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!
- 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
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CROSTATA DOUGH
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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.
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PRE-HEAT oven to 350° (180° celsius) lightly grease and flour a 10 inch (26 centimeter) pie pan.
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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.
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LEMON FILLING
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In a medium pot whisk together sugar, egg yolks, egg whites, lemon zest, lemon juice and cooled
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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!
Brent says
Can a glass pie dish be used to prepare the crust or should it be metal?
Rosemary says
Hi Brent glass is fine, I use one sometimes and it works no problem.
Maeve says
what type of sugar is needed?
Rosemary says
Hi Maeve, just regular granulated sugar. Have a wonderful Sunday Rosemary
Matthias says
This 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
Hi Matthias, so glad you enjoyed it.
Matthias says
Hey rosemary,
Have You ever tried the filling with orange juice and zest instead of lemon?
Rosemary says
Hi Matthias, no I haven’t but it does sound interesting. Let me know if you try it.
Danielle Abbruzzesi says
I 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
Hi 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
I 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
Hi Jeanne, your welcome and thanks so much, I hope you enjoy it. Have a wonderful Christmas.
Ashley - Baker by Nature says
So beautiful!
Rosemary says
Thanks Ashley.
Megan @ MegUnprocessed.com says
I have not had this! It looks great!
Rosemary says
Thanks Megan, it is delicious.
DessertForTwo says
So pretty!
Rosemary says
Thank you!
nicole @ I am a Honey Bee says
lemon desserts are a must. I love them
Rosemary says
Hi Nicole, I agree! They are delicious. Have a great weekend.
kristi says
this looks delicious! and your presentation is just stunning! can’t wait to try it!
Rosemary says
Hi Kristi, thanks hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Laura @MotherWouldKnow says
What 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
Thanks Laura, hope you enjoy it.
Ann says
I 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
Gorgeous!!
Rosemary says
Thanks, Tracy.
April @ Girl Gone Gourmet says
Funny 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
Hi April, thanks, nothing like just off the tree fruit eh? Have a great weekend.