Infuse a burst of vibrant sunshine into your dessert tonight with this spectacular and incredibly simple Winter Citrus Mascarpone Tart. This recipe is an absolute must-try for the current citrus season, promising to brighten even the gloomiest winter day!
Chasing Away the Winter Blues with a Burst of Citrus
As January settles in, a familiar feeling often descends upon us: the post-holiday lull, marked by shorter, colder, and often gray days. It’s a time when spring feels like a distant dream, and the cheerful spirit of the festive season begins to wane. This annual dip in mood is a shared experience for many, myself included, prompting a yearning for warmth and brightness.
For years, I’ve found a peculiar yet effective way to combat this winter melancholy. I keep a bottle of Coppertone lotion handy, not for sun protection, but for the nostalgic scent it evokes. A small dab on my hand, rubbed gently, transports me instantly to sun-drenched summer days, filled with warmth and light. It’s a simple sensory trick, a little kooky perhaps, but undeniably a powerful mood booster that I rely on religiously every January.
Beyond nostalgic scents, there’s another, far more delicious antidote to the winter blues: citrus season! Few things rival the vibrant hues and refreshing tang of peak-season citrus. It’s a natural gift during the colder months, offering a much-needed splash of color and flavor. Today, I am thrilled to share a dessert that perfectly captures this essence – a true ray of sunshine for your winter table: the Winter Citrus Mascarpone Tart. Just look at those gorgeous, captivating colors!
Introducing the Winter Citrus Mascarpone Tart: A Symphony of Flavors
This Winter Citrus Mascarpone Tart is more than just a dessert; it’s a promise of brighter days. Its appearance alone, adorned with jewel-toned citrus slices, seems to whisper, “spring and summer are just around the corner!” But its beauty is matched by its incredible ease of preparation, making it an accessible indulgence for any home baker.
A Foundation of Flavor: The Nutty Oat Crust
Every great tart begins with an exceptional crust, and this recipe delivers with a super simple, yet wonderfully flavorful base. Crafted from old-fashioned rolled oats and whole almonds, pulsed together until they form a fine, crumbly mixture. Light brown sugar adds a touch of warm sweetness, while a pinch of salt balances the flavors. Melted unsalted butter binds it all together, creating a perfectly golden-brown, nutty crust that’s both satisfyingly crisp and incredibly easy to press into your tart pan. This versatile crust forms the ideal counterpoint to the creamy filling and bright citrus topping.
The Dreamy Heart: Velvety Mascarpone Filling
The star of this tart, undoubtedly, is its luxurious filling. A creamy, rich, and velvety blend of mascarpone cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and pure vanilla extract creates a subtly sweet base. The addition of freshly grated lemon zest brightens the entire mixture, cutting through the richness with a delicate, aromatic lift. Finally, a generous fold of freshly whipped heavy cream lightens the texture, making the filling utterly dreamy and irresistibly smooth. It truly is as heavenly as it sounds – a cloud-like confection that melts in your mouth.
A Crown of Jewels: Fresh Winter Citrus Topping
Completing this masterpiece is the vibrant topping of fresh winter citrus. We use a delightful combination of blood oranges, Cara Cara oranges, and traditional navel oranges. Each variety brings its unique flavor profile and stunning color: the dramatic ruby hues of blood oranges, the sweet, blush-pink flesh of Cara Caras, and the classic bright orange of navels. Sliced thinly and artfully arranged, these citrus rounds provide a refreshing burst of sweet and tangy flavor, making each bite an exhilarating experience. The visual appeal is undeniable, turning a simple tart into a showstopping dessert that’s almost too beautiful to eat.
Why You’ll Love This Winter Citrus Mascarpone Tart
This tart truly hits all the right notes. It’s incredibly easy to assemble, requiring minimal baking and mostly simple mixing. The flavor profile is a harmonious blend of nutty, creamy, sweet, and tangy, ensuring it appeals to a wide range of palates. But perhaps its greatest appeal lies in its ability to uplift spirits during the colder months. The brilliant colors and fresh, invigorating taste of citrus provide a much-needed sensory escape, reminding us of warmer days ahead. It’s the perfect winter dessert to banish the gloom and boost everyone’s spirits.
