4.8 from 9 reviews

Pomegranate Tart with Hibiscus, Lemon, and Almond Flour Crust {gluten-free}

By Alanna Taylor-Tobin on Dec 17, 2017 (updated Nov 23, 2022) / 20 Comments Jump to Recipe

Creamy pomegranate curd kissed with hibiscus and lemon and blanketed in whipped cream and fresh pomegranate arils, all wrapped up in a buttery almond flour crust = gluten-free pomegranate tart bliss.

delicious Pomegranate Tart with Hibiscus, Lemon, and Almond Flour Crust {gluten-free}

This pomegranate curd tart has the tangy, rich filling of a French lemon curd tart, but it gets a crimson hue and big flavor from fresh pomegranate juice. Hibiscus keeps the tart looking bright, and its tart, floral flavor pairs beautifully with the other flavors. Baked into a crispy, buttery gluten-free tart crust, it makes a holiday-worthy dessert that looks harder to make than it actually is.

Here's how this tart came to be.

Sometimes my best ideas show up while I'm focusing on something else, like washing dishes, taking a dance class, or even sleeping. And sometimes my worst ideas show up then.

That was the case for this pomegranate tart, which popped into my head while I kicked, twirled, and swiveled in salsa class last weekend. My thought process went something like, "5-6-7-8, kick ball change... I'll make the grapefruit tart from my book, but with lemon and pomegranate juice... And a 1-2-3-4, pivot step kick step.... It'll be vibrant red and beautiful. Shoulder shimmy, booty shake... Why has no one done this already? Swivel swivel turn 2-3... I'm a pastry genius! OMG dizzy, can't breathe..."

sliced Pomegranate Tart with Hibiscus, Lemon, and Almond Flour Crust {gluten-free}

Later that night, I watched with dismay as the vermillion pomegranate juice I whisked into a mixture of sugar and eggs went from bright red to unappetizing mauve before my perplexed eyes. I realized then that the lack of crimson pomegranate tarts on the internet was not a measure of my creativity; something chemical must happen between the eggs and the pomegranate to turn it such a revolting color. How many bakers before me must have fallen victim to this phenomenon?

Mad scientist-like and channeling Sarah's way with hibiscus, I measured hibiscus blossoms into a coffee grinder with a bit of extra sugar, ground them finely, and stirred them into the curd. It *mostly* did the trick of returning some of the crimson hue to the filling.

two slices Pomegranate Tart with Hibiscus, Lemon, and Almond Flour Crust {gluten-free}

Full disclusure: this pomegranate tart isn't *quite* so vibrant red IRL as in these photos; a bit of photo editing trickery is partially to thank. It is burgundy enough, however, to look appealing, especially when blanketed in a swoop of whipped cream and a mess of crunchy pomegranate arils. Once you take a bite of bright filling, buttery crust, and crunchy fresh pomegranate arils, you'll forget the ever so slightly dull hue of its insides.

close up of Pomegranate Tart with Hibiscus, Lemon, and Almond Flour Crust {gluten-free}

Softly set tangy pomegranate curd caresses a shortbread cookie-like crust made with a trio of alternative flours – almond, oat, and sweet rice. Pomegranate, hibiscus, and lemon's sweet-tart flavors meld together seamlessly. The whole thing tastes like a creamy lemon tart punched up with flowers and fruit and buttery shortbread. And don't skip the pomegranate arils on top – they add a clean brightness and crunchy taste that turns the delicious factor up to 11.

a slice of Pomegranate Tart with Hibiscus, Lemon, and Almond Flour Crust {gluten-free}

Bojon appétit, my sweets! If you make this, I’d love to know. Please leave a comment and rating below, and tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet.

4.78 from 9 reviews

Pomegranate Tart with Hibiscus, Lemon, and Almond Flour Crust {gluten-free}

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Creamy pomegranate curd kissed with hibiscus and lemon and blanketed in whipped cream and fresh pomegranate arils, all wrapped up in a buttery almond flour crust = gluten-free pomegranate tart bliss.

