Apricot season is here! We’re celebrating with this vanilla apricot tart – filled with a decadent pastry cream and sticky sweet tart roasted apricots, it is truly a celebration.
vanilla apricot tart

You know how “they” say that watched pots never boil?

Well I’m starting to think the same can be said for fruit flies skydiving into a jar of vinegar.

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YES we have an infestation, and I honestly didn’t realize how bad it was until I went to take out the garbage last night and was bombarded.

Not my finest (or most well-spoken) moment.

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So we’re doing the “paper-rolled-into-a-funnel-and-stuck-in-a-Mason-jar-of-apple-cider-vinegar” trick. And it’s working! Kind of.

The flies fly in and appear to be stuck/too stupid to find their way out…but then they refuse to drown in the vinegar! I can’t understand it. Professor Google swears they should be so undeniably attracted to its scent that they should be belly up within minutes.

Ummm it’s been hours….and nothing.

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So now I’m on a mission to eat/bake with all of our fruit…because if they have nothing else to eat then they’ll have to go for the vinegar. That’s just Survival 101.

Starting, obviously, with this vanilla apricot tart. Apricots and I have a “moment” at around this time every year. They just look so vibrant and seem like they should be so insanely sweet so I buy them by the armful. Then some are, some aren’t, and the rest go into a sweet treat because I can’t handle that sort of fruit Russian roulette anymore.

This year’s tart is definitely a looker, if I do say so myself. But she’s more than just a pretty face.

The apricots’ flavor deepens in the oven so they’re simultaneously intensely sweet, tart, and caramelized. Paired with a vanilla pastry cream custard, the most magical of pastry crusts, and some toasty almond crunch, each bite is a revelation.

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The consequent fruit fly extermination? Just an added bonus.

Vanilla Apricot Tart
 
Apricot season is here! We're celebrating with this vanilla apricot tart - filled with a decadent pastry cream and sticky sweet tart roasted apricots, it is truly a celebration.
Yield: 8-10 servings
Ingredients
For the dough
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¾ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • ¼ cup water
For the pastry cream
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup whole milk
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • pinch of salt
  • 1½ tbsp cornstarch
  • 5 tbsp sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
For the tart
  • 8 rice apricots, pitted and halved
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  • ¼ cup toasted sliced almonds
  • powdered sugar, for serving
Instructions
  1. For the crust, pulse together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of a food processor, just to combine. Add in the butter and pulse until pea-sized pieces form. Slowly add in the water and pulse just until the dough starts to come together.
  2. Dump the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap and pat into a disc. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least an hour.
  3. Meanwhile, for the pastry cream, put the butter and vanilla in a bowl and set a fine-mesh sieve over it. Set aside.
  4. In a medium saucepan, heat the milk, heavy cream and salt over medium heat. In a separate bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, sugar, egg, and egg yolk. When the cream begins to boil, lower the heat. Add the hot milk mixture to the egg mixture a quarter cup at a time, stirring constantly. Pour the hot egg mixture into the saucepan. Increase the heat to medium and whisk constantly until thickened, about 1-2 minutes.
  5. Remove from the heat and immediately strain into the bowl with the butter. Whisk the butter into the pastry cream until it is completely melted and incorporated. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface of the cream and refrigerate until cool.
  6. When the dough is ready, roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a 15-inch square. Gently press into an 11- or 12-inch tart pan. Trim any excess dough. Freeze for at least one hour.
  7. Heat oven to 350F.
  8. Line the inside of the shell with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or baking beans. Bake for 35 minutes, until the edges start to brown. Remove the parchment and weights and return to the oven. Bake until the whole shell is browned, 15-20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
  9. When the shell is cooled, spread the pastry cream over the bottom. Toss the apricots with the sugar, brown sugar, salt, and butter. Arrange the apricots on the pastry cream cut side up.
  10. Bake for 1 hour and 25 minutes, or until the pastry cream looks set and the fruit is browned. Allow to cool. Sprinkle with toasted almonds and powdered sugar before serving.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 slice

More stone fruit desserts:

apricot frangipane galette

Apricot Frangipane Galette

plum and almond cream tart

Plum and Almond Cream Tart

plum and marzipan crumble pie

Plum and Marzipan Crumble Pie

From Around the Web:

Apricot Cream Cheese Babka from Brown-Eyed Baker

Five-Spice Plum Cake from Hungry Rabbit NYC

Mini Nectarine Vanilla Bean Pies from Dessert For Two

Apricot Cobbler with Buttermilk Biscuits from Snixy Kitchen

Cherry-Plum Port Crumble from Bakers Royale

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52 Responses to Vanilla Apricot Tart

  1. Silly fruit flies!!
    What a gorgeous tart! I am loving all stone fruits right now and would NO DOUBT love a slice of this tart 🙂

  2. This tart just broke my heart. Really, it’s absolutely fabulous – and I need to wait like 4 months for apricot season on our side of the world. I just started crying (real tears). 🙁

  3. We hardly ever get really good apricots – but baking them with some vanilla turns the disappointing ones into something glorious. This looks heavenly!

