10+ Sweet Shortcrust Pastry Recipes Desserts for Every Occasion

Sweet shortcrust pastry is a delightful base for a variety of desserts. This versatile pastry can elevate your baking, providing a delicious and buttery foundation for tarts, pies, and more. With the right recipes, you can easily master sweet shortcrust pastry and impress your family and friends with your baking skills.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced baker, creating the perfect sweet shortcrust pastry can be simple and satisfying. You’ll find that using fresh ingredients and following straightforward methods will lead to tasty desserts that everyone will enjoy. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different fillings and toppings to make each dessert unique!

Classic Apple Tart

Making a classic apple tart is a delightful experience. This dessert features a buttery sweet shortcrust pastry filled with tender apples. The combination of flavors makes it a favorite for many.

Start by preparing your sweet shortcrust pastry. Roll it out and line your tart tin. Then, peel and slice your apples. You can use varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for a nice balance of tartness and sweetness.

Next, arrange the apple slices in your pastry shell. You can sprinkle some sugar and cinnamon over the apples for extra flavor. Bake it in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) until the pastry is golden and the apples are soft.

Let it cool slightly, then serve it warm. A scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream pairs beautifully with this tart. Enjoy your homemade classic apple tart!

Ingredients

• 250 g (2 cups) plain flour
• 100 g (½ cup) sugar
• A pinch of salt
• 150 g (5.3 oz) soft butter
• 1 medium egg
• 3-4 medium apples
• 50 g (¼ cup) sugar (for filling)
• 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Prepare the sweet shortcrust pastry.
2. Roll it out and line your tart tin.
3. Peel and slice the apples.
4. Arrange apple slices in the pastry shell.
5. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon on top.
6. Bake at 375°F (190°C) until golden.
7. Let cool slightly and serve.

2) Chocolate Ganache Tart

A Chocolate Ganache Tart is a delightful dessert that chocolate lovers will enjoy. Made with a sweet shortcrust pastry, this tart features a rich, creamy ganache filling. You can enhance the flavor with a sprinkle of sea salt on top.

For the crust, you will use a buttery sweet shortcrust pastry, which provides a nice contrast to the chocolate filling. The ganache is usually made from good quality dark chocolate and heavy cream, creating a smooth and luscious texture.

You can also add fresh fruit, like cherries, or serve it with whipped cream to make it even more special. Enjoy this tart chilled for the best experience.

Ingredients:

• Sweet shortcrust pastry
• 170g dark chocolate (70% cocoa)
• 400ml heavy cream
• 80g unsalted butter
• Sea salt (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Roll out the sweet shortcrust pastry and fit it into a tart pan.
3. Bake the pastry for about 20 minutes until golden.
4. Heat the heavy cream until just boiling and pour it over the chopped chocolate.
5. Stir until smooth and add the butter.
6. Pour the ganache into the cooled pastry and chill until set.

3) Lemon Meringue Pie

Lemon meringue pie is a delightful dessert that balances sweet and tangy flavors. The zesty lemon filling is topped with a fluffy meringue, all nestled in a buttery sweet shortcrust pastry.

To make this pie, start by preparing your pastry crust. You want it to be crisp and golden. Once your pastry is ready, focus on the lemon filling. Combine lemon juice, sugar, and egg yolks for that vibrant flavor.

Next, you’ll make the meringue. Whip egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Spread this meringue over the warm lemon filling. Bake the pie until the meringue is lightly browned, usually around 15 minutes at 350°F (175°C).

Let your pie cool before serving to allow the flavors to meld. This dessert is perfect for celebrations or cozy family gatherings.

Ingredients

• 1 pie crust (sweet shortcrust)
• 1 cup (200g) sugar
• 1/4 cup (30g) cornstarch
• 1 cup (240ml) water
• 3 large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup (120ml) fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 3 large egg whites

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Bake the pie crust until golden.
3. Mix sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan.
4. Gradually add water, stirring until smooth.
5. Heat to boiling, then whisk in egg yolks, lemon juice, and zest.
6. Pour lemon filling into the crust.
7. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form, then spread over the filling.
8. Bake until meringue is golden, about 15 minutes.
9. Cool before serving.

4) Fruit Mince Pies

Fruit mince pies are a delightful treat, especially during the holiday season. They have a rich filling made from a mix of dried fruits and spices, all wrapped in a buttery sweet shortcrust pastry.

To make these pies, you can use store-bought mincemeat or make your own. If you choose the homemade option, you can blend your favorite dried fruits with some apple and spices for a personal touch.

When preparing your pastry, you’ll want it to be soft and easy to work with. Press it into your pie tins for a lovely crust. Bake them until golden brown for that perfect finish.

Ingredients

• 410g jar of mincemeat or homemade filling
• 225g all-purpose flour
• 110g unsalted butter, chilled
• 50g sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• Cold water

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).
2. Mix the flour and sugar in a bowl. Cut in the butter until crumbly.
3. Add the egg yolk and cold water to form a dough.
4. Roll out the dough and press it into a muffin tray.
5. Fill with mincemeat and cover with pastry tops if desired.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

5) Bakewell Tart

Bakewell tart is a classic English dessert known for its sweet shortcrust pastry. This tart has a rich, buttery base filled with delicious flavors. You’ll often find it made with raspberry jam, a layer of frangipane, and topped with sliced almonds.

