Stuff I Like: An Easy Fruit Tart to Impress your Friends

Having a signature gift or cocktail or dessert can really simplify things.

Each holiday season I make jars of honey mustard from a recipe that has been passed down for generations in my husband’s family. It is incredible, always well received, and easy to make. Which makes it a homerun in my book and has eliminated one layer of stress for me in December. I do not have to think about what to give the neighbors or teachers or tote along as hostess gifts.  I would share this recipe with you if I had not been told that doing so would result in immediate expulsion from the family.

But I have another recipe, given to me by my sister-in-law, that I am at liberty to share and it embodies those same three attributes. It is delicious, easy to make, and people love it. It has the added distinction of looking really impressive. Feel free to make it your signature dessert, too.

This tart has three basic components, a shortbread crust, a white chocolate and cream cheese filling, and fruit for the top. Make it a time or two and you can make it in your sleep. Top it with raspberries and kiwi for Christmas, blueberries and strawberries for the Fourth of July, or anything you have on hand in any pattern you like and it cannot help but look fabulous. Your four year old can make it into a masterpiece, which is even more impressive. The best part is that people will eat it because fruit is virtuous, and they will be thrilled that this is one tart that tastes even better than it looks. No one needs to know that this is not a virtuous dessert at all. Shortbread, white chocolate and fresh fruit? Yum!

Cecil’s White Chocolate Fruit Tart

1.)Base (may be made a day ahead)
¾ cup softened butter
½ cup confectioner’s sugar
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
Heat oven to 300 degrees. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Blend in flour. Press into 12” pizza or pie platter (You can use anything really. Cookie sheets work fine). Bake 20-25 minutes. Cool completely.

2.) Filling (may also be made ahead)
10 oz. package white chocolate chips
¼ c. whipping cream
8 oz. softened cream cheese

Melt chocolate chips and cream until mixture is smooth (1 minute in microwave on high, stir. If still lumpy heat in 15 seconds increments, then stir, until smooth). Beat in cream cheese until smooth. Spread on cooled base.

3.) Fruit (all berries and kiwi work especially well)

Arrange fruit however it pleases you and top with the following glaze: ¼ cup sugar, 1 Tbs. corn starch, ½ cup pineapple juice, heated until bubbly and thickened. Cool slightly before brushing on top of fruit.

Enjoy!