  4. Eating all the fruit sounds like the way to make the best of your situation for sure! This tart is lovely- the sliced almonds are so pretty! Pinning!

  5. Fruit flies are the most annoying thing. But can I just tell you, I’m obsessed with the gorgeous photos in this post!

  6. Barbara says:

    What a gorgeous tart, Joanne! And so beautifully photographed and presented.
    I love, love, Huckleberry. My daughter gave it to me a few months ago and I’ve made several things from it…each was fabulous.

  7. OH! Fruit flies are irritating. I thing eating fruits is the best solution in this situation! This apricot tart looks sensational, Joanne! YUMMY!

  8. This sounds so delicious girl!! Loving that filling!

  9. What a gorgeous tart and amazing photos!

  10. I could so go for a large slice of this beautiful tart for breakfast right now!

  11. This is the best way (I found) to get rid of fruit flies and it is super easy. Within a day I have usually caught most of them: http://www.thekitchn.com/tip-from-the-readers-a-quick-s-153283
    I get a little thrill seeing them dead in the vinegar 😉
    Try it and let me know how it goes!

    • MEGHAN says:

      I agree with Janet: vinegar and dishwashing liquid in a little bowl is the best way to get rid of fruit flies. I used to compost in my old apartment and I always had them until I found this method. So I’d clean everything and then add balsamic vinegar (I find it works a lot better than other vinegars because it’s so sweet) to a little dish and drop just about a teaspoon of dish liquid in. They’ll be gone in a few days.

  12. Dude, I hate fruit flies. Last summer, I picked up a bunch of bananas from the grocery store (they were the culprit, I think they were a bad bunch) and before I knew it, those suckers were everywhere. I literally removed everything from the kitchen and we were on a mission to kill all of them. they were following me into the bathroom. . I was seriously going crazy that week. We did everything . . the jar of vinegar (my husband hand made funnels so that they couldn’t get out), he bought sticky tape, get the ones with the vibrant colors, which supposedly they like to fly to, as well as the stuff they had at home depot (there’s like candle looking things to trap and kill fruit flies. anyway, I feel for you sister. and hope you are able to get rid of them, fast! in the meantime, eat more of this gorgeous tart!!!

  13. Ugh, I have SO many fruit flies buzzing around and annoying me in my kitchen too! Hope yours “buzz off” asap! Lol. And this tart?? Holy moly, could this seriously get any more stunning?? Seriously cannot even stop salivating over here!

  14. Kelly says:

    Boo to those fruit flies. They drive me bonkers! I am totally behind eating all the fruit and this tart! It’s gorgeous! I love the apricot and all those pretty sliced almonds!

  15. We have a fruit fly problem at the moment too, but I hadn’t heard about the apple cider vinegar thing. I am going to have to try it, as they are really annoying.

    That is such a beautiful tart too. I’m not making the most of apricots at the moment.

  16. Lori Rice says:

    Fruit flies are the worst. This tart, on the other hand, looks amazing!

  17. This looks absolutely beautiful Joanne, but do I dare try my hand at pastry cream?!

  18. Ugh, those fruit flies are annoying little pests. But on a brighter note, this tart is incredible. I love apricots!

  19. Damn those fruit flies!! They really can be such a nuisance.

    This tart looks absolutely gorgeous, though! Not a bad way to combat the fruit flies, if I do say so myself.

  20. CakePants says:

    This looks fantastic! Every year when I see apricots I want to buy them, but then can’t think of what to make – problem solved! And ugh, so true about the watched fruit flies never go into the vinegar. I think I caught like 2 when I tried that last year. Good luck!

  21. Meg says:

    This looks awesome, and very impressive! I’m sure it would be gorgeous on a summer table. As for the fruit flies, I don’t have any helpful advice — but know that you’re not alone! Thankfully, my house is pretty clear at the moment, but my office is another story. Ack!

  22. This tart is definitely a looker indeed! But not too pretty to eat! 🙂
    I’ve been having fruit flies too – I put all my fruit in the fridge and the suckers are still around! UGH!

