Our go-to Gluten-Free Cream Cheese Fruit Tart with Almond Crust is a gorgeous dessert sure to impress at any occasion.
You’ll love how easy it is to make for slice and serve or as individual mini tarts.
Everyone loves this Cream Cheese Fruit Tart Recipe! It’s beautiful and delicious!
A fruit tart with luscious cream cheese filling, topped with a tangy citrus glaze is always a brunch favorite because it satisfies without being overly sweet. This means the juicy goodness of the fruit shines through and you won’t regret eating it before lunch.
Everyone Loves the Gluten-Free Tart Crust Too
Trying to come up with a truly delicious gluten-free dessert can be challenging when so many gluten-free crusts fall short of amazing.
Among gluten-free flours, I find almond flour produces superior results without any of the grittiness common with rice flours.
This gluten-free tart crust is tender and light, unlike more dense pastry or shortbread type crusts, which makes it easier to eat when you’re balancing a plate on your lap at a party.
Step by step for making gluten-free tart crust with almond flour.
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How to Layer a Fruit Tart Step by Step
- Start with a single fruit to anchor the design, in this case, blackberries.
- Work from the outside in, add a single berry to divide the circle into quarters.
- Add the next selection of fruit (raspberries) right beside the blackberries, working around the outer rim.
- Begin the second ring just inside by placing the kiwi as to divide the inner circle into quarters like step 2.
- Continue to fill in the space to create your preferred design. Remember, it’s okay to leave some white space.
The size of the rings will depend on the size and shape of the fruit.
Starting on the outer edge and dividing into quarters makes it easier to arrange the fruit evenly.
How to Cut a Fruit Tart
- A tart pan
or spring-form pan
will make it easier to cut and serve clean slices instead of trying to slip a server down under the edge of a pie plate.
- Use a sharp knife to cut a wedge in the tart and slide a pie server under the slices and slide straight out.
- Wipe the knife blade clean after each cut to avoid smearing cream cheese on the fruit of the next slice.
How To Make Mini Tarts
- Divide crust into 10 to 12 (3-4 inch) mini tart cups. Place tart cups on a rimmed baking sheet and bake crust for about 10 minutes.
- Divide filling evenly between the number of tart cups by spreading or piping into each cup.
- Arrange fruit on top of filling, as desired, in a single layer.
- Brush glaze over fruit, or leave unglazed if serving within a few hours.
3 to 4-inch mini tart pans are great for single servings. Disposable mini tart pans
are ideal for self-serve at parties.
TIP: Cupcake liners in a muffin pan can work to make mini tarts in a pinch, though are a little less sturdy. See the photo example.
Fruit Tart Recipe Tips
- All the components can be made in advance and stored separately until ready to assemble.
- Berries will last the longest and maintain the best texture up to 3 days.
- Cut ripe peaches, plums, pears, and nectarines will weep more and should be served within 24-36 hours for best results.
- Apply the fruit tart glaze with a soft pastry brush to evenly coat and keep the fruit from browning or drying out.
Recipe Variations
- To make it Paleo and Dairy Free, substitute homemade coconut cream cheese, homemade cashew cream cheese, or other favorite dairy-free substitute for the cream cheese in the filling. Sub ghee or coconut oil for the butter.
- Any combination of vibrant berries, mandarin oranges, peaches, plums, pear, mango, pineapple, nectarines, or kiwi will create your most inspired fruit arrangement.
- Use any favorite pastry crust—pie crust or shortbread crust works well too.
- Skip a step and leave it unglazed if serving right away. Photo example below.
Cream Cheese Fruit Tart without citrus glaze.
