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No Bake Mixed Berry Custard Tart. Buttery Ritz crackers make up the crust for this easy no bake tart that’s topped with homemade vanilla custard, mixed berries, and sweet honey. This colorful tart is easy to prepare, requires no oven, and is the perfect dessert any night of the week.
I know last month I told you guys how obsessed I am with summer fruit. Well I’m happy to say that the obsession is still very much alive, and I don’t foresee it dying down anytime soon.
Lately I’ve been having a really hard time feeling excited to get into the kitchen to cook. I’m not sure what’s up, but I just haven’t been feeling the most inspired in terms of cooking. Baking on the other hand? Very inspired! Of course I’m still cooking and loving the recipes I share, but I’m just really embracing my sweet tooth…
A lot of times I can get hung up on whether or not I’m creating too many savory recipes, too many desserts, or too many dishes with pasta. I really like to balance out the recipes I share. But the bottom line is that it’s summer, and now is the time to be sharing all the berry and stone fruit filled recipes.
I mean, right?! RIGHT.
Long story short, expect lots of berries, stone fruits, summer tarts, pies, ice creams, and all the good stuff in the coming weeks.
Moving along…
The inspiration for the tart came out of the desire to create an easy no bake recipe that involved lots of fresh fruit and custard. I’ve been very into custard ever since making this mocha custard. It’s so creamy and delicious.
We love it around here.
I knew I wanted to make a custard tart, but I also really wanted it to be no bake. I took a quick look at the weather around the US last week and realized that a lot of us are dealing with eighty plus degree temperatures. Heat like this obviously means no oven, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have our desserts.
So, I created a no-bake crust, filled it with the best and easiest vanilla custard, and topped it with all the summer fruits.
Perfection.
Here are all the details.
For the crust, I didn’t go the traditional graham cracker route and instead used one of my favorite crackers, Ritz. I’ve loved Ritz ever since I was a kid. They’re buttery, salty and just really addicting. I love using them in sweet recipes because they give off a nice salty flavor. Who doesn’t love a salty/sweet combo, you know?
The Ritz are crushed into fine crumbs, mixed with butter and honey, and then pressed into a rough rectangle to create the crust. What I love about this crust is that it is totally free form, totally easy, and totally delicious. No stress about rolling out dough and no special pans. Just press the mix into a rough rectangle and done.
It’s a simple as that.
What I’ll say about the crust is that if it’s not chilled, it will crumble a bit. Still good, but this is really best served straight out of the fridge.
For the filling, I made a very simple stove-top vanilla custard. It’s sweet, creamy, hinted with vanilla, and the perfect thing to serve with fresh berries and stone fruits.
You’ll want to spread the custard over the tart crust and then chill for a couple of hours. Then just before serving add the berries.
As I mentioned, this is really best served straight out of the fridge, and if you are drizzling the tart with honey, do that right before you cut it up. The honey seeps into the custard and creates cracks, so it’s best to drizzle that on right before serving.
I love sprinkling over a little fresh thyme, but that is completely optional, so you do what you like there!
With Friday here, I’m feeling like it’s time to hit up the farmers market, grab all the fruit, and make this no bake tart.
Who’s in? Cool. Cool. Let’s do this then. Perfect way to spend the first full weekend of July!
