Easy Italian Crostata Recipe (Jam Tart) - The Hungry Bites (2024)

This Italian pie recipe can be baked in a tart pan or a pie plate. It's so easy, that's ideal if you want to involve your kids in a fun baking project. And they can also take a slice with them at school the next day!

The crust, called pasta frolla in Italian, is basically a sweet shortcrust pastry which you can make in just 5 minutes. It's very similar to pate sucree except that it uses olive oil instead of butter, something that makes it very soft and easy to work with.

For more recipes like this you can visit my pies and tarts category where you'll find delicious Mediterranean inspired desserts like this fruit tart with easy olive oil crust and the most popular fall dessert, this easy, one-bowl apple crumble pie. And if you prefer something that doesn't involve baking, try these no bake mini white chocolate tarts with Oreo crust.

😍 Why I love this recipe

These are some of the reasons why I love this Italian jam crostata:

✓ Easy: No mixer or food processor needed, just a whisk (or fork) and a bowl. Also, you don't have to roll out the pie dough, just press it with your hands into the tart pan 😎 .

✓Simple: You probably already have all 10 ingredients in your kitchen.

✓Olive oil: A great butter alternative full of healthy fat and with wonderful results when used in baking.

✓Twist: Add your personal touch and decorate it however you want. If it's Christmas, cut out star-shaped cookies or small Xmas trees. If it's spring, make flowers. If it's Valentine's Day, cover it with hearts!

📋 Ingredients

For this easy jam tart recipe you'll need the following simple ingredients:

Oil: It should be extra virgin olive oil.

Sugar: White caster sugar will dissolve more easily but if you don't have it, you can also use granulated sugar. Just make sure to stir it well with the olive oil until almost dissolved.

Jam: In Italy, apricot jam and strawberry jam are most commonly used, while raspberry jam crostata is especially favored in the USA. With that being said, I suggest picking whatever jam you love. This easy, small-batch peach jam with less sugar and no pectin is my personal favorite!

Vanilla, ground cinnamon and lemon zest: You can use all three or pick two of those. Orange zest is also nice.

🥣 Variations

Here are some variations for this Italian crostata di marmellata recipe:

With Ricotta cheese:Combine some ricotta with vanilla, sugar and eggs and use that mixture as a filling on top or under the jam. This Marmalade Ricotta Crostata recipe from TheLemonApron is a nice example.

With fresh fruit: Instead of jam, use fresh fruit with some sugar for added sweetness. For an apple crostata (similar to a galette) you can use the filling from this easy apple crumble pie.

Lemon curd: I've come across recipes that use lemon curd as a filling for the tart. However, I haven't tried this variation myself, so I can't tell how it will turn out.

Mini jam tarts: Make individual tartlets by using a regular or a mini muffin tin.

Gluten free:This recipe has been tested with a 1-to-1 gluten free flour with very good results. The only difference is that the gluten-free jam tart is a bit more crumbly and the surface doesn't brown as much. I use store-bought GF flour but you can also try this DIY Best 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour Blend from MinimalistBaker.

🔪 Instructions

Follow this simple step-by-step guide to make a perfect Italian crostata with jam every time:

Step 1: Transfer the olive oil, the sugar, the vanilla, the cinnamon and the lemon zest to a large bowl and stir well until hom*ogenized.

Step 2: Add the egg and mix well until the egg is fully incorporated into the mixture.

Step 3: Mix the flour with the baking powder and stir. Then, add the flour to the olive oil mixture.

Step 4: Mix well until you get a soft dough. Then knead by hand until all of the flour is incorporated and you get a soft dough.

See Also

Deliciously Sweet: Brown Sugar Baked Carrots Recipe to Elevate Your MealtimeKeto Asian Cabbage Stir-Fry - Recipe - Diet DoctorWild Rice Stuffing With Apples, Pecans and Cranberries Recipe21 Low-Carb Vegan Dinner Recipes

Step 5:Take approximately the two thirds of the dough and transfer it into the tart pan. Press it with your hands to spread and cover the bottom and the sides of the pan (you don't have to go all the way up to the sides, half an inch is enough). Level the surface with the back of a spoon and then fill it with the jam.

Step 6: Take the remaining dough and place it between two pieces of parchment paper. Roll to about ¼ inch thick and cut out shapes using a cookie cutter. Transfer the dough on a sheet pan and chill in the freezer for 5-10 minutes. Once the dough is chilled, transfer the decorations to the surface of the tart. You can knead the scraps and roll them again to make more decorations.

Step 7: Bake the tart and place it on a rack to cool. You can sprinkle it with icing sugar before serving.

👨‍🍳 Expert Tips

✤ For an even easier Italian pie recipe, put the dough for the topping in the freezer for 10-15 minutes and crumble it with your hands over the surface of the tart. You can also use the coarse side of a box grater to shred it.

✤ Place the decorations on a sheet pan and chill in the freezer for 10 minutes before transferring them to the tart. This will help them hold their shape better.

✤ For decorations with sharper edges, slightly reduce the amount of baking powder.

✤ For a more golden brown surface, brush the crust with egg-wash before baking.

This is an older jam tart with stars of different sizes which is brushed with egg-wash.

💭 FAQs

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