Sunny Delight Bites—Dessert for 6

Sunny Delight Bites are a refreshing Mediterranean-French dessert featuring ripe summer fruits, delicate pastry, and a luscious cream filling. These bite-sized treats are perfect for showcasing seasonal ingredients and offer a delightful balance of textures and flavors to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Meal Type

Dessert

Cuisine

Mediterranean French Fusion

Servings

6

Food Stars

Mangoes

Health

Variations

Diets

Variations

You Need This Stuff

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 3 tbsp ice water
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese, softened
  • 2 cups mixed summer fruits (eg, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)
  • 1/4 cup apricot jam

Do This With That Stuff

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour and 1/4 tsp salt
  3. Add 1/2 cup cold and cubed unsalted butter to the flour mixture
  4. Use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs
  5. Gradually add 3 tbsp ice water, mixing until the dough comes together
  6. Form the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes
  7. On a lightly floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll out the chilled dough to fit a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom
  8. Press the dough into the tart pan, trimming any excess dough from the edges
  9. Place a sheet of parchment paper over the dough and fill with pie weights or dried beans
  10. Place the tart pan on a baking sheet and bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes
  11. Remove pie weights and parchment paper, then bake for an additional 10-12 minutes or until golden brown
  12. Transfer tart pan to a wire rack and let cool completely
  13. In a medium mixing bowl, combine 1 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla extract using an electric mixer with whisk attachment until soft peaks form
  14. Add 1/2 cup softened mascarpone cheese to whipped cream mixture and fold gently with rubber spatula until well combined
  15. Spread mascarpone mixture evenly onto cooled tart crust using rubber spatula
  16. Rinse mixed summer fruits under cold water on cutting board; hull strawberries if necessary
  17. Arrange mixed summer fruits on top of mascarpone filling in desired pattern
  18. In small saucepan over low heat, warm up apricot jam until slightly runny
  19. Brush apricot jam over fruits as glaze

Obvious and Not So Obvious Variations and Pairings

☕ Bitter
  • Add 1 tsp grated orange zest
  • Add 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
  • Replace apricot jam with 1/4 cup orange marmalade
  • Add 1 tbsp Campari to mascarpone mixture
🧂 Salty
  • Increase salt to 1/2 tsp
  • Add 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese to mascarpone mixture
  • Add 1/4 cup chopped Kalamata olives to fruit topping
🍋 Sour
  • Add 1 tbsp lemon juice to mascarpone filling
  • Add 1/4 cup lemon curd to mascarpone filling
  • Replace apricot jam with 1/4 cup lemon marmalade
🌶️ Spicy
  • Add 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon to flour mixture
  • Add 1/8 tsp ground cardamom to flour mixture
  • Add 1/4 tsp ground ginger to mascarpone filling
  • Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to apricot jam
🍬 Sweet
  • Increase powdered sugar to 1/2 cup
  • Add 1 tsp grated lemon zest to mascarpone mixture
  • Add 1/4 cup honey to apricot jam glaze
🍄 Umami
  • Add 1 tbsp soy sauce to mascarpone filling
  • Add 1/2 tsp ground porcini mushroom powder to flour mixture
  • Add 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese to mascarpone filling
🍸 Alcoholic
  • Rosé Wine: Its fruity and crisp flavor complements the mixed summer fruits in the dish
  • Prosecco: The light bubbles and sweetness of Prosecco pair well with the creamy mascarpone filling
  • Limoncello: The citrusy taste of Limoncello enhances the fruity flavors and balances the richness of the tart
🥤 Non Alcoholic
  • Lemon-Mint Sparkling Water: The citrus and mint flavors complement the summer fruits in the dish
  • Lavender Lemonade: The floral notes of lavender pair well with the French and Mediterranean influences
  • Peach Iced Tea: The fruity sweetness of peach enhances the mixed summer fruits in the tart
IMPORTANT NOTE: Artificial Intelligence created this—this means the following may or may not be correct or accurate. If following a specific diet is critical to your health and well-being due to ailments or health conditions, please consult your doctor before trying any of these variations.

