Add a fruit-filled dessert to your recipe lineup with a show-stopping Mango Tart with Vanilla Bean Pastry Cream.
If you’ve ever lived in or traveled to the southern California city of Del Mar, chances are you’ve heard of Urban Pi’s mango tart. I had my first slice of the restaurant’s legendary dessert way back in high school, and it’s only taken me two decades to muster up the culinary courage to tackle a DIY version at home.
So here we have it, the one and only recipe for the ultimate Mango Tart with Vanilla Bean Pastry Cream!
It all starts with a buttery shortbread crust that comes together in minutes with the help of a food processor, but your hands will also do the trick.
The dough is pressed into a tart pan and then pricked all over with a fork to allow steam to escape and prevent bubbles from forming underneath the crust.
Once your tart hits the oven, it’s time to get started on your silky-smooth vanilla bean pastry cream.
This homemade pastry cream stars the seeds from an entire vanilla bean, but if you aren’t ready to splurge on the pricey pods, feel free to substitute in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.
We’re two-thirds of the way there! Cooled tart crust, meet pastry cream. Pastry cream, meet cooled tart crust.
Doesn’t that look like a heavenly marriage of textures and flavors?
Next up is slice after slice of perfectly ripe mango, which makes this tart as attractive to the eye as it is pleasing to the palate.
The key here is to use mangos that are ripe (so that they have a sweet flavor) but also still firm enough that you can easily cut them into thin slices.
The slices should be thin enough so that they can bend slightly to form the petals of this gigantic mango flower.
Now all that’s left to do is decide for yourself, “Is this too pretty to eat?” No way! Grab your knife and cut yourself a big wedge of mango tart perfection!
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Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
For the filling:
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk
- 1/2 a vanilla bean, split lengthwise
- 3 large mangos, cut into thin slices
Equipment:
- food processor; 9-inch nonstick tart pan with removable bottom
Instructions
Make the crust:
- In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the pastry blade, pulse together the flour, sugar and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and pulse just until the butter is incorporated and the mixture is in large clumps.
- Spray a 9-inch nonstick tart pan (with removable bottom) with cooking spray. Transfer the dough into the tart pan, and then using your fingers, press it into the pan in an even layer to form the base and sides of the tart crust. Using a fork, prick all over the bottom of the crust.
- Cover the pan with plastic wrap and freeze it for 15 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Remove the plastic wrap and place the tart pan on a baking sheet. Bake it for 13 to 15 minutes or until it’s golden brown. Remove the crust from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the pan. Once the crust has cooled completely, carefully push the bottom of the pan up to release it from the sides. Place the tart on a serving dish and then prepare the filling.
Make the filling:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until well combined. Sift the flour and cornstarch into the bowl with the eggs, whisking until smooth.
- Add the milk to a medium saucepan. Scrape the vanilla bean seeds into the milk then add the scraped bean to the saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil just until the milk starts to foam. Remove the milk mixture from the heat, take out the vanilla bean and then very slowly whisk the milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling.
- Pour the mixture into a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Cook it, whisking constantly, until it comes to a boil. Once it boils, continue whisking constantly for an additional 30 to 60 seconds until it thickens. Immediately pour the mixture into a clean bowl and cover it with plastic wrap so that the plastic wrap is touching the pastry cream. Place the bowl inside a larger bowl filled with ice water to bring it to room temperature.
- Once the pastry cream is at room temp, whisk it to remove any lumps then pour it into the completely cooled tart shell. Arrange the mango slices on top, starting in the center and then fanning them outwards to mimic flower petals. Slice and serve the tart immediately or store it, covered in plastic wrap, in the fridge for a maximum of two hours before serving.
Kelly’s Notes:
- The crust and pastry cream can be prepared 1 day in advance and assembled the day of serving. Cover both the crust and pastry cream securely with plastic wrap and store the crust at room temp and the pastry cream in the fridge.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
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Tart crust and pastry cream recipes adapted from Joy of Baking.
Can this be made with regular vanilla filling instead of vanilla bean? I have everything in my kitchen except vanilla bean.
Hi Jocelyn! I haven’t tried this substitution so I can’t say with certainty what the results would be but you can sub 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract for 1/2 vanilla bean. Let me know if you give it a shot!
I made this for the first time and it came out perfectly. I cooked it in a convection oven.
Don’t know if that makes any difference. I thought the dough was going to be undercooked, but it was perfect. I also added a tablespoon of zest because I love the lemon flavor.
Best lemon bars I’ve made
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Jane!
I loved this recipe! A few notes – my crust mixture was very short and dry and I added a few tablespoons of water to make it form into wet sand consistency. I riffed off the original and made a mango puree jelly to go on top of the pastry cream. This was DELIGHTFUL! I give 5 stars for the end product, but 4 stars for what might have been user error with the too dry crust mixture.
Amazing! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Thank you for this recipe! I made it for Easter and it was a huge hit!
I also added a layer of mango glaze above the pastry cream!
Amazing! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Sarah!
Made this for a friends b-day and it was an extreme event of awesome. She was absolutely thrilled. Going to make another one tonight or tomorrow.
B
Woohoo! I’m so happy to read this, Bruce!
Hello,
If this mango tart was to stand 1 day in the fridge can it be served the next day? Or would the mango leak water from it?
Hi Mira! If you’d like to prepare this in advance I’d recommend prepping the crust and pastry cream ahead of time. Store each separately (the crust at room temp and the pastry cream in the fridge), then assemble just before you are ready to serve.
Does this use a whole vanilla bean, or just half? The recipe indicates half but the article says a whole pod… Would it taste better with a whole one? So excited to make this!
Hi there! I only use half a bean but you could definitely use a whole. Enjoy!
Can you turn this pastry cream into a mango pastry cream with mango puree? How much would you add?
I’ve never tried that so unfortunately I can’t weigh in on what the results would be or how much puree you’ll need. Let me know if you give it a shot, Priti!
I made this over the weekend, using a springform pan since I don’t have a tart pan. Delicious, sweet, creamy, flaky. It was such a wonderful treat!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, John!
Excellent recipe. Made with mango and loved it
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Ree!
Its a great recipe. I didnt have a processor so used a rub in method for the pastry and chilled it before rolling out. The pastry cream tasted fantastic and wasn’t that difficult. I made mine with strawberries and everyone loved it. Thanks so much!
Amazing! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Jessie!
Good, but a little too sweet for me. Next time I’d make a different tart base that isn’t so sweet and use a mango that was a little less ripe if I could. But very good directions.
Thanks, Holly!