I genuinely hope you give this recipe a try. It’s designed to be straightforward and rewarding. If you have any questions at all about the recipe or the process, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below. I’m always happy to help! Enjoy every delicious bite!
Cook’s Notes and Expert Tips for Your Winter Citrus Mascarpone Tart
- The Right Pan is Key: For a picture-perfect tart that’s easy to serve, you will absolutely need a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. This design allows you to effortlessly lift the tart away from its metal ring, presenting it beautifully on your serving platter.
- Crust Variations: While the recipe calls for almonds in the crust, feel free to experiment with other nuts. Pecans would make an excellent substitute, offering a slightly different, yet equally delicious, nutty flavor profile. Ensure nuts are raw and unsalted for best results.
- Selecting Your Citrus: The combination of blood oranges, Cara Cara oranges, and navel oranges provides a beautiful spectrum of colors and flavors. Blood oranges, with their deep red-purple flesh, are particularly stunning and are typically in season during the winter months, so look for them at your local market. Choose firm, heavy fruit for the juiciest slices.
- Chilling is Crucial: Allow ample time for the tart to chill in the refrigerator (at least 3-4 hours). This not only sets the mascarpone filling perfectly but also allows the flavors to meld beautifully, resulting in a more cohesive and refreshing dessert. Serving it thoroughly chilled is essential for the best texture and taste experience.
Explore More Delicious Citrus Dessert Recipes
If you’re as enamored with winter citrus as we are, you’ll love these other bright and zesty dessert ideas:
- Orange Buttermilk Loaf Cake
- Citrus Meltaways
- Glazed Blood Orange Loaf
Winter Citrus Mascarpone Tart
Author: MaryAnn Dwyer
Servings: 8 servings
Add a little sunshine to your dessert plate tonight with this spectacular and oh so easy Winter Citrus Mascarpone Tart. This recipe is a MUST for citrus season this year!
Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
- 3/4 cup whole almonds
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 7 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
Filling
- 12 oz. mascarpone cheese, room temperature
- 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- grated zest of one large lemon
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Topping
- 2 blood oranges, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
- 1 large Cara Cara orange, peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
- 1 large navel orange, peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
Crust
In a food processor, pulse the oats and the almonds until the mixture resembles a fine crumble. Add the brown sugar and salt, and pulse a few more times until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add the melted butter. Mix with a fork until thoroughly combined. Press the dough evenly into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Once cooled, carefully remove the crust from the pan and place it on your serving platter.
Filling
In a medium bowl, combine the mascarpone cheese, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Mix with a rubber spatula until the ingredients are well blended and smooth. In a separate small bowl, whip the heavy cream with a hand-held mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
Spread the prepared filling evenly on top of the cooled crust, leaving approximately a 1/2-inch border from the outer edge. Arrange the orange rounds decoratively over the filling. Chill the tart in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours to allow it to set. Serve chilled for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You will need a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom for this recipe to ensure easy serving.
- Almonds are used for the crust, but pecans make an excellent substitute if you prefer their flavor.
- A mix of blood, Cara Cara, and navel oranges creates a beautiful and flavorful topping. Blood oranges are in season during winter, so they should be readily available.
Nutrition
Calories: 534kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 93mg | Potassium: 234mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 1220IU | Vitamin C: 19.1mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 1.2mg
Keyword: blood orange, cara cara orange, mascarpone cheese, navel orange, oranges, Tart
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see! Be sure to follow thebeachhousekitchen on Instagram and tag Mention @thebeachhousekitchen or tag #thebeachhousekitchen!
This recipe was originally published on January 18, 2018. I’ve updated the photos and added some notes and expanded content to the post above, but the core recipe remains the same, a timeless favorite.
