Kitchen Recipe Collection
Italian Torta della Nonna (Grandmother's Tart)
A beloved Tuscan tart featuring a tender shortcrust pastry filled with lemon-scented pastry cream and topped with crunchy pine nuts.
- Prep
- 45 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 85 min
- Servings
- 10
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- italian
Ingredients
Scaled for 10 servings
- all-purpose flour
- butter
- sugar
- eggs
- lemon zest
- milk
- egg yolks (for cream)
- cornstarch
- pine nuts
- powdered sugar
Equipment
- Tart pan
- Saucepan
- Rolling pin
Instructions
- 1
Make Pastry Dough
Combine flour, sugar, and cold cubed butter. Rub until crumbly. Add eggs and lemon zest, form a dough, wrap, and chill for 1 hour.
- 2
Heat Milk
For the pastry cream (crema pasticciera), heat milk with lemon zest until simmering. Remove from heat.
- 3
Whisk Yolks
In a bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar until pale. Whisk in cornstarch.
- 4
Temper and Cook Cream
Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture while whisking. Return the mix to the saucepan and cook over low heat, whisking constantly, until thick. Let cool.
- 5
Roll Base
Roll out two-thirds of the chilled dough and line a 9-inch tart pan.
- 6
Add Filling
Pour the cooled, thick pastry cream into the dough-lined pan.
- 7
Roll Top
Roll out the remaining dough to form the lid. Place it over the cream and pinch the edges to seal completely.
- 8
Add Pine Nuts
Brush the top with a little water or egg white and scatter a generous handful of pine nuts over the surface, pressing them in slightly.
- 9
Bake
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35-40 minutes until golden.
- 10
Cooling is Crucial
Let the tart cool completely (preferably overnight) before slicing, or the custard will run.
- 11
Garnish
Dust heavily with powdered sugar before serving.
- 12
Serve
Enjoy a slice with your morning cappuccino.
Cooking Tips
- Soak the pine nuts in water for 10 minutes before placing them on the tart. This prevents them from burning in the oven.
- The pastry cream must be completely cold before you assemble the tart.
Variations
- Torta del Nonno (Grandfather's Tart): Uses chocolate pastry cream and is topped with almonds instead of pine nuts.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- Despite the name suggesting ancient origins, this was likely invented in a Florentine restaurant in the 1980s, but it instantly became a classic.
Nutrition Estimate
380 calories · 7g protein · 42g carbs · 20g fat · 1g fiber per serving