Cream Cheese Fruit Tart with Almond Crust Recipe [GF]
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1 cup almond flour ,+ 2 tablespoons for High Altitude
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon butter , melted, plus more for greasing the pan
- 3 tablespoons honey , or coconut palm sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
For the Glaze:
- 1/2 cup orange juice or grapefruit juice , freshly squeezed, without pulp
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons tapioca starch , or organic cornstarch
For the Filling:
- 8 ounces cream cheese , softened / room temperature
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice fresh squeezed
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
For the Fruit Topping:
- strawberries , stems removed, halved, quartered, or sliced
- kiwi fruit , peeled and sliced across to create rounds
- blackberries , cut in half
- raspberries , leave whole
- blueberries , leave whole
Equipment: 8-inch tart pan
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Grease the bottom of 8-inch tart pan or line with parchment paper.
For the Crust:
- Mix 1 cup almond flour and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a mixing bowl to incorporate salt and break up any lumps in the flour (if using coconut palm sugar, add that into the dry ingredients here). In another bowl, blend 1 egg, 1 tablespoon butter, 3 tablespoons honey, and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until well blended. Spread in a tart pan and smooth with spatula to form an even crust.
- Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until light golden brown at the edges and in spots. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack before adding filling.
For the Glaze:
- Mix 1/2 cup orange juice, 2 tablespoons honey, and 2 teaspoons tapioca starch in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring to combine. When mixture begins to boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring constantly, until glaze thickens--2-3 minutes. Transfer glaze to a bowl and allow to cool completely before glazing the tart.
For the Filling:
- Using a mixer, beat 8 ounces cream cheese until smooth. Add 3 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon zest, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla to the cream cheese and mix until well blended. Set filling aside until crust and glaze are completely cooled. These steps can all be done in advance and reserved until tart is ready to assemble and serve.
For the Fruit Topping:
- Prepare fruit in the manner you prefer. In this application, strawberries were halved, kiwi was sliced, blackberries halved, raspberries and blueberries remained whole. (Blot fruit with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.)
Assembling the Tart:
- Once the crust is completely cooled, spread cream cheese filling evenly over crust -- an icing spatula works wonderfully here to create a smooth finish. Arrange prepared fruit over the filling in any design you choose. Whether you overlap the fruit, completely cover the filling, or allow it to peek through is up to you.
- Once all the fruit is in place, use a pastry brush to gently apply the glaze to the fruit, or use a spoon to drizzle glaze over the tart, just be sure to cover the fruit. Don't be shy, the glaze is not just for looks, it also adds a pleasing citrus accent to the tart.
- Chill until ready to serve. Serve within 24-48 hours.
Video Displays Here or In Post
Notes
Tips
- All the components can be made in advance and stored separately until ready to assemble.
- Berries will last the longest and maintain the best texture up to 3 days.
- Cut ripe peaches, plums, pears, and nectarines will weep more and should be served within 24-36 hours for best results.
- Apply the fruit tart glaze with a soft pastry brush to evenly coat and keep the fruit from browning or drying out.
Variations
- To make it Paleo and Dairy Free, substitute homemade coconut cream cheese, homemade cashew cream cheese, or other favorite dairy-free substitute for the cream cheese in the filling. Sub ghee or coconut oil for the butter.
- Any combination of vibrant berries, mandarin oranges, peaches, plums, pear, mango, pineapple, nectarines, or kiwi will create your most inspired fruit arrangement.
- Use any favorite pastry crust—pie crust or shortbread crust works well too.
- Skip a step and leave it unglazed if serving right away. Photo example below.
To Make Mini Tarts
- Divide crust into 10 to 12 (3-4 inch) mini tart cups. Place tart cups on a rimmed baking sheet and bake crust for about 10 minutes.
- Divide filling evenly between the number of tart cups by spreading or piping into each cup.
- Arrange fruit on top of filling, as desired, in a single layer.
- Brush glaze over fruit, or leave unglazed if serving within a few hours.
Nutrition
More Gluten-Free Brunch Recipes You’ll Love:
-
Cheesecake Strawberries with Chocolate Accents Recipe
-
Blueberry Carrot Cake Muffins
-
Easy, Fresh Berry Crumble with Orange Cream
-
Wholesome Apple-Cranberry Crisp
A simple Cream Cheese Fruit Tart with blueberries, strawberries, and kiwi.