Lemon Crostata, a simple and easy Italian Dessert. Made with a flaky pie pastry and a delicious fresh lemon cream filling. This Italian Lemon Crostata is your perfect snack or dinner dessert recipe.
I wish I could say this Italian Lemon Crostata was made from lemons from my own tree, but unfortunately the Italian and I have absolutely no luck growing lemons.
Try as we might, nothing but, a couple of green leaves here or there and not a lemon in sight.After we got married we lived in my brother-in-law’s house while we were building our own.
Well my husband who is a tree lover, decided to plant a couple of lemon trees. And that my friends began our no-lemons-for-us-curse!
Six months after we moved to our new house, that darn lemon tree was producing more lemons than it was tall. I kid you not.
Needless to say lemons grow very well for most people in Italy, in fact I have a shopping bag full in my kitchen from our friends.
So what to do with home-grown lemons? You can always make lemonade but why not make this amazing, one-of-my-favorite-Italian-sweets: Italian Lemon Crostata.
A Crostata is quite often referred to as being similar to a pie. Not quite in my opinion, the dough of a Crostata is slightly richer and the filling is usually a jam filling, sometimes Nutella or Chocolate or in this case a Lemon Crostata. This filling is nice and lemony and creamy, made slowly stirred often until it thickens.
Italian Lemon Crostata
The other day a friend of my husbands came by for a visit and what did he bring with him? Yup two of his own just rooted baby lemon trees, those poor things have no idea what is in store for them.
Now don’t get upset, the trees don’t die they just don’t produce. But I am telling you that is going to change, I hope! So thanks to our friends for this delicious Italian Lemon Crostata. Enjoy!
Italian Lemon Crostata
Ingredients
CROSTATA DOUGH
- pinch salt
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 egg (room temperature)
- 1 egg yolk (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons butter (room temperature)
LEMON FILLING
- 1 egg yolk
- 3 whole eggs
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 3/4 tablespoons butter (melted and cooled)
- zest of 1 lemon
- juice from 2 lemons (4 tablespoons)
Instructions
- CROSTATA DOUGH
- In a large bowl whisk together salt, flour, sugar and baking powder, make a well in the centre and add egg, egg yolk and butter (cubed), mix together (you can also use a food processor, pulse until dough just starts to come together), remove dough to a flat surface and knead until it becomes a soft dough, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- PRE-HEAT oven to 350° (180° celsius) lightly grease and flour a 10 inch (26 centimeter) pie pan.
- Remove dough from fridge, roll 3/4 of the dough into 1/8 inch thickness to fill pie plate, the remaining dough roll and you can use a small cookie cutter to make cutouts or make strips for the top of the crostata.
LEMON FILLING
- In a medium pot whisk together sugar, egg yolks, egg , lemon zest, lemon juice and cooled melted butter, place on low heat and heat whisking constantly until mixture thickens (this can take a while, so be patient and do not raise the heat) (should be thick enough to coat a spoon really well, once it starts to thicken it will thicken very quickly, so be careful not to burn).
- Remove from heat, and fill prepared crostata dough, top with cutouts or strips, brush lightly with milk and bake for approximately 30 minutes, after 15-20 minutes you may have to cover around the top of pie crust as it tends to brown quickly. Let cool completely before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Heather says
June 11, 2019 at 3:27 amI’m a newbie to baking so my crust didn’t turn out as beautifully as yours as I had some trouble with rolling the dough thin enough. But that wasn’t anything to do with the recipe, that’s my lack of baking skills 🙂 However the end result was absolutely wonderful. The lemon filling was divine and the crust was the perfect flavor. Thank you for sharing an amazing recipe!! I look forward to practicing and eating it again 🙂
Rosemary says
June 12, 2019 at 8:42 amHi Heather, thanks so much. When I first started baking it was the same for me too, you just need to practice. Glad you enjoyed it. Have a great day.
Carmen says
April 1, 2019 at 12:18 amI love cooking and always try new recipes. Just wanted to say that I baked it in a 23cm flan tin and it looks perfect and filled nearly to the top for those who like a thicker filling. I also decorated it same as in the picture and it looks so presentable as well. Thank you for this recipe, Looks delicious 😋
Rosemary says
April 1, 2019 at 5:43 pmHi Carmen, thank you, I hope you enjoyed it. Have a great week.
Jennifer says
February 8, 2019 at 7:59 pmThis looks gorgeous! Would a ten inch tart pan work for this recipe? And is it necessary the entire tart be brushed with milk before baking, or just the cut-outs? Thank you!
Rosemary says
February 8, 2019 at 8:21 pmHi Jennifer, yes the recipe is for a 10 inch pie, and brush just the cut outs or strips with milk. Hope that helps and let me know how it goes.
june Smith says
January 3, 2019 at 5:11 pmSounds delish!
The size and juiciness varies in lemons.
I’m assuming that the amount of juice for this recipe
would be 1/4 cup, 2 T per lemon?
Rosemary says
January 3, 2019 at 6:21 pmHi June, yes exactly 2 tablespoons of juice per lemon. Thanks
JDV says
December 15, 2018 at 11:08 pmConfused with the instructions for the filling. You call for mixing egg yolks and egg whites but the ingredient list calls for 3 whole eggs and 1 yolk.,
Rosemary says
December 16, 2018 at 8:53 amHi JDV sorry about that, I corrected it, it should be egg. Hope you like it.
