Cranberry Curd Tart

Alyssa Rivers · Dec 17, 2021

With a smooth tangy filling and Biscoff crust, this cranberry curd tart is a must-make for the holidays. It’s as delicious as it is beautiful!

Need more amazing desserts for your holiday party? Creme brûlée, cranberry Christmas cake, and eggnog cheesecake are sure to win over the hearts of your guests!

Biscoff Crust Cranberry Tart Recipe

Tart recipes have a special place in my heart. I’ve posted recipes for lemon, strawberry, and apple tarts- but I think this cranberry curd tart is my new favorite. Not only is it crazy festive, but it’s one of the most delicious holiday recipes I’ve ever tasted. Like lemon curd, cranberry curd is the perfect balance of tangy and sweet! This helps to balance out desserts so you don’t die of richness after one bite. I swear, I could eat a whole cranberry curd tart by myself. It’s so fruity and delicious! Cranberry pairs amazingly well with the nutty spiced flavor of Biscoff. Each bite is heaven!

And can we talk about how stunning this tart is? It’s a showstopper dessert for sure! The deep red curd filling will stand out wherever it goes. In this recipe, I’ve added a few sugared cranberries and rosemary sprigs on top as the final touch. It’s so easy to put together but looks like something you’d get from a bakery. With how good this tart both looks and tastes, you’ll want it front and center at your holiday dinner! Just make sure to save a piece or two for yourself. It’s going to go fast.

Cranberry Tart Ingredients

For a dessert this beautiful, it uses super simple ingredients! Simple is best- this way the amazing natural flavors of cranberry can shine through. See the recipe card below for measurements.

Biscoff Crust

Biscoff Cookie Crumbs: Spiced, nutty, with hints of caramel, Biscoff cookies pair perfectly with tart cranberry. I like to pop my cookies in a food processor to get them finely milled.
Brown Sugar: I add brown sugar for a deeper sweetness.
Unsalted Butter: Melted, unsalted butter will give your crust a richer flavor. It also helps it to solidify.

Cranberry Curd Filling

Fresh Cranberries: I find that fresh cranberries give the curd the best flavor, but you can use frozen cranberries as well. Fresh cranberries can be difficult to find, especially around the holidays when they’re in high demand.
Lemon and Orange Zest: I love the aromatics that citrus zest adds!
Lemon and Orange Juice: Adds a complex fruity flavor to the curd.
Granulated Sugar: Keeps the curd from being too sour. You can adjust the sweetness to your preference!
Large Eggs: Eggs help the curd to keep its shape and set in place.
Large Egg Yolks: Egg yolks alone add richness and moisture to the tart.
Unsalted Butter: I like mine to be at room temperature before I add it to the mix. This helps the curd consistency be as smooth as possible.
Salt: Just a dash is needed to enhance the overall flavor of your cranberry curd tart!

Process shots of preparing crust and cranberry filling.

Making Your Cranberry Curd Tart

Don’t be intimidated if you’ve never made a curd tart before! It’s actually really easy. Follow these straightforward steps and you’ll have the perfect Christmas dessert baking in no time!

Preparing the Crust

Preheat: First, preheat the oven to 375° F.
Blend and Mix: Use a food processor or blender to pulse whole cookies into crumbs. Once you have 2 cups of fine crumbs, add the brown sugar and melted butter to the food processor and mix together until fully combined.
Press Into Pan: Next, press the crumb mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch tart pan. Bake for about 7-8 minutes, until it just barely begins to brown. Allow to cool completely before adding the filling.

Making Curd Filling

Cook Cranberries: In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, both zests, both juices, and sugar. Cook over medium-low heat until simmering. Continue until the cranberries have burst and the sugar has fully dissolved, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Puree: Use an immersion blender or a regular blender to puree the mixture and press through a fine mesh sieve. Return strained liquid to the pot.
Temper Eggs: In a small bowl, combine the whole eggs and egg yolks. Next, temper the eggs by slowly whisking in a cup of the warm cranberry mixture. Once the eggs are warmed, add the egg mixture into the pot and whisk until combined.
Add Remaining Ingredients: Cook over low heat for about 10 minutes, until the mixture has thickened and is bubbling. Remove from the heat and whisk in the softened butter and a dash of salt.
Transfer: Pour the curd into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap touching the surface of the curd so it doesn’t create a film as it cools.
Chill: Let the curd chill in the fridge at least 3 hours before pouring into the chilled crust. Smooth the top and garnish with sugared cranberries and fresh rosemary before serving.

Pouring cranberries through sieve, cooking over the stove, and then allowing to chill covered in plastic wrap.

Perfecting Your Curd

Curds can be a little tricky to get right. Here are a couple of steps to keep yours smooth and delicious!

Temperature: Your cooking temperature is the most important thing to be aware of when making a curd. If the temperature’s too high, your curd may burn and end up grainy. Temperature too low, and your curd won’t set. I like to cook on low to medium-low and stir constantly to keep my mixture from burning.
Add Eggs Slowly: When adding eggs to your warm cranberry mixture, add slowly and make sure temperature isn’t too high. You also want to make sure you are stirring constantly or else you run the risk of your eggs scrambling.