🥓 Keto
  • Replace all-purpose flour with 1 cup almond flour
  • Replace powdered sugar with 1/4 cup granulated erythritol
  • Replace apricot jam with 1/4 cup sugar-free apricot preserves
🍆 Mediterranean
  • Replace all-purpose flour with almond flour
  • Increase salt to 1/2 tsp
  • Replace unsalted butter with 1/2 cup cold and cubed coconut oil
  • Replace heavy cream with 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
  • Decrease powdered sugar to 2 tbsp
  • Replace mascarpone cheese with 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
  • Add 1/4 cup chopped pistachios to fruit topping
  • Replace apricot jam with 1/4 cup honey
🥑 Paleo
  • Replace all-purpose flour with 1 cup almond flour
  • Replace unsalted butter with 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • Replace powdered sugar with 1/4 cup honey
  • Replace heavy cream with 1 cup coconut cream
  • Replace mascarpone cheese with 1/2 cup cashew cream cheese
🐟 Pescatarian
  • No changes needed
🌱 Vegan
  • Replace unsalted butter with 1/2 cup vegan butter, cold and cubed
  • Replace heavy cream with 1 cup coconut cream
  • Replace mascarpone cheese with 1/2 cup vegan cream cheese, softened
🥦 Vegetarian
  • No changes needed
🥩 Whole30

    IMPORTANT NOTE: Artificial Intelligence created this—this means the following may or may not be correct or accurate. If following a specific diet is critical to your health and well-being due to ailments or health conditions, please consult your doctor before trying any of these variations.

    🧠 Brain Health
        • Replace all-purpose flour with 1 cup almond flour
        • Replace unsalted butter with 1/2 cup coconut oil
        • Replace heavy cream with 1 cup coconut cream
        • Decrease powdered sugar to 2 tbsp
        • Add 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
        • Add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
        • Add 1/4 cup chopped almonds
    🌾 Celiac Disease
        • Replace 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour blend
        • Ensure apricot jam is gluten-free
    💩 Crohns Disease
        • Replace all-purpose flour with gluten-free all-purpose flour
        • Replace heavy cream with lactose-free heavy cream
        • Replace mascarpone cheese with lactose-free cream cheese
        • Remove apricot jam
    🩸 Diabetes
        • Replace all-purpose flour with almond flour
        • Decrease unsalted butter to 1/4 cup
        • Replace powdered sugar with 2 tbsp erythritol
        • Replace heavy cream with 1 cup coconut cream
        • Replace mascarpone cheese with 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, unsweetened
        • Remove apricot jam
    🍞 Gluten Intolerance
        • Replace 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
        • Use gluten-free parchment paper
    🫀 Heart Disease
        • Replace all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour
        • Replace unsalted butter with 1/4 cup olive oil
        • Replace heavy cream with 1 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
        • Decrease powdered sugar to 2 tbsp
        • Replace mascarpone cheese with 1/2 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
        • Increase mixed summer fruits to 3 cups
    ❤️ Heart Health
        • Replace all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour
        • Decrease unsalted butter to 1/4 cup
        • Replace heavy cream with 1 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
        • Decrease powdered sugar to 2 tbsp
        • Replace mascarpone cheese with 1/2 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
    🧂 High Blood Pressure
        • Replace all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour
        • Remove salt
        • Replace unsalted butter with 1/4 cup olive oil
        • Replace heavy cream with 1 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
        • Decrease powdered sugar to 2 tbsp
        • Replace mascarpone cheese with 1/2 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
        • Use apricot jam with no added sugar
    🍔 High Cholesterol
        • Replace all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour
        • Replace unsalted butter with 1/4 cup olive oil
        • Replace heavy cream with 1 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
        • Decrease powdered sugar to 2 tbsp
        • Replace mascarpone cheese with 1/2 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
    🦠 Immune System
        • Replace all-purpose flour with 1 cup whole wheat flour
        • Replace unsalted butter with 1/2 cup coconut oil
        • Replace heavy cream with 1 cup Greek yogurt
        • Decrease powdered sugar to 2 tbsp
        • Add 1/4 cup honey
        • Add 1 tsp grated ginger
        • Add 1 tsp grated turmeric
        • Increase mixed summer fruits to 3 cups
    🚽 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
        • Replace all-purpose flour with 1 cup gluten-free flour blend
        • Replace heavy cream with 1 cup lactose-free heavy cream
        • Replace mascarpone cheese with 1/2 cup lactose-free cream cheese, softened
        • Use 2 cups low-FODMAP fruits (e.g., strawberries, blueberries, grapes) instead of mixed summer fruits
    💧 Kidney Disease
        • Replace all-purpose flour with almond flour
        • Decrease salt to 1/8 tsp
        • Replace unsalted butter with unsalted margarine
        • Replace heavy cream with low-fat milk
        • Decrease powdered sugar to 2 tbsp
        • Replace mascarpone cheese with low-fat cream cheese
        • Use low-potassium fruits like pineapple, grapes, and apple slices instead of mixed summer fruits
        • Replace apricot jam with sugar-free apricot preserves
    🐄 Lactose Intolerance
        • Replace unsalted butter with 1/2 cup dairy-free butter alternative
        • Replace heavy cream with 1 cup lactose-free heavy cream or coconut cream
        • Replace mascarpone cheese with 1/2 cup dairy-free cream cheese alternative
    🍺 Liver Disease
        • Replace all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour
        • Replace unsalted butter with 1/4 cup olive oil
        • Decrease heavy cream to 1/2 cup
        • Replace powdered sugar with 2 tbsp honey
        • Replace mascarpone cheese with 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
        • Remove apricot jam
    🤰 Pregnancy
        • Replace mascarpone cheese with 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
        • Replace apricot jam with 1/4 cup pasteurized honey