Alanna Taylor-Tobin

Prep Time: 40

Cook Time: 40

Chilling time: 30

Total: 1 50

Servings: 8 to ten servings, one 9-inch tart

Ingredients

Crust:

1 gluten-free tart crust

Filling:

8 tbsp (113 g) cool, unsalted butter, in ½-inch dice
1 ½ teaspoons hibiscus powder (or 2 tablespoons lightly crushed hibiscus blossoms, or 1 tablespoon hibiscus tea from about 3 tea bags)
1 cup (200 g) organic granulated cane sugar
zest of 1 large lemon
3 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 cup fresh, strained pomegranate juice (find it at farmers markets or make your own)
1/3 cup fresh, strained lemon juice

Finishing:

Unsweetened whipped cream (or a mix of cream and crème fraiche)
Arils from 1 large pomegranate
Powdered hibiscus (optional)
Thinly sliced lemon rounds

Instructions

Make the crust:

Make and shape the tart crust as directed.
Place the tart pan on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until golden all over, 20-30 minutes. Remove the crust from the oven and, while it’s still hot, press the sides and bottom firmly with the back of a spoon; this will help it hold together when cool. Keep warm.

Meanwhile, make the filling:

Lower the oven temperature to 325ºF.
Place the butter in a heatproof bowl or large measuring cup, place a fine-mesh strainer over the top, and set aside. If using hibiscus blossoms or tea, place in a coffee grinder with about a third of the sugar and grind to a fine powder. (You can skip this step if using hibiscus powder.)
In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, whisk together the hibiscus, sugar, lemon zest, eggs and egg yolks to combine. Whisk in the pomegranate and lemon juices. Place the pot over medium-low heat and cook, stirring constantly with a heatproof silicone spatula, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon and reaches 170ºF on an instant-read thermometer, 5–10 minutes. As you stir, be sure to scrape the entire bottom and corners of the pan, so that the mixture heats as evenly as possible. It will start out thick and cloudy from the undissolved sugar, then will turn thin and translucent, and finally begin to thicken and turn cloudy again as the eggs cook. If the mixture starts to curdle or bubble, immediately remove from the heat and proceed to the next step.
Immediately pour the curd through the strainer and into the bowl of butter to stop the cooking. Whisk gently to incorporate the butter. Pour the cooked curd over the warm, baked crust. Bake the tart at 325ºF until the sides are barely puffed and the center wobbles like firm Jell-O when you give it a gentle shake, 20–30 minutes. It should not be wet or watery looking (underbaked), nor should it be puffed in the center or cracking (overbaked), but a few small bubbles popping around the sides are perfect. Remove the tart from the oven and let cool for about 30 minutes, then chill until firm, 2–3 hours or overnight.
Remove the tart pan sides by placing the tart atop a large can or small, inverted bowl and gently easing the sides from the tart. Chill the tart until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day. Cut into wedges and serve, topping each slice with a spoonful of whipped cream, a good sprinkle of pomegranate arils, and a lemon slice and pinch of hibiscus powder if desired. The tart is best within the first 2 days of baking when the crust is firm, but keeps well, refrigerated airtight, for up to 3 days.

Notes

Be sure to use fresh pomegranate juice in this tart for the best flavor and color. You can find fresh pomegranate juice at farmers markets and some health food stores through the fall and early winter, or you can make your own from fresh pomegranate arils.

Without the hibiscus, the curd turns a rather unappealing mauve color, and it brightens up the flavor too, so don’t leave it out. You should be able to find hibiscus tea bags at any supermarket, or look for loose hibiscus blossoms or powder in bulk at health food stores or specialty herb shops; I get mine at Rainbow Grocery Co-Op in San Francisco.

Top slices of tart with softly whipped cream and plenty of fresh pomegranate arils.

Nutritional values are based on one of eight servings.

Nutrition

Calories: 457kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 6gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 163mgSodium: 105mgPotassium: 148mgFiber: 2gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 770IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 1.2mg

Making this? I'd love to see!Tag your snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet!

Pomegranate Tart with Hibiscus, Lemon, and Almond Flour Crust {gluten-free} before cream topping

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Comments

4.78 from 9 votes (8 ratings without comment)

Pomegranate Tart with Hibiscus, Lemon, and Almond Flour Crust {gluten-free}