Delicious & Easy Weight Watchers Puff Pastry Stone Fruit Tart: A Low-Point Summer Treat
Indulge in a dessert that’s both elegant and guilt-free with this delightful **WW Puff Pastry Stone Fruit Tart**. Each slice is a mere **5 Weight Watchers points**, offering an irresistible combination of flavors and textures without derailing your healthy eating goals. This tart is proof that you can enjoy delicious, sweet treats even while managing your points.
The magic of premade puff pastry truly simplifies baking, making gourmet-level desserts accessible to everyone. Don’t you agree that it’s a kitchen marvel? While crafting puff pastry from scratch is a commendable culinary feat, the sheer convenience of a ready-to-bake sheet is unparalleled. It transforms the process of creating stunning desserts, ensuring they not only taste phenomenal but also boast a gorgeous, professional appearance. Think of a sheet of puff pastry as your ultimate blank canvas, ready to be adorned with whatever deliciousness you can imagine!
Of course, we must acknowledge that puff pastry, being inherently buttery and rich, can quickly elevate a dessert’s point value if not paired thoughtfully. That’s where this recipe shines! We’ve meticulously balanced the richness of the pastry with a lightened-up ricotta cheese filling, vibrant, juicy summer stone fruit, and a touch of organic honey. The result is a low-point, yet incredibly satisfying treat that will effortlessly curb your sweet cravings and impress anyone lucky enough to try a slice.
The harmonious blend of the creamy, subtly sweet ricotta with the bright, sweet-tart burst of fresh stone fruit is a flavor pairing I absolutely adore. And that moment when you bite into the crispy, golden edges and experience the buttery, flaky layers of the puff pastry? It’s pure bliss, a sensation I honestly never tire of. One of the best aspects of this recipe is its versatility regarding fruit. You can use any stone fruit that’s in season or your personal favorite – peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, or a delightful mix! So, gather your chosen fruits, grab that convenient puff pastry, and prepare for a dessert experience you’ll undoubtedly want to revisit again and again.
Why This Weight Watchers Stone Fruit Tart is a Must-Try
- Effortlessly Elegant and Simple to Prepare: This tart masters the art of appearing complex while being incredibly straightforward to make. Your guests or family will be convinced you spent hours in the kitchen, when in reality, it comes together surprisingly quickly. Its stunning presentation makes it an ideal dessert for dinner parties, special occasions, or even a sophisticated weekend treat.
- Light, Yet Incredibly Satisfying: This isn’t just a dessert; it’s an experience. It strikes a perfect balance, offering a delicately sweet flavor profile that feels wonderfully light on the palate. Yet, the comforting richness and buttery crispness of the puff pastry provide a satisfying depth that truly hits the spot. It’s the perfect end to any meal, leaving you feeling content, not overly full.
- Customizable and Visually Stunning: Unleash your inner artist! This recipe encourages creativity in its presentation. The arrangement of the sliced stone fruit on the ricotta filling offers a fantastic opportunity to create intricate patterns and designs. Whether you prefer a simple, rustic look or an elaborate, elevated display, you can tailor it to your aesthetic preferences, making each tart uniquely yours.
- Weight Watchers Friendly Indulgence: At just 5 points per slice, this tart offers a smart way to enjoy a delicious dessert without compromising your Weight Watchers journey. It proves that healthy eating doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor or enjoyment.
- Highlights Seasonal Freshness: Utilizing fresh stone fruits means you’re enjoying the best of seasonal produce, packed with natural sweetness and essential nutrients. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate summer’s bounty.
Weight Watchers Puff Pastry Tart: Recipe at a Glance
Before diving into the detailed steps, here’s a quick overview of what to expect:
- Serving Size: Each delicious slice weighs approximately 85g.
- Number of Servings: This recipe yields 10 generous slices, perfect for sharing or enjoying over a few days.
- Preparation Time: A quick 20 minutes to get everything ready.
- Cook Time: Approximately 30-40 minutes in the oven until golden and set.
- Total Time: Around 1 hour, including prep and bake time.
- WW Points Per Recipe: Each serving (slice) is 5 WW points. The entire tart totals 51 points. (Click here to view the recipe in the WW app. Note: A Weight Watchers login is required to access this link.)