    Beti’s Reflections

    It was a warm summer afternoon in a quaint Mediterranean village when I stumbled upon the inspiration for these delightful Sunny Delight Bites. As I wandered through the bustling market, the scent of ripe summer fruits and freshly baked French pastries filled the air. It was then that I knew I had to create a dessert that combined these two culinary worlds into one heavenly bite.

    Introducing Sunny Delight Bites, a refreshing Mediterranean-French dessert perfect for serving six people. These bite-sized treats feature ripe summer fruits, delicate pastry, and a luscious cream filling that will satisfy any sweet tooth. Although this recipe is not suitable for those with gluten or dairy allergies, it’s an absolute must-try for everyone else!

    The ingredients in this recipe are simple yet essential to creating the perfect balance of flavors and textures. The all-purpose flour and salt create a tender pastry crust, while cold unsalted butter ensures it remains flaky. Ice water helps bring the dough together without overworking it. The creamy mascarpone filling is made from heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract, offering a rich contrast to the tartness of mixed summer fruits like strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Finally, apricot jam adds a touch of sweetness as a glaze.

    To make these Sunny Delight Bites, start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and preparing your dough using the flour, salt, butter, and ice water. After chilling for 30 minutes, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to fit a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Bake with pie weights or dried beans for 15 minutes before removing them and baking for an additional 10-12 minutes until golden brown. While your crust cools on a wire rack, whip up your mascarpone filling by combining heavy cream, powdered sugar, vanilla extract until soft peaks form, and then gently fold in softened mascarpone cheese. Spread the filling onto the cooled crust and arrange your mixed summer fruits on top. Finish by warming up apricot jam and brushing it over the fruits as a glaze.

    And there you have it, my dear readers – Sunny Delight Bites that will transport you to a Mediterranean-French paradise with every bite. These refreshing desserts are perfect for showcasing seasonal ingredients and offer a delightful balance of textures and flavors to satisfy any sweet tooth. So go ahead, indulge in these little bites of sunshine, and don’t forget to share your creations with us here at TheKitchen.ai!

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