Spiced Fig and Blackberry Orange Caramel Tart

Spiced Fig and Blackberry Orange Caramel Tart

A sophisticated autumnal dessert featuring a buttery, warmly spiced crust filled with a silky, citrus-infused caramel, crowned with a vibrant arrangement of fresh figs and plump blackberries.

2h 45mIntermediate1 23cm tart
Remix

Equipment

Food processor
Rolling pin
23cm fluted tart pan with removable bottom
Parchment paper
Pie weights
Medium saucepan
Whisk

Ingredients

8 servings

Spiced Cookie Crust

  • 200 g all-purpose flour
  • 60 g powdered sugar
  • 3 g ground cinnamon
  • 2 g ground ginger
  • 2 g kosher salt
  • 115 g unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 30 ml ice water

Orange Caramel Sauce

  • 200 g granulated sugar
  • 60 ml water
  • 120 ml heavy cream, room temperature
  • 60 g unsalted butter, cubed
  • 10 g orange zest, finely grated
  • 30 ml fresh orange juice
  • 3 g flaky sea salt

Topping

  • 300 g fresh figs, stemmed and quartered
  • 150 g fresh blackberries

Nutrition (per serving)

Nutrition is estimated per serving. Nutrients without complete source data are omitted.

471
Calories
4g
Protein
62g
Carbohydrates
24g
Fat
3g
Fiber
40g
Sugar
252mg
Sodium
Full nutrition
Calories
471 kcal
Protein
4 g
Carbohydrates
62 g
Fat
24 g
Fiber
3 g
Sugar
40 g
Sodium
252 mg
Saturated Fat
15 g
Trans Fat
0 g
Monounsaturated Fat
7 g
Polyunsaturated Fat
1 g
Cholesterol
84 mg
Potassium
181 mg
Calcium
47 mg
Iron
0.7 mg
Magnesium
19 mg
Phosphorus
59 mg
Zinc
0.5 mg
Vitamin A
224 mcg
Vitamin C
8 mg
Vitamin D
0.3 mcg
Vitamin E
1.0 mg
Vitamin K
8 mcg
Vitamin B6
0.1 mg
Vitamin B12
0.1 mcg
Thiamin
0.07 mg
Riboflavin
0.09 mg
Niacin
0.7 mg
Folate
19 mcg
Water
78 g

Sources: Aggregated Public Data, USDA FoodData Central

Method

01

In a food processor, pulse the all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and kosher salt until combined. Add the cold cubed butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

5m
02

Add the egg yolk and half of the ice water. Pulse until the dough just begins to clump together, adding the remaining ice water only if necessary. Form into a disk, wrap tightly, and chill for 30 minutes.

35mFeel: Dough holds together when pinched but is not sticky
03

On a lightly floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll the chilled dough into a 3mm thick circle. Carefully transfer to the 23cm tart pan, pressing into the fluted edges. Trim the excess and prick the base with a fork. Chill for another 30 minutes.

40m
04

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit). Line the chilled crust with parchment paper and fill evenly with pie weights. Blind bake for 15 minutes. Remove the parchment and weights, then bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown and dry. Let cool completely.

30mLook for: Edges are golden brown and the base looks entirely dry and matte
05

To make the caramel, combine the granulated sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook without stirring until the sugar dissolves and turns a deep amber color, gently swirling the pan if spots darken unevenly.

10mLook for: Deep copper to amber color, slightly smokingFeel: Liquid flows smoothly but with a syrup-like viscosity
06

Remove the saucepan from the heat immediately. Carefully whisk in the room temperature heavy cream, expecting violent bubbling. Once settled, whisk in the cubed butter, orange zest, orange juice, and flaky sea salt until completely smooth.

3m
07

Pour the warm orange caramel into the completely cooled spiced tart crust. Transfer the tart to the refrigerator and chill for 1 to 2 hours until the caramel is set but retains a slightly soft, sliceable texture.

1h 30mFeel: Caramel surface is firm to the touch but yields slightly under pressure
08

Remove the set tart from the refrigerator. Arrange the quartered fresh figs and whole blackberries over the surface of the caramel in a decorative, overlapping pattern. Serve slightly chilled.

Chef's Notes

  • When making caramel, utilize a light-colored or stainless steel saucepan to easily monitor the color changes of the cooking sugar.
  • Do not stir the sugar and water mixture once it comes to a boil to prevent crystallization. If sugar crystals form on the sides of the pan, brush them down with a wet pastry brush.
  • For the cleanest slices, use a sharp, thin-bladed knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry between each cut.
  • If your figs are slightly underripe, toss them in a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup before arranging them on the tart to enhance their natural sweetness and provide a beautiful gloss.

Storage

Refrigerator: 2 daysStore loosely covered. The fruit will begin to weep juices after the first day.

Troubleshooting

Caramel seizes into hard lumps when cream is added

Cause: Cream was too cold, causing the hot sugar to rapidly solidify

Fix: Return the saucepan to low heat and whisk continuously until the sugar lumps melt back into the sauce

Prevention: Ensure heavy cream is at room temperature or slightly warmed before adding

Tart crust shrinks dramatically during baking

Cause: Dough was stretched during placement or not rested long enough before baking

Fix: Cannot be fixed once baked, but the visual impact can be minimized by filling closer to the edge

Prevention: Gently lift and press dough into the pan rather than stretching it, and ensure adequate chilling time

Cultural Context

The classic French fruit tart (tarte aux fruits) is historically built upon a base of crisp pastry and vanilla pastry cream. This modern variation subverts tradition by replacing the conventional custard with a supple orange caramel, marrying the deep, burnt-sugar notes of autumn with the bright acidity of citrus to perfectly offset the jammy richness of fresh figs.

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