To prepare, start with your shortcrust pastry and press it into a tart pan. Spread a layer of raspberry jam on the bottom. Then, mix together butter, sugar, and eggs to create the frangipane filling. Add ground almonds to give it texture.

Top the frangipane layer with flaked almonds before baking. Cooking it at 350°F (175°C) will give you a lovely golden finish. Once it cools, the Bakewell tart is ready to be enjoyed with a cup of tea.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup (50g) sugar
• 1/2 cup (150g) raspberry jam
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup (100g) ground almonds
• 1/4 cup (50g) flaked almonds

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Make the shortcrust pastry and line a tart pan.
3. Spread raspberry jam over the pastry base.
4. Cream butter and sugar together, then add eggs and ground almonds.
5. Pour the frangipane filling over the jam.
6. Top with flaked almonds.
7. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden.

6) Custard Tart

A custard tart is a delightful dessert that features a smooth, creamy filling made with eggs, milk, and sugar. The sweet shortcrust pastry base provides a perfect balance to the rich custard.

To start, you will need a crisp, buttery pastry shell. This shell is baked until it’s golden and holds the custard beautifully. You can enhance the flavor of the custard by adding vanilla, lemon zest, or even nutmeg.

After baking, let the custard tart cool before slicing. It’s a great choice for gatherings or a cozy family dessert.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (65g) powdered sugar
• ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 cup (240ml) milk
• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a bowl, mix flour and powdered sugar. Add butter and rub until crumbly.
3. Stir in egg yolk and make a dough. Press into a tart pan.
4. Bake for 15 minutes until golden.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla.
6. Pour the mixture into the baked tart shell.
7. Bake for another 25-30 minutes until set. Let cool before serving.

7) Raspberry Linzer Tart

The Raspberry Linzer Tart is a delicious dessert that brings a touch of elegance to any table. Its crumbly, sweet shortcrust pastry pairs perfectly with a fruity raspberry filling.

To make the crust, you’ll need flour, sugar, butter, and ground almonds. The combination creates a rich and flavorful base. The filling typically uses fresh raspberries and raspberry jam, adding a delightful sweetness.

Once baked, the tart has a beautiful appearance with its lattice pattern on top. This dessert is perfect for gatherings or as a special treat.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup ground toasted blanched almonds
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 pints raspberries
• 1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, combine sugar, butter, and egg until creamy.
3. Mix in flour, ground almonds, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
4. Press the dough into a tart pan.
5. Spread raspberry jam and top with fresh raspberries.
6. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
7. Let cool and dust with powdered sugar before serving.

8) Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie is a classic dessert that’s perfect for autumn. It features a sweet shortcrust pastry with a rich and spiced pumpkin filling. You can enjoy it warm or chilled, often topped with whipped cream.

To start, make your sweet shortcrust pastry. You can use a homemade recipe or a store-bought version for convenience.

Once the crust is ready, prepare the pumpkin filling with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

Bake it until the filling is set and the crust is golden brown. Many people love serving pumpkin pie during the holidays, especially for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

• 1 pre-made sweet shortcrust pastry
• 2 cups pumpkin puree
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon cloves
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• Whipped cream (for serving)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Roll out the pastry and fit it into a pie pan.
3. In a bowl, mix pumpkin puree, sugar, and spices.
4. Add eggs and evaporated milk, stirring until smooth.
5. Pour filling into the

9) Pecan Tart

A pecan tart is a delightful treat that balances sweetness and nutty flavors. It uses a buttery shortcrust pastry as the base, which adds a lovely crunch. The filling is often made with caramelized pecans mixed with syrup for richness.

You can serve it as a dessert for gatherings, especially during holidays like Thanksgiving. Each bite is a satisfying combination of textures and flavors.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• ½ cup corn syrup
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. In a bowl, mix the flour, butter, and sugar until crumbly.
3. Add the egg and mix until a dough forms.
4. Roll out the dough and line a tart pan.
5. In another bowl, combine pecans, corn syrup, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
6. Pour the filling into the pastry.
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until set and lightly browned.

10) Almond Tart

An almond tart is a delightful dessert that combines a buttery pastry with a rich almond filling. This tart is perfect for special occasions or a sweet treat any day.

To start, you’ll need a sweet shortcrust pastry base. You can either make this from scratch or use a store-bought option for convenience.

The almond filling usually includes ground almonds, sugar, eggs, and flavoring like almond extract.

You can enhance your almond tart with caramelized apples or fresh fruits for added flavor. The tart’s texture is smooth, and its taste is nutty and sweet.

When baked, the top will be golden, and the aroma will fill your kitchen. Serve it warm or at room temperature and enjoy it with a dollop of cream or a scoop of ice cream.

Ingredients

• 1 batch sweet shortcrust pastry
• 1 cup ground almonds
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp almond extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Roll out the pastry and line a tart tin.
3. In a bowl, mix ground almonds, sugar, eggs, and almond extract.
4. Pour the filling into the pastry shell.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden.
6. Let it cool before serving.