  23. Julia says:

    Dang those pesky fruit flies! Dang them alllllll! I hope your de-fruit-fly-ing method works and that those critters stay away. Loving this tart like cuh-raaaay-zee!

  24. what a beautiful tart! love all that vanilla flavor 🙂

  25. Eileen says:

    Such a beautiful tart! I’m going to keep this method in mind for fall plums too. So good!

  26. OMG mouthwatering photos!! They look amazing girl!! You have such baking skills!

  27. Monica says:

    What a beautiful use of apricots. I can almost taste the intensity of the flavors after baking. Love the vanilla and almonds – they are perfect partners for this lovely tart.

  28. I can’t think of a better way to use apricots (or help with the fruit fly extermination, lol!). This is gorgeous and I love the addition of almonds – they pair so well with apricot!

  29. What a gorgeous tart! The apricots + sliced almonds sound like a wonderful combination 🙂

  30. Oh how I hate fruit flys! Their beady, red eyes flying right at your face. Sometimes they come flying out of our compost bin when I lift the lid and it makes me want to move!! Okay, rant over.

    This tart! It’s gorgeous and I am standing here imagining cutting myself and enormous slice.

  31. Wow what a beautiful tart Joanne! I love that you roasted the apricots. Sounds like the perfect combination!

  32. Where do fruit flies come from?? It seems like we have none, and then boom we are overrun with them!

  33. Agness says:

    All I say here is mniam mniam!! 🙂 I totally love apricots, especially when dried! Lovely recipe. I hope you and your loved ones really enjoyed it. My boyfriend would also love it!

  34. Apricots and I have an ongoing love affair but I’d be willing to sacrifice some fresh ones for this tart. Heavenly.

    I hope the flies make an exit soon :S

  35. So beautiful!! I love apricot.. The tart looks amazingly delicious and flavourful.. 🙂

  36. Tina says:

    I need to swap out apricot for a different fruit, my husband isn’t a fan. How is we are married 31 years now and he doesn’t share my love of apricots? Inconceivable!

  37. Oh man, the same thing happened to me last year! And the apple cider vinegar/paper funnel was not so much a success. We basically had to push them into the vinegar..NOT very efficient.
    This tart looks so good! I have yet to buy apricots, but it will happen..soon!

  38. This is a masterpiece Joanne — I love the intense flavor of baked apricots!

  39. Kate says:

    You just reminded me I need to set out some vinegar!

  40. Hotly Spiced says:

    This is a stunning looking tart. I do love apricot tarts! And you’ve photographed it beautifully. The colour of it is gorgeous. Sorry to hear about your plague! I hadn’t heard of the paper-roll-apple-cider-vinegar project before. Great if it works! xx

  41. To me, apricots must be tart and firm. Try using some citronella essential oil to keep the fruit flies away 🙂

  42. Sarah says:

    Wow this tart is just beautiful, Joanne!

  43. We’ve never had fruit flies, but our ant takeover every month more than makes up for it. They all suck. This tart, however, can infiltrate my home anytime. Gorgeous!

  44. This tart is absolutely beautiful! The best way to ward of fruit flies is to use up the fruit, especially in this beautiful tart. I too have a fruit fly abundance in my apartment, mostly because I like eating bananas so much.

  45. Erika says:

    This tart is stunning and that pastry cream makes it amazing! Must Try..

  46. Heather says:

    I can’t stand fruit flies! We get them every year, so I’ll usually start leaving out small glasses of wine and that has worked pretty well for us (plus my husband hates the smell of vinegar so this is a slightly better smelling option for him). 😉

  47. grace says:

    i have woefully little experience with apricots! this is just beautiful, joanne. 🙂

  48. Susan says:

    Sadly, it’s that time of year! They always seem to show up in September here, clinging to a banana or some other piece of fruit from the grocery store. They also say a glass of red wine works, or better yet a sweet red wine like port. I hate those little buggers. But, what I love it this apricot tart! I have two bags of apricots in the frig just waiting to be baked into some sweet delight such as this.

  49. Johanna GGG says:

    wow that tart looks amazing – I love apricots any old way (probably like your fruit flies love it) – good luck with the fruit flies – I like your idea of eating all the fruit but honestly who doesn’t want good fruit about in summer – hope they took the vinegar

  50. Foodiewife says:

    How in the world you find the time to blog as often as you do… well, I admire your fortitude. I’m reading ALL of your posts (since I’ve been MIA for over a month) and this one is a show stopper for me. C’mon. Apricot tart with pastry cream. Oh dear God. This, I need. Big time. I think there are still some apricots in my part of California. Gotta make this one. Seriously.

  51. Great tart! making me hungry in the morning hahaha

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