Directions for Dough

1. Whip butter and sugar in an electric mixer until fully combined.
2. Add in flour and salt and mix until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix.
3. Pat into a 9 or 10 inch tart or pie pan.
4. Prick crust well with fork.
5. Cover with foil or parchment paper and fill with uncooked beans or rice.
6. Bake in 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.
7. Take off foil and bake for another 5 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.

Directions for Pastry Cream

1. Bring the milk to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to make sure it doesn’t burn. If you’re using the vanilla bean, split and scrape it, putting the small flecks into the milk as well as the rest of the bean. Before you whisk it into the yolk mixture, remove the bean.
2. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, whisk the yolks together with the sugar and cornstarch until thick and well blended. Still whisking, drizzle in about 1/4 cup of the hot milk. Whisking all the while, slowly pour in the remainder of the milk.
3. Put the pan over medium heat and, whisking vigorously, contstantly and thoroughly bring the mixture to a boil. Keep at a boil, still whisking, for 1 to 2 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat.
4. If you didn’t use the vanilla bean, whisk in the vanilla extract now. Let sit for 5 minutes, then whisk in the bits of butter and chopped white chocolate, stirring until they are fully incorporated and the pastry cream is smooth and silky.
5. Scrape the cream into a bowl. Press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface of the cream to create an airtight seal and refrigerate until cold or, if you want to cool it quickly put the bowl into a larger bