Description
Luscious Mascarpone Puff Pastry dances with zesty lemon curd and jewel-like berries, creating a delicate French-inspired dessert. Crisp layers melt into creamy mascarpone, offering sweet-tart perfection that will delight you at first bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry Ingredients:
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- 225 g (8 oz) mascarpone cheese
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
Lemon Curd:
- 3 large eggs
- 120 ml (1/2 cup) lemon juice
- 100 g (1/2 cup) granulated sugar
- 60 g (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
Topping and Garnish:
- 250 g (2 cups) mixed fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)
- 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves
- 1 tbsp honey
- Extra powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Unfold the puff pastry and cut into 4 equal rectangles, creating individual serving portions.
- Score a border approximately 1/2 inch from the edges of each pastry rectangle using a sharp knife, creating a delicate frame.
- Prick the inner section of each pastry with a fork to prevent excessive rising during baking.
- Bake the pastry for 15-18 minutes until golden brown and crisp, rotating the sheet halfway through for even browning.
- While pastries cool, whisk mascarpone cheese with powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
- For lemon curd, combine eggs, lemon juice, granulated sugar, butter, and lemon zest in a saucepan.
- Cook the mixture over medium heat, continuously stirring until thickened and coats the back of a spoon, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Strain the lemon curd through a fine-mesh sieve and refrigerate until completely chilled.
- Gently spread mascarpone mixture onto cooled pastry rectangles.
- Top with chilled lemon curd, creating elegant swirls.
- Arrange mixed berries artfully over the lemon curd.
- Drizzle honey across the berries and garnish with fresh mint leaves.
- Dust with additional powdered sugar just before serving for a delicate, elegant finish.
Notes
- Scoring the pastry creates a beautiful raised border that gives a professional bakery-style presentation with minimal effort.
- Pricking the inner pastry section prevents excessive puffing and ensures an even, crisp base for your delicate dessert.
- Rotate the baking sheet midway through cooking to achieve uniform golden-brown color and prevent uneven baking spots.
- Straining the lemon curd through a fine-mesh sieve guarantees a silky-smooth texture without any unwanted egg bits.
- Chilling the lemon curd completely before assembling helps maintain structural integrity and prevents pastry sogginess.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute puff pastry with almond flour-based pastry or gluten-free puff pastry alternatives.
- Swap fresh berries with seasonal fruits like peaches, kiwi, or passion fruit for a unique flavor twist.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 18-28 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg