• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Peanut Blossom
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • Book Club
  • Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPES
  • HOLIDAYS
  • BOOK CLUB
  • COOKBOOKS
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • RECIPES
    • HOLIDAYS
    • BOOK CLUB
    • COOKBOOKS
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Tarts & Tortes

    Strawberry Cream Cheese Tart

    Published: May 31, 2016 · Modified: Feb 22, 2023 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

    1.3K shares
    • Share
    • Email Friend!
    Jump to Recipe - Pin Recipe

    Festive red, white, and blueberry & strawberry tart has an easy cream cheese filling on top of a shortbread cookie style crust. It is the perfect make-ahead dessert for your Memorial Day, 4th of July, or summer backyard party. 

    A blue plate with a strawberry tart featuring a cookie crust, creamy filling, and fresh summer berries in a red and blue pattern on the top.

    For Memorial Day this year, we went over the top with a complete red, white, and blue themed menu for the holiday: grilled steak tips with roasted red, white, and blue potatoes (don't believe me? see them here!), and this awesome red, white, and blue strawberry cream cheese tart for dessert.

    I have such mixed emotions about Memorial Day itself. . . it's not a "happy" day, but our family does honor it by wearing our patriotic colors and spending time together to enjoy the hard-earned peace many have died to ensure we keep.

    So what dessert says God Bless America more than one covered in bright red strawberries and juicy sweet blueberries??

    Fresh from the farmer's market around the corner, the in season berries were the star of our dinner nestled on top of a cool and tangy-sweet cream cheese filling.

    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe is the Best
    • Ingredients
    • Prepare the Tart Crust
    • Roll the Dough
    • Bake the Crust "Blind"
    • Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling
    • Top with Fresh Berries
    • Variations
    • Make Ahead Tips
    • More Fruit Desserts
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why This Recipe is the Best

    The shortbread crust is super easy to make from scratch and has a texture similar to a sugar cookie in my opinion.

    The cream cheese base is just the right amount of creamy and sweet to help your berries stay in the decorative patterns on top. It is also a lot easier to make than a traditional tart custard filling.

    My goofy girls decided to eat this top-down by starting with the fruit, spooning up the filling, and then chomping into the crust just like a cookie. No soggy crusts here!

    Ingredients

    This entire recipe is made from scratch but really doesn't require much to make it. Just look at this short list of ingredients!

    • Flour
    • Powdered sugar
    • Butter
    • Heavy Cream
    • Egg
    • Cream cheese
    • Vanilla extract
    • Fresh strawberries
    • Fresh blueberries

    Prepare the Tart Crust

    To make the crust, whisk together the egg yolk, cream, and vanilla in a small bowl and set aside.

    Pour the flour, sugar, and salt into the bowl of a food processor and process briefly to combine.

    Scatter the butter cubes over the flour and process to cut the butter into the flour. The mixture should resemble a coarse meal after 15 1-second pulses.

    With the machine running, pour in the egg mixture.

    Turn off the machine as soon as the dough forms a large ball.

    Turn the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap and form it into a 6-inch disc. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for 1 hour or up to 48 hours.

    Roll the Dough

    Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Unwrap the dough and roll out on a lightly floured surface.

    Transfer the dough into a removable bottom tart pan and gently press into place. Trim any excess off the top by rolling a rolling pin over the top to cut the edge.

    Freeze for 30 minutes.

    Bake the Crust "Blind"

    This recipe calls for baking the tart crust "blind" which means without any fillings. You want it baked and completely cooled before you add the cream cheese base.

    Preheat the oven to 375°F with the oven rack in the middle position.

    Set the tart pan on a baking sheet and gently press a square of tinfoil onto the surface of the frozen shell making sure to cover the edges.

    Bake for 30 minutes, rotating halfway through the baking time.

    Remove the tin foil and continue to bake until light golden brown, 5-8 minutes longer.

    Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling

    Beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla on medium-high speed until smooth.

    Add the milk or cream and continue to beat until light and fluffy.

    Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled tart shell.

    Top with Fresh Berries

    Place the strawberries in circles starting at the outer edge and working towards the center.

    You can sprinkle the blueberries all over the top or make neat rows, whichever you prefer!

    Hooray for the USA! This super simple strawberry cream cheese tart has a sugar cookie-style crust and fresh berries. So perfect for your 4th of July or Memorial Day party.

    Variations

    This strawberry tart would be just as delicious with a variety of fresh fruits:

    • Blackberries
    • Raspberries
    • Sliced grapes
    • Mandarin oranges
    • Fresh pineapple
    • Fresh cherries
    • Fresh kiwi slices

    Make Ahead Tips

    You can make the dough up to 48 hours ahead of time, but the crust is best on the day it is baked.

    You can blend the cream cheese filling the day before, but store it separate from the crust in an airtight container in the fridge. Allow it to come to room temperature before trying to spread it in the tart crust.

    The crust is sturdy and travels well for entertaining!

    More Fruit Desserts

    Looking for more delicious fruit dessert recipes? Here are some of my all-time favorites:

    • A dish of peach cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and a spoon.
      Southern Style Peach Cobbler
    • A square of crumble apple pie bar has a drizzle of caramel over the top and a fork to the side.
      Crumble Apple Pie Bars
    • A white bowl of fresh cherry crisp shows the juicy filling and golden brown crumble topping.
      The Best Fresh Cherry Crisp
    • A square slice of strawberry kiwi cake shows the red Jello poke stripes, fluffy whipped topping, and has two thin slices of fresh kiwi on top for garnish.
      Easy Strawberry Kiwi Cake

    📖 Recipe

    A blue plate with a strawberry tart featuring a cookie crust, creamy filling, and fresh summer berries in a red and blue pattern on the top.

    Red White and Blue Strawberry Tart

    4.34 from 3 votes
    This festive fresh fruit tart is picture perfect for a patriotic summer holiday! Fresh strawberries and blueberries from the farmer's market tops a sweet and creamy custard base in a cookie crust.
    TOTAL TIME 1 hour 50 minutes
    PREP TIME 20 minutes
    Additional Time 1 hour
    COOK TIME 30 minutes
    YIELD 8 servings
    PIN RECIPE FOR LATER PRINT RECIPE NOW

    Ingredients
      

    For the crust:

    • 1 large egg yolk
    • 1 tablespoon heavy cream
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 ¼ cups flour
    • ⅔ cup confectioners’ sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 8 tablespoon (1 stick) cold butter cut into cubes

    For the filling:

    • 1 (8 oz) brick of cream cheese softened
    • ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 tablespoon milk or cream

    For the topping:

    • 2 cups fresh strawberries cleaned and sliced thin
    • 1 cup fresh blueberries washed and dried

    Instructions

    For the crust:

    • To make the crust, whisk together the egg yolk, cream, and vanilla in a small bowl and set aside. Pour the flour, sugar, and salt into the bowl of a food processor and process briefly to combine. Scatter the butter cubes over the flour and process to cut the butter into the flour. The mixture should resemble a coarse meal after 15 1-second pulses.
    • With the machine running, pour in the egg mixture. Turn off the machine as soon as the dough forms a large ball. Turn the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap and form it into a 6-inch disc. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for 1 hour or up to 48 hours.
    • Remove the dough from the refrigerator. (If refrigerated for more than an hour, let stand at room temperature until malleable.) Unwrap the dough and roll out on a lightly floured surface. Transfer the dough into a removable bottom tart pan and gently press into place. Trim any excess off the top by rolling a rolling pin over the top to cut the edge. Freeze for 30 minutes.
    • Preheat the oven to 375°F with the oven rack in the middle position. Set the tart pan on a baking sheet and gently press a square of tinfoil onto the surface of the frozen shell making sure to cover the edges. Bake for 30 minutes, rotating halfway through the baking time. Remove the tin foil and continue to bake until light golden brown, 5-8 minutes longer.

    For the filling:

    • Beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla on medium-high speed until smooth. Add the milk or cream and continue to beat until light and fluffy. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled tart shell.

    To decorate:

    • Place the strawberries in circles starting at the outer edge and working towards the center. You can sprinkle the blueberries all over the top or make neat rows, whichever you prefer!
    • Chill until ready to serve. Drizzle with chocolate sauce or dollops of whipped cream if you choose.

    Notes on making it ahead:

    • You can make the dough up to 48 hours ahead of time, but the crust is best on the day it is baked.
    • You can blend the cream cheese filling the day before, but allow it to come to room temperature before trying to spread it in the pan.
    • The crust is sturdy and travels well for entertaining!
    COURSETarts & Tortes
    CUISINEAmerican
    AUTHORTiffany Dahle

    Save This Recipe to Your Recipe Box

    Find this delicious recipe next time you visit by saving it to your very own recipe box on my site. All your favorites stored in one easy place!

    SAVE THIS RECIPESaved!