JDV says
December 16, 2018 at 10:54 pmRosemary, I made it last night for a dinner party last night, it came out great and was a hit! Thank you for this recipe, simple and delicious! I followed it faithfully except for using the juice of three lemons instead of two since I have so many and I ended up cooking it for 50 minutes to get the full rise and browning of the cutouts.
Rosemary says
December 16, 2018 at 10:57 pmHi JDV, thanks so glad you all enjoyed it. 🙂
Leona says
February 14, 2019 at 4:06 pmI’m making it per the directions. 3 eggs 1 yolk. Stirring it right now! Is this gonna work? I have no more lemons!
Rosemary says
February 14, 2019 at 4:29 pmHi Leona, if you follow the directions it will work. What do you mean you have no more lemons? You need lemons to make this Lemon Crostata, or else add vanilla or substitute with an orange instead.
Brent says
October 16, 2018 at 7:21 amCan a glass pie dish be used to prepare the crust or should it be metal?
Rosemary says
October 16, 2018 at 2:40 pmHi Brent glass is fine, I use one sometimes and it works no problem.
Maeve says
January 28, 2018 at 7:48 amwhat type of sugar is needed?
Rosemary says
January 28, 2018 at 12:58 pmHi Maeve, just regular granulated sugar. Have a wonderful Sunday Rosemary
Matthias says
April 18, 2016 at 8:14 pmThis one is really great. Just made it last weekend. It’s quite easy to prepare and tastes delicious. I added some fresh vanilla to the dough. Fitted pretty well 🙂
Rosemary says
April 19, 2016 at 9:04 amHi Matthias, so glad you enjoyed it.
Matthias says
May 2, 2016 at 7:50 pmHey rosemary,
Have You ever tried the filling with orange juice and zest instead of lemon?
Rosemary says
May 3, 2016 at 5:39 pmHi Matthias, no I haven’t but it does sound interesting. Let me know if you try it.
Danielle Abbruzzesi says
March 27, 2016 at 4:14 pmI just made this crostata for one of our Easter desserts. My husband was born and raised in Italy so his family loves anything lemon! The crust came together very easily in my Cuisinart. I did have to add a bit of ice water to get it to bind well and I let it chill for an hour. I tasted the filling on a spoon and it is very delicious. I used Meyer lemons and it gave it a wonderful flavor. I want to warn people that you may think there is not enough of the filling as mine barely covered the bottom of my crust. However, once it bakes and everything puffs up, it is a perfect ratio. I will definitely be making this again! Buona Pasqua!
Rosemary says
March 27, 2016 at 7:44 pmHi Danielle good idea on warning people because the filling in a crostata is always quite thin but works really well. So glad you enjoyed. Buona Pasqua!
Jeanne says
December 19, 2016 at 12:12 amI just want to thank you for putting these delicious italian recipes
On your web site and putting down our measuresments
This is my favorite site
I will make the lemon tart as soon as Christmas is over
Thank you again
Rosemary says
December 19, 2016 at 6:58 pmHi Jeanne, your welcome and thanks so much, I hope you enjoy it. Have a wonderful Christmas.
Ashley - Baker by Nature says
March 18, 2016 at 10:13 amSo beautiful!
Rosemary says
March 18, 2016 at 1:00 pmThanks Ashley.
Megan @ MegUnprocessed.com says
March 17, 2016 at 4:39 pmI have not had this! It looks great!
Rosemary says
March 18, 2016 at 1:02 pmThanks Megan, it is delicious.
DessertForTwo says
March 17, 2016 at 3:17 pmSo pretty!
Rosemary says
March 18, 2016 at 1:04 pmThank you!
nicole @ I am a Honey Bee says
March 17, 2016 at 2:51 amlemon desserts are a must. I love them
Rosemary says
March 18, 2016 at 1:06 pmHi Nicole, I agree! They are delicious. Have a great weekend.
kristi says
March 16, 2016 at 3:04 amthis looks delicious! and your presentation is just stunning! can’t wait to try it!
Rosemary says
March 16, 2016 at 8:20 pmHi Kristi, thanks hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Laura @MotherWouldKnow says
February 1, 2016 at 7:37 pmWhat a gorgeous crostata. I have a bag of lemons that I bought on a whim. Now I know what to do with them!
Rosemary says
February 2, 2016 at 9:06 pmThanks Laura, hope you enjoy it.
Ann says
January 30, 2016 at 12:15 pmI adore anything with lemon. Unfortunately, I’m the only one in my house that likes lemon. Oh well, I’m still going to make this delicious crostata and will have to eat a piece every day until it’s finished. Good luck with the lemon trees.
Tracy says
January 29, 2016 at 8:46 pmGorgeous!!
Rosemary says
February 1, 2016 at 7:29 pmThanks, Tracy.
April @ Girl Gone Gourmet says
January 29, 2016 at 1:07 pmFunny story about those lemon trees – isn’t that how it always works? I wish we had lemon trees – I bet they are so much better than the ones I get in the grocery store. That crostata is so beautiful – my boyfriend loves lemon anything, so will have to give this one a try.
Rosemary says
January 30, 2016 at 2:34 pmHi April, thanks, nothing like just off the tree fruit eh? Have a great weekend.