This Elegant French Lemon Tart Is a Sweet Slice of Sunshine

Crisp, buttery crust meets luscious, lemony filling in tarte au citron, a bakery favorite that's easy to make at home

At once rich with butter and bright with seasonal citrus, tarte au citron is the perfect dessert to transition from winter to spring. Audrey Le Goff

This time of year, you’ll find sunny lemon tarts on display at every bakery in France. The tarte au citron, a combination of a buttery, delicately crisp crust encasing a sweet-tart, lemony filling, is one of France’s favorite desserts—especially in the thick of citrus season. At once rich with butter and bright with seasonal citrus, it’s the perfect dessert to transition from winter to spring. 

The good news is you don’t have to be a French baker to master this classic. Tarte au citron is an elegant dessert that relies on simple ingredients and easy techniques.