This Blueberry Cheesecake Tart gets an extra special flavor and crunch from the cornmeal crust and richness from the creamy cheesecake filling. The perfect summer dessert!

Here’s another blueberry recipe! Because we can never have too many blueberries recipes, can we?

I love blueberries and cornmeal together and who doesn’t love blueberries and cheesecake together. This Blueberry Cheesecake Tart has all three in one delicious slice. The cornmeal crust is filled with a luscious cheesecake filling and the whole tart is piled high with fresh berries.

The cornmeal crust is a variation of my basic short dough recipe. If you don’t have cornmeal available or don’t like cornmeal you can use the basic short dough in it’s place. But trust me, the cornmeal gives the crust a really nice crunch and the flavor works so beautifully with the cheesecake and blueberries. The dough is very tender with the cornmeal in it so it’s easiest to work with it while it’s cold.

It might seem extravagant to have both butter and cream cheese in the filling, but the richness of the filling is balanced by the tart blueberries. The filling comes together very quickly. Just make sure the cream cheese and butter for the filling are both at room temperature before mixing so you don’t get lumps of cream cheese in the batter. The filling can be poured into the blind-baked crust while it’s still warm and then returned to the oven to bake. Both the dough and the batter for the filling can be made ahead.

For the topping I just piled on the blueberries. You can arrange them in pretty circles if you want to make it fancier. But I like the casual and abundant look of the piled-up berries. I use melted apricot preserves as a glaze for the fruit. The jam tastes great and keeps the berries in place when you cut the tart.

This cheesecake filling is great in any fruit tart. Use your imagination. The possibilities are endless.

Special Equipment Used: Removable bottom tart pan.

Blueberry Cheesecake Tart

Yield: 10-12

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

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Ingredients

Cornmeal Tart Crust

• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (3oz, 85 g) granulated sugar
• 1 stick plus 2 tablespoons (5oz, 140g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup (4oz, 115g) all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup (4 oz, 115g) cornmeal
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp salt

Cheesecake Filling

• 1/2 cup (4 oz, 113 g) butter, room temperature
• 8 oz (226g) cream cheese, room temperature
• 3/4 cup (6 oz, 170g) granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp lemon zest
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch of salt

Assembly

• 1 Pint fresh blueberries
• 1 cup apricot preserves

Instructions

Cornmeal Tart Crust

1. Cream butter and sugar just until combined and slightly aerated.
2. Add egg and vanilla, mix to combine and scrape down the bowl and paddle.
3. Add flour, corn meal and salt and mix until the dough just comes together
4. Remove from the mixer and knead into a ball
5. Flatten the ball to a disc, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1-2 hours before using
6. Preheat the oven to 350°F convection or 375° regular
7. Roll the dough to 1/4" thick and line a 12" fluted edge tart pan
8. Prick the bottom of the tart dough all over with a fork
9. If the dough has softened while rolling, set the unbaked tart in the refrigerator to firm up before baking
10. Bake the unfilled shell until it's baked through and just beginning to take on a little color (about 12-15 minutes)
11. Remove the tart from the oven and reduce the temperature to 325°F convection or 350°F regular.

Cheesecake Filling

1. While the tart crust bakes
2. Cream butter with sugar, vanilla, lemon zest and lemon juice until homogeneous
3. Scrape the bowl thoroughly
4. Add cream cheese and mix until smooth
5. Scrape the bowl thoroughly
6. Add the eggs and flavorings and mix just until combined
7. Pour the cheesecake filling into the pre-baked tart shell and bake until the filing is set all the way to the center, about 12-15 minutes
8. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature and then chill until the filling is cold (at least 2 hours)

Assemble the tart

1. Pile the blueberries on top of the cheesecake filling, or arrange in circles for a more polished look.
2. Warm the apricot preserves in the microwave and brush all over the blueberries. Allow the preserves to fill in the gaps between the berries to hold them in place.
3. Chill until serving time.

Notes

The cheesecake filling may puff up a bit while baking. That's ok. It will deflate when it comes out of the oven.

You might also like:

Short Dough

Blueberry Crumb Cake

Blueberry Preserves

Blueberry & Cherry Compote

Rustic Plum Tart

Apricot Tartlettes