Key Ingredients for Your Delicious Fruit Pastry Tart
Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating this mouth-watering tart. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving the perfect balance of flavors and textures. We’ve carefully selected ingredients that keep this dessert light and Weight Watchers friendly without sacrificing taste.
- 1 Thawed Puff Pastry Sheet: This is your foundation. Using a high-quality premade sheet, like the Pepperidge Farm brand suggested, ensures a consistent, flaky, and buttery base. Thawing it properly is key for easy rolling.
- 3-4 Stone Fruit, Sliced: The stars of the show! Choose your favorites such as ripe peaches, plums, apricots, or nectarines. A mix offers a beautiful array of colors and complementary flavors. Ensure they are ripe but firm enough to hold their shape when sliced.
- 2 tbsp Zero-Calorie Sweetener: To sweeten the ricotta filling without adding excess sugar or points. A 1:1 sugar replacement like monk fruit or erythritol works perfectly here, blending seamlessly into the creamy base.
- ¼ tsp Cinnamon: A warm, aromatic spice that beautifully complements the sweetness of the fruit and adds a comforting depth to the ricotta mixture.
- ½ cup Part-Skim Ricotta Cheese: Our secret to a lightened-up, creamy filling. Part-skim ricotta provides that luxurious texture and milky flavor without the higher fat content of full-fat versions, keeping the WW points down.
- 2 Eggs: Essential for both the egg wash (to help brown the pastry) and binding the ricotta filling into a smooth, custard-like consistency when baked.
- 1 ½ tbsp Organic Honey (for glazing): A touch of natural sweetness and a beautiful sheen for the baked fruit. Organic honey adds a rich flavor and helps the fruit glisten, enhancing the tart’s visual appeal.
Step-by-Step Instructions: Crafting Your Weight Watchers Puff Pastry Stone Fruit Tart
Follow these detailed steps to create a truly spectacular and healthy dessert that will delight your senses and impress your guests.
- Prepare the Pastry: Begin by preheating your oven to a precise 400°F (200°C). This high temperature is crucial for achieving a perfectly crisp and flaky puff pastry. Next, carefully place your thawed puff pastry sheet between two layers of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, gently roll it out a bit thinner. Aim for a rectangular shape, approximately 8 x 11.5 inches. This ensures a consistent thickness and a larger surface area for your delicious toppings. Once rolled, delicately fold over the edges of the pastry to create a small, defined border. This border will not only give your tart a beautiful finished look but also help contain the ricotta filling.
- Egg Wash and Docking: In a small bowl, whisk your eggs until they are nicely beaten and uniform in color. This mixture will serve as your egg wash. Using a pastry brush, apply a thin, even layer of this egg wash over the *inside* of the raw puff pastry dough, making sure to avoid the folded edges. This internal egg wash helps create a barrier, preventing the filling from making the pastry soggy. After applying the wash, take a fork and gently “dock” the dough all over – this means pricking it repeatedly. Docking is a vital step as it allows steam to escape during baking, preventing the pastry from puffing up too much in the center and creating an uneven surface for your filling.
3. First Bake (Par-Baking) and Filling Prep: Now, transfer the prepared pastry sheet to a parchment-lined baking pan. Place it into your preheated oven and par-bake it for 10 minutes. This initial bake is critical; it helps set the pastry’s layers, ensuring it bakes through properly and doesn’t become dense or gummy under the weight of the fruit and filling. While the pastry par-bakes, prepare your luscious ricotta filling. In a medium bowl, combine the part-skim ricotta cheese, zero-calorie sweetener, and cinnamon with the remaining beaten eggs from your egg wash. Whisk everything together until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Simultaneously, slice all of your chosen stone fruit, ensuring uniform thickness for even baking and a beautiful presentation. If your fruit tends to brown quickly, a light drizzle of lemon juice can help maintain its vibrant color.
4. Prepare for Filling: Once the 10 minutes of par-baking are up, carefully remove the puff pastry from the oven. You’ll notice it has likely puffed up in places. Use a fork or a small knife to gently poke the puffed areas all over. This allows any trapped steam to escape, which is essential for creating a flat and stable base for your filling. After allowing the steam to escape, gently press down the entire base of the pastry with the back of a fork to create a relatively flat surface. Let the pastry rest for about 5 minutes; it needs to cool down slightly before you add the filling, preventing the eggs in the ricotta mixture from scrambling prematurely.
