SoChic Stories
La Tarte Aux Fraises : A So Chic Recipe
- - Gastronomy
Because spring in France always begins with strawberries
As spring slowly settles in and the first gariguette strawberries appear on market stalls, there is one dessert that perfectly captures the season: the classic French tarte aux fraises. Light, elegant and beautifully simple, it’s sunshine on a plate, the sweetest way to welcome longer days ahead.
Ingredients (serves 6–8)
For the sweet pastry (pâte sucrée)
- 250 g (2 cups) plain flour
- 125 g (½ cup) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 100 g (½ cup) icing sugar
- 1 egg
- A pinch of salt
For the pastry cream (crème pâtissière)
- 500 ml (2 cups) whole milk
- 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
- 4 egg yolks
- 100 g (½ cup) granulated sugar
- 40 g (⅓ cup) cornflour
- 30 g (2 tbsp) butter
For the topping
- 500–600 g fresh strawberries (Gariguette if possible)
- 2 tbsp apricot jam (for glaze)
- 1 tbsp water
Preparation
Total time: 2 hours (including chilling)
Preparation: 40 minutes
Cooking: 20 minutes
Chilling: 1 hour
Instructions
1. Prepare the pastry
In a bowl, combine flour, icing sugar and salt. Rub in the cold butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
Add the egg and mix until a dough forms. Shape into a disc, wrap in cling film and chill for at least 30 minutes.
Roll out the dough and line a 24 cm tart tin. Prick the base with a fork and chill again for 15 minutes.
Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 15–20 minutes until golden. Let cool completely.
2. Make the pastry cream
Heat the milk with the vanilla until just simmering.
In a bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar and cornflour until pale.
Pour the hot milk over the mixture, whisking continuously, then return to the saucepan.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.
Remove from heat, stir in the butter, and let cool completely (cover with cling film touching the surface).
3. Assemble the tart
Spread the cooled pastry cream evenly over the tart shell.
Arrange the strawberries on top — halved or whole — in neat concentric circles.
Warm the apricot jam with water and gently brush over the strawberries for a glossy finish.
Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
So Chic Tip
For a truly Parisian touch, add a few fresh mint leaves or a dusting of icing sugar just before serving.
Pair it with a glass of chilled rosé or a delicate champagne to celebrate the arrival of spring, à la française.