     

     

    Hooray for the Red, White, and Blueberry & Strawberry Cream Cheese Tart! This is such a cute and easy dessert for the 4th of July or Memorial Day party.

    More Tarts and Torte Recipes

    • A serving of creme brulee with fresh strawberries. A spoon has cracked through the sugar topping.
      Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée for Beginners
    • A 9x13-inch pan has finished strawberry pretzel salad for serving, a plate with a single slice and a fork is in front.
      Strawberry Jello Pretzel Dessert
    • A slice of tiramisu is on a white plate, a spoon has a bite on it showing the cream filling and spongey cookie layer.
      Easy Tiramisu
    • A rich chocolately round torte is on a cake plate with a pink ceramic flower accent. Powdered sugar is dusted over the top.
      Rich Chocolate Flourless Torte

    Reader Interactions

    Trackbacks

    1. All the meal train ideas you need to bring the best dinner ever says:
      October 16, 2020 at 10:00 am

      […] simple berry and cream cheese tart […]

      Reply
    2. Firecracker Cream Cheese Pinwheel Recipe: a spicy appetizer for a patriotic party says:
      February 15, 2020 at 2:35 pm

      […] Red White and Blue Fruit Tart […]

      Reply
    3. A refreshing kiwi strawberry poke cake for easy entertaining says:
      February 15, 2020 at 2:34 pm

      […] Red white and blue strawberry cream cheese tart […]

      Reply
    4. Firecracker popsicles for the 4th of July says:
      June 26, 2019 at 6:34 am

      […] Red white and blue strawberry cream cheese tart […]

      Reply
    5. Strawberry freezer jam says:
      June 21, 2019 at 8:40 am

      […] Red white and blue strawberry cream cheese tart […]

      Reply
    6. This strawberry lemonade cake is summer in a pan says:
      May 16, 2019 at 1:11 pm

      […] Red white and blue strawberry tart […]

      Reply
    7. 27 Sun Kissed Summer Strawberry Desserts | The Adventure Bite says:
      May 13, 2019 at 7:01 am

      […] This dessert has wonderful Summer colors like red, white, and blueberry. Making this Strawberry Cream Cheese Tart the perfect make-ahead dessert for your any summer party. Get Recipe Here. […]

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

    More about me →

    What's Trending Now

    • A photo collage shows the variety of recipes that can be made in a bread maker.
      50 Best Bread Machine Recipes
    • A blue baking dish filled with mac and cheese with bread crumb topping. A serving spoon has removed a portion to show the creamy elbow noodles.
      Make Ahead Mac and Cheese
    • An airfryer basket has 7 seasoned chicken tenderloins golden brown and cooked.
      Healthy Chicken Tenderloins in the Air Fryer
    • Two salmon filets are surrounded by fresh green beans in an air fryer basket.
      How to Cook Salmon in Air Fryer

    Popular

    • A freezer-friendly metal pan holds an 8x8-inch apple crisp with crumble topping.
      Freezer Friendly Apple Crisp
    • A stack of the best books for book club in 2023
      Best Book Club Picks 2023
    • A taco salad made with mini frozen tacos.
      10-minute Trader Joe's Meals
    • A young kid's hand is holding a homemade pizza lunchable.
      30 School Lunch Ideas for Kids
    • A collage of easy dinners for busy nights.
      30 Quick Dinners for Busy Nights
    • A photo collages shows several easy dinner ideas kids could make.
      Easy Dinner Ideas for Yo-Yo Nights {You're On Your Own!}
    • A meal train dinner kit featuring supplies for tacos sits in an aluminum tray for delivery.
      30 Clever Meal Train Ideas with Recipes
    • Harry Potter themed snacks are in a platter with a witch hat sitting next to an open copy of a Harry Potter book.
      21 Harry Potter Snacks for Movie Night

    Footer

    As Seen On

    The Taste of Home Logo
    The Pioneer Woman Logo
    The Country Living Logo
    The Buzzfeed logo
    The Good Housekeeping Logo

    About

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Contact
    Privacy Policy
    Disclaimer

    Favorites

    Bread Recipes
    Soup Recipes
    Quick Dinner Recipes
    Harry Potter Fan Club
    Reading with Kids

    Holidays

    Easter Recipes
    4th of July Recipes
    Catholic Celebrations
    Thanksgiving Recipes
    Christmas Recipes

    Recipes

    Appetizers
    Dinners
    Salads
    Side Dishes
    Desserts
    Brunch
    Homemade Pantry

    ↑ back to top

    Copyright © 2023