If you make this mixed berry tar, please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love hearing from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every one of you. Oh, and of course, if you do make this summer tart, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram so I can see! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
No Bake Mixed Berry Custard Tart
Servings: 8 servings
Calories Per Serving: 480 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups crushed Ritz crackers (about 1 1/2 sleeves)
- 8 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons honey
Vanilla Custard
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/3 cup honey, plus more for serving
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
- 2 cups mixed berries
- 1 peach, nectarine, or plum, sliced
- fresh thyme, for garnish
Instructions
- 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. To make the crust. In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, butter, and honey and mix until combined. Dump the mixture out into the prepared pan and use your hands to press the crumbs into a rough (8x12 inch) rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick. Transfer to the freezer to chill.3. To make the custard. In a large pot, whisk together the egg yolks and cornstarch until fully combined. Add the honey, milk, and sea salt. Set the pot over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Cook, stirring continuously, until the mixture thickens and easily coats the back of a wooden spoon, 3-5 minutes. Watch closely, milk tends to boil over. Remove from the heat. Stir in the vanilla and butter. Let cool 10 minutes. 4. Remove the crust from the freezer and spread the custard over top, going almost to the edge of the crust. Cover and transfer to the fridge to chill for 1-2 hours or up to 2 days. 5. Just before serving, arrange the fruit over the custard. Drizzle with honey and garnish with thyme. Slice and enjoy!
This was my first time making custard and it was so easy and turned out so well! I will definitely make this again!
Hey Sara,
Happy Sunday! 😃 Thanks a bunch for trying this recipe out, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
HOLY MARY MOTHER Of GOD! Ok I am not a cook, a baker, or a foodie. But I needed a fresh easy dessert to take to a neighbors’ cabin for dinner on the river, in hot, humid Northern Michigan. I made this with a frozen bag of cherries, blueberries, and strawberries, plus a fresh pint of raspberries. It is to DIE FOR!! And if I can’t F it up, no one can. This is my summer miracle. Everyone LOVED IT!!
Hey Kelly,
LOL I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xxTieghan
Would this be good with the graham cracker crust you use for the no fuss lemon tart? Just wondering because I already have those ingredients in my pantry. Or is the ritz a crucial aspect? Thanks!
Hi Sarah,
The graham cracker crust would be great! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Cannot wait to make. I’m sort of a novice here, and my family has a severe corn allergy. What can I replace the cornstarch with?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Scott,
You can use flour in place of the cornstarch. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi! Could I substitute coconut cream (or almond milk, etc) for the milk?
Hi there! I recommend subbing coconut cream. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
Simple and delicious treat!
Thank you Mary!
Made this tonight! Loved it so so much!
Thank you Melissa!
Is it supposed to be very crumbly before putting it in freezer to set? I’m making it now and it barely sticks together enough to form into a shape
Hi Jessica, yes it is meant to be crumbly. Putting the tart in the freezer, should firm it right up. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
Such a pretty tart, and I love that it’s no bake for these hot summer days!
So perfect for a hot summer day! I hope you try this Laura!
Chilling ANYTHING in the fridge really pokes at my limited patience, LOL! But I can imagine that something like this custard tart be totally worth the wait. I want to try making something like this with coconut cream!
Thank you Cassie! I hope you try this recipe!
Wow, I’m so impressed you don’t even have to bake the crust! Just bought lots of fresh cherries and blueberries from the farmer’s market this morning….perfect timing! 🙂
So perfect! I hope you try this Brittany! Thank you!
A long time ago when I was a kid, Ritz had a recipe to make an apple pie without apples. Ritz crackers were used for the filling. All moms made that pie and everyone was swearing that you couldn’t tell the difference, that it tasted like real apple pie. I never tried it myself, I didn’t really like fruit pies at the time. So your crust recipe reminded me of sime piece of my childhood ?
Hi Louise! So glad this recipe brought you back to your childhood and I hope you try this!
hey girl- this looks so good!
Thank you Shawnna!
Hi there!!! My name is Jacquelin and I’m a home chef here in Los Angeles. Today’s recipe has blessed my ENTIRE soul. The temps today will reach 111 and I am definitely not trying to “cook” anything, so this is perfect. I’ll be sure to check back in and let you know how it turned out.
Wow that is high!! I hope you love this Jacquelin! And stay cool haha!
Hi Tieghan! Curious what kind of honey you use? There are so many varieties and I’m never sure what’s the best one.
Thanks!
Tara
HI! I use a local honey from Colorado. I am a big fan of using raw honey! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