Are you feeling ready for Thanksgiving yet? It’s a few weeks away, but fast approaching. For many of us, this Thanksgiving is the first holiday back with (vaccinated) loved ones. So this season, instead of leaning on more traditional desserts, we whipped up this bold cranberry curd tart recipe to change things up. This vibrant and flavorful tart combines a Thanksgiving table must-have (cranberries) and transforms them into a festive and delicious dessert that is decidedly not a pie. Sweet flavors pair beautifully with the sweet and salty handmade crust, making this Thanksgiving dessert a new tradition for my household!
Cranberry Curd Tart Recipe with Candied Cranberries & Ginger Snap Crust
What is a curd tart?
Trust me, I get it that not everyone knows what curd tart is. Truth be told, a tart is similar to a pie, but with one key difference: instead of a pie filling made of whole pieces of fruit, a tart is filled with a smooth and creamy curd. For this recipe, we simmer cranberries to get all the flavor out whisk it with eggs and a few other key ingredients to achieve a smooth consistency.
There are many benefits to making a curd tart, too. First and foremost, you can prep the tart the day before Thanksgiving. Second, this recipe is very easy to create and doesn’t require nearly as much elbow grease as a pie with a homemade crust. Additionally, because the tart shell is made with ginger snaps, it is stable enough to hold its shape outside of the tart pan.
Frozen vs. Fresh Cranberries
Another great thing about using cranberries is their hardiness. Unlike other fruit, cranberries can be used either fresh or frozen without any adjustment to your cooking methods. With a lower moisture content compared to other berries, cranberries freeze well. Frozen cranberries can even be candied without issue in this recipe!
Gingersnap Crust
The crust that we’ve made for this tart is ridiculously delicious. It’s made with ginger snap cookies. The addition of this spicy flavor totally transforms the cranberries in this recipe, making it truly special.
Pro tip: Make sure to hang on to the leftover egg whites. Because the tart is decorated with meringues, it’s the perfect way to use them up!
Cranberry Curd Tart Recipe with Candied Cranberries & Ginger Snap Crust
Equipment
- Food processor
- 9' Tart Pan with removable bottom
- Fine Mesh Strainer
- Parchment
- dried beans for pie weights
- Kitchen Blow Torch
- plastic Wrap
- Whisk
- Stand Mixer
Ingredients
Ginger Snap Crust
- 3 Cups Gingersnap cookies crumbled in a food processor
- 8 tbs Butter cold, cubed
- 1 tbsp Cinnamon
Cranberry Curd
- 12 oz Cranberries Fresh or frozen
- 1/2 cup Fresh orange juice
- 1 cup Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 2 Egg yolks (save the whites)
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 8 tbsp Butter melted and cooled
Meringue
- 4 Egg whites Reserved from eggs used in curd
- 2 cups Powdered sugar
Instructions
Ginger Snap Tart Shell
- In a food processor, pulse gingersnaps until an even crumb. You will need 3 cups total of crumbs. Add the cubed butter and pulse until it just comes together.
- Lightly butter the sides of your tart pan and prepare pie weights (I prefer dry beans) and a square of parchment. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Starting from the middle, press the crumbs evenly along the bottom and up the sides. Line the inside of the tart with parchment and then fill with pie weights or beans. Chill in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Once chilled place on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
Cranberry Curd Filling
- On the stovetop, combine cranberries and orange juice and cook over medium heat until the cranberries begin to burst. Remove from heat and strain the cranberries through mesh strainer and return to the pot.
- Combine the eggs and sugar until thoroughly mixed and add to the cranberries, whisking continuously. Add melted butter, whisking in, and cook until the sauce thickens. Cover the top with plastic wrap, making sure the wrap touches the top of the curd to prevent a skin from forming. Allow to cool completely.
Meringue
- In the bowl of a stand mixer beat the egg whites with the whisk attachment on medium speed until foamy. Once foamy, increase speed to high and gradually add the powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
Assembly
- After the tart shell and curd have cooled completely, pour the curd into the shell and smooth out.
- Either scoop and spread the meringue over the top or put it in a piping bag and make a decorative pattern. Lightly toast the top with a kitchen blow torch and serve.
Nutrition
Here’s hoping this cranberry curd tart will be the only one bringing drama to the Thanksgiving table this year!
So what do you think of this cranberry curd tart recipe? We hope you love it! If you make this recipe, be sure to let us know.
You might also enjoy:
Cinnamon Sugar Spiced Crumble Apple Pie Recipe
This crumble apple pie is easy and always a hit; with a few fun twists, this recipe will quickly become an annual go-to.
Orange Spice Bûche de Noël (Yule Log Recipe)
Nothing has delighted folks quite like the whimsical forestscape of a beautiful Bûche de Noël. While a more traditional Yule log is usually chocolate, I assure you this orange spiced variation will be a delicious break from tradition.