5. Assemble the Tart: With your par-baked and cooled pastry ready, it’s time to assemble. Pour the creamy ricotta filling directly into the prepared pastry base. Using the back of a spoon or a small spatula, carefully spread the filling out evenly, ensuring it reaches all corners within the folded border. Next comes the fun part: arranging your beautiful stone fruit slices! Layer them in a decorative and visually appealing fashion. Overlapping slices in a fanned or circular pattern can create a truly stunning effect.
6. Final Bake: Return your fully assembled tart to the oven. Bake for an additional 25-30 minutes. Keep a close eye on it; you’re looking for the ricotta custard to be set and slightly golden, and the puff pastry to be thoroughly baked through and beautifully golden brown. To ensure even baking and prevent the edges from over-browning, check on your tart halfway through. If the edges are browning too quickly, you can create a simple foil border around them. If the entire top seems to be browning too fast, a loose tent of foil over the whole tart will do the trick.
7. Glaze and Serve: Once your tart emerges from the oven, golden and fragrant, it’s time for the final touch. While it’s still warm, gently glaze the top with organic honey. You can use a pastry brush for an even coat or drizzle it artfully for a more rustic look. This step adds a lovely natural sweetness and a beautiful, glistening shine to the fruit. Allow the tart to cool and set for at least 15 minutes before attempting to slice it. This resting period is crucial for the ricotta custard to firm up, ensuring clean, elegant slices. Then, cut into 10 equally sized pieces and serve!
Creative Variations and Smart Substitutions for Your Tart
One of the joys of cooking is the ability to adapt recipes to your taste preferences or what you have on hand. This Weight Watchers puff pastry stone fruit tart is wonderfully versatile, allowing for a variety of delicious twists!
- Explore Other Fruit Ideas: While stone fruits are fantastic, don’t limit yourself! Feel free to use any combination of your favorite seasonal fruits. Apples and pears work beautifully, especially when sliced thinly. Berries like raspberries or blueberries can be added to the stone fruit or used on their own for a different flavor profile. Just be mindful that softer fruits might release more liquid, so a quick toss with a teaspoon of cornstarch before layering can help prevent a soggy tart.
- Cream Cheese Tart Option: If you’re not a fan of ricotta or simply want to try something different, light cream cheese can be an excellent substitute for the part-skim ricotta cheese. When using cream cheese, you might find it beneficial to add a little more sweetener, as cream cheese tends to be less naturally sweet than ricotta. Remember that this substitution will likely alter the Weight Watchers points, so be sure to adjust and recalculate in the WW recipe builder to stay on track with your goals.
- Sweetener vs. Granulated Sugar: For those who prefer traditional sugar or don’t have a zero-calorie sweetener on hand, simply use the same amount of granulated sugar (2 tablespoons) in place of the zero-calorie sweetener in the ricotta filling. This will, of course, increase the caloric and sugar content, and thus the WW points, so factor that into your planning.
- Alternative Glazes: While organic honey provides a lovely, natural sweetness and shine, you have other options for glazing your baked tart. Apricot glaze, warmed and brushed on, is a classic choice for fruit tarts, offering a beautiful gloss and a subtle fruity note. Maple syrup or agave nectar also work wonderfully, providing a distinct sweetness and helping the fruit glisten. The main goal of the glaze is to give the fruit a desirable shine and add a final layer of sweetness, so choose what you love best!
- Add a Citrus Zest: For an extra burst of freshness, consider adding a teaspoon of lemon or orange zest to your ricotta filling. The citrus brightens the entire tart and complements the fruit beautifully.
- A Hint of Spice: Beyond cinnamon, a tiny pinch of nutmeg or cardamom can add another layer of warm spice to the ricotta filling, especially if you’re using apples or pears.
Expert Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Puff Pastry Fruit Tart
Achieving a truly exceptional fruit tart involves a few key techniques. These tips will help you ensure your Weight Watchers Puff Pastry Stone Fruit Tart turns out perfectly every time:
- The Importance of Par-Baking: This step is absolutely crucial for the success of your tart. Par-baking (partially baking) the puff pastry before adding the filling ensures that its delicate layers can fully rise and bake through properly. Without this initial bake, the weight of the heavy fruit and creamy ricotta filling can compress the pastry, preventing it from becoming light and flaky. The result would be a dense, gummy, and undercooked base, which is definitely not what we want!
