Apricot Tart

Name: Apricot Tart
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup vegan butter; 1/8 tsp salt; 2-3 tbsp water; 1/4 cup applesauce; 10 medium ripe apricots; 2-3 tbsp granulated sugar; 2-3 tbsp apricot jam (optional)

This French-inspired apricot tart will delight your tastebuds! It packs soft and juicy fresh apricots that are slightly charred on top of a crunchy pie crust. Finished with apricot jam, this vegan apricot tart is simple yet impressive!

Apricot tart with charred apricots on a wooden board.

⭐️ Why You Should Try This Recipe

Simple & rustic. This apricot tart recipe makes use of 5 basic ingredients that are easy to find. It’s simple to prepare and has a rustic, grandma-style vibe to it!
Perfectly sweet and juicy. With large and juicy apricots halves, this delightful tart is super fruity and refreshing. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate summer dessert!
Egg-free and dairy-free. This apricot tart is naturally vegan as it makes use of vegan butter to prepare the shortcrust pastry.

📘 What Is Apricot Tart

Apricot tart, or “tarte aux abricots” in French, is a sweet pie that consists of fresh apricots baked in a shortcrust pastry. It’s a traditional French recipe that is often prepared in the summer when there is an abundance of ripe apricots.

Ingredients like apricots, butter, jam, applesauce, and sugar.

🍑 Ingredient Notes

You are just 5 ingredients away from this delicious tart. Here is what you will need:

Shortcrust pastry – You can use a store-bought shortcrust pastry or follow the instructions in the recipe if you want to make it yourself. If you want more in-depth instructions, check out my vegan pie crust recipe.
Fresh apricots – No dried apricots allowed here! Use fresh and ripe apricots.
Applesauce – It adds moisture and sweetness. Feel free to use your favorite fruit sauce.
Sugar – To sprinkle on top of the apricots before baking. It will not only bring sweetness but will also help the apricots caramelize.
Apricot jam – Optional. To glaze the tart after baking.

🥣 How To Make Fresh Apricot Tart

It starts with the shortcrust pastry that will take you less than 10 minutes to make. Here is the process for preparing it:

Make the dough (if you want to make it by yourself). Add the flour, room-temperature butter, salt, and water to a food processor or stand mixer. Process for 20-30 seconds or until it forms a smooth dough.
Grease a pan. Lightly grease an 8-inch pie pan with butter.
Flatten and push the dough into the pan. Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough between two sheets of parchment paper into a 10-inch round. Press the flattened dough into the prepared tart pan. Trim off the edges if needed.
Prick the dough. Using a fork, prick the bottom of the dough evenly. This will allow the steam to escape during baking.

Shortcrust pastry pushed into a pie pan.

Next, it’s time to assemble the tart:

Preheat your oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Spread a thin layer of applesauce. Spread the applesauce on the bottom of the dough.
Arrange the apricots. Halve the apricots and discard the seeds. Arrange the apricots on top of the applesauce, with each half slightly overlapping (as the apricots will shrink a bit during baking).
Sprinkle with sugar. Sprinkle the apricots with about 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar.
Bake. Transfer the apricot tart to the oven and bake for about 55 minutes or until golden brown.
Glaze. Finally, warm 2-3 tablespoons of apricot jam over low heat. Using a pastry brush, carefully brush the top of the tart to give it a shiny fish.

The apricot filling will appear a bit liquid straight out of the oven. Worry not. It will set as it cools.

How to Remove Sourness from the Apricots

If you don’t want your tart sour, one secret step will remove almost all of the sourness! It consists of poaching the apricots before arranging them on the crust. To do so:

Add 1 cup of sugar and 3 cups of water to a medium saucepan and bring it to a boil.
Once boiling, add your pitted apricots and let them simmer for about 5 minutes.
Next, use a slotted spoon to remove the apricots from the syrup and transfer them to a grid to drain them. Let them cool for 10-15 minutes before using.

Spreading applesauce on a shortcrust pastry.

❄️ Freezing

This apricot tart freezes well! After baking, let it cool completely before freezing it whole or in slices. It will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

🍦 What To Serve With Apricot Tart

You can serve this apricot tart warm or chilled! It all depends on your preference. Personally, I prefer it chilled as it brings out the apricot flavor.

This tart can be served as is, with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream or with a dollop of coconut cream! You can also sprinkle roasted sliced almonds on top for decoration.

📔 Tips

Use ripe apricots. You absolutely need to use fresh and ripe apricots here. Unripe apricots would yield a very sour flavor.
Bake the tart on the bottom rack of your oven. This will allow the crust to cook fully at the bottom. I first tried baking the tart on the middle rack, and the bottom was not cooked thoroughly.
For a shiny finish. After baking, brush the top of the tart with warm apricot jam. Not only will this add a bit more flavor, but it will also make the tart shinier.

💬 FAQ

Can I use dried apricots instead of fresh ones?

No, using dried apricots, even if soaked, will completely alter the flavor and texture of this tart.

Can I omit the applesauce?

I do not recommend omitting it, as it brings moisture and flavor to the tart. However, you can replace it with peach sauce or low-sugar apricot jam.

Does the crust become soggy after baking?

If baked at the bottom of the oven, the crust is perfectly golden brown and crispy (no need to par-bake!). It won’t become soggy, even after a couple of days in the refrigerator.

What is the best way to store this apricot tart?

You can keep this tart for up to 1 day at room temperature, covered with plastic wrap or foil, or up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

If you are looking for a simple yet delicious summer dessert, you are going to love this rustic apricot tart! It’s super fruity, fresh, and so juicy!

🥧 More Delicious Tart Recipes

If you like tarts, sweet or savory, you are going to love these as well:

Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe!

Recipe

4.75 from 4 votes

Author: Thomas Pagot

Print Pin Review

Prep Time : 25

Cook Time : 45

Total Time : 1 10

Servings 8 servings

Calories 145 kcal

Equipment

8-inch pie pan

Ingredients

Shortcrust pastry

▢ 1 cup all-purpose flour
▢ 1/4 cup vegan butter
▢ 1/8 tsp salt
▢ 2-3 tbsp water

Apricot Filling

▢ 1/4 cup applesauce
▢ 10 medium ripe apricots
▢ 2-3 tbsp granulated sugar
▢ 2-3 tbsp apricot jam optional

Instructions

Shortcrust pastry

Make the dough. Place the flour, butter, salt, and water in the bowl of a food processor (fitted with the dough blade) or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Process for 15-30 seconds or until it forms a smooth dough.
Grease a pan. Lightly grease an 8-inch pie pan with butter.
Flatten and push the dough into the pan. Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough between two sheets of parchment paper into a 10-inch round. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and press it into it. Cut off the excess dough if needed.
Using a fork, poke holes in the bottom of the tart several times.

Apricot Filling

Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175°C) and place a grid on the bottom rack.
Spread a thin layer of applesauce. Spread the applesauce evenly on the bottom of the dough using a spoon.
Arrange the apricots. Halve the apricots and discard the seeds. Arrange the apricots on top of the applesauce, with each half slightly overlapping (as the apricots will shrink a bit during baking).
Sprinkle with sugar. Sprinkle the apricots with about 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar. This will allow the apricots to caramelize slightly.
Bake. Finally, transfer the apricot tart to the oven and bake for about 55 minutes or until golden brown.
If you want to give the tart a shinier appearance: heat the apricot jam in a small saucepan over low-medium heat. Next, using a pastry brush, brush the apricots with the jam.
You can enjoy this tart warm or chilled! It will keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.