie weights or dried beans

Method
 

  1. Pulse flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a food processor. Add cold butter and pulse until coarse. Add egg yolk and ice water, pulsing until dough forms.
  2. Form dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for 1 hour.
  3. Roll dough and press into a 9-inch tart pan. Freeze for 30 minutes.
  4. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Blind bake the crust with pie weights for 15 minutes, remove weights, and bake 10 more minutes. Cool slightly and lower oven to 325°F (160°C).
  5. Whisk eggs, yolks, and sugar until smooth. Add grapefruit juice, zest, heavy cream, and salt. Whisk until blended and skim off any foam.
  6. Pour the custard into the baked tart shell. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 30-35 minutes until the center is just set but slightly jiggly.
  7. Cool completely on a wire rack, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
  8. Right before serving, sprinkle an even layer of superfine sugar over the tart. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar to a deep amber.
  9. Garnish with fresh pink flowers. Slice with a hot, dry knife and serve immediately.

Notes

The tart can be baked up to 2 days in advance and kept in the fridge. Do not add the sugar and torch it until right before serving to maintain the crunchy texture.