- Avoid Egg Washing the Edges: When applying the egg wash, be very careful to only brush the *inside* of the pastry dough, where the filling will go. Do not brush the folded edges. Egg wash applied to the edges will cause them to brown prematurely and possibly burn before the rest of the tart is cooked. The edges will naturally achieve a beautiful golden hue during baking, and any desired shine can be added later with the honey glaze.
- Allow for Proper Resting Time: Patience is a virtue, especially with tarts! After the tart comes out of the oven, it’s essential to allow it to rest for at least 15 minutes before you begin slicing. This crucial resting period gives the ricotta custard sufficient time to set and firm up completely. Slicing too soon will result in a messy tart with a runny filling. However, you can (and should!) glaze it with the honey while it is still warm; the warmth helps the honey spread beautifully and absorb slightly.
- Optimal Storage for Leftovers: Should you be fortunate enough to have any slices left over, store them promptly in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To truly enjoy your leftovers and bring back that wonderful crispness of the puff pastry, I highly recommend reheating individual slices in an air fryer or a conventional oven. A few minutes at a moderate temperature (around 300-350°F or 150-175°C) will work wonders. Avoid the microwave, as it will inevitably make the puff pastry soggy and diminish its delightful texture.
- Don’t Overfill: While it might be tempting to pile on the fruit, avoid overfilling the tart. Too much fruit can weigh down the pastry, release excessive moisture, and make it difficult for the tart to cook evenly. A single, decorative layer is usually sufficient.
- Fruit Slicing Consistency: For the most even baking and appealing presentation, try to slice your stone fruit to a consistent thickness. This ensures that all pieces cook at the same rate and look uniform on your tart.
More Delightful Weight Watchers Friendly Recipes to Explore
If you loved this healthy and delicious fruit tart, be sure to check out these other fantastic Weight Watchers friendly recipes from our collection:
Spinach and Cheese Hand Pies – Savory and satisfying, these hand pies are perfect for a light meal or snack.
Strawberry Custard Tarts – Another sweet treat, featuring creamy custard and fresh strawberries.
Maple Bourbon Peach Pie – A unique twist on pie, perfect for grilling season!
Weight Watchers Puff Pastry Fruit Tart
Ingredients
- 1 Thawed puff pastry sheet, I used Pepperidge Farm brand
- 3-4 Stone fruit, sliced (peaches, plums, apricots, etc.)
- 2 tbsp Zero-calorie sweetener, use a 1:1 sugar replacement like monk fruit
- ¼ tsp Cinnamon
- ½ cup Part-skim ricotta cheese
- 2 Eggs
- 1 ½ tbsp Organic honey
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400°F. Place the thawed puff pastry in between two layers of parchment paper and roll it out thinner. My rectangle was about 8 x 11.5 inches. Gently fold over the edges to create a small border.
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Whisk the eggs until nicely beaten, and then brush a layer of egg wash on the inside of the raw puff pastry dough. Dock the dough all over with a fork. Par-bake the pastry sheet for 10 minutes on a parchment-lined sheet pan.
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Meanwhile, make the ricotta filling by adding the ricotta, sweetener, and cinnamon to the remaining eggs from the egg wash. Slice all of your fruit and get it ready to go (you can drizzle some lemon juice over them if they start to brown).
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After removing the puff pastry from the oven, use a fork or knife to poke it all over. Since it will be puffy, you’ll want to let the steam escape. After that, press it down gently with a fork to create a flat base. Allow it to rest for about 5 minutes so it’s not scorching hot.
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Then, pour the ricotta filling into the base and spread it out evenly. Layer the stone fruit slices in a decorative fashion.
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Return the tart to the oven and bake for about 25-30 more minutes or until the ricotta custard is set and the puff pastry is thoroughly baked. You can check on it halfway through, and if you notice that the edges are already plenty brown, create a foil border to prevent them from browning further. You can also cover the entire thing if needed.
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After it comes out of the oven, glaze it with the honey by brushing or drizzling it on. Allow it to set before slicing it into 10 pieces.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.