As the leaves turn golden and a crisp chill fills the air, Scotland’s hedgerows and woodlands burst with an abundance of autumnal berries. This delightful tart celebrates the season’s produce, featuring a medley of wild and cultivated berries that thrive in the Scottish autumn.
Ingredients
For the pastry:
- 225g plain flour
- 110g cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 25g caster sugar
- 1 large egg, beaten
For the filling:
- 400g mixed autumn berries (brambles, blueberries, raspberries, rowan berries)
- 100g caster sugar
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- Zest of 1 lemon
For the crème pâtissière:
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- 500ml whole milk
- 1 vanilla pod, split lengthwise
- 4 egg yolks
- 100g caster sugar
- 30g cornflour
- 25g unsalted butter
Method
- First, make the pastry. Rub the flour and butter together until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar, then add the egg and mix to form a dough. Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Roll out the pastry and line a 23cm tart tin. Blind bake for 15 minutes, then remove the baking beans and bake for a further 5 minutes until golden.
- For the crème pâtissière, heat the milk with the vanilla pod. In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, and cornflour. Pour the hot milk over the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Return to the pan and cook, stirring, until thickened. Remove from heat, stir in the butter, and cool.
- Toss the berries with sugar, cornflour, and lemon zest. Spread the cooled crème pâtissière in the tart case, then top with the berry mixture.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until the fruit is bubbling and the pastry is golden. Allow to cool before serving.
This Autumn Berry Tart is a celebration of Scotland’s seasonal produce. The combination of tart brambles, sweet blaeberries, and slightly bitter rowan berries creates a complex flavour profile that perfectly captures the essence of autumn. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a truly indulgent treat.Whether you’ve foraged for your own berries or picked them up at a local farm shop, this tart is sure to become a favourite autumn pudding. It’s an ideal way to showcase the rich variety of berries that Scotland has to offer as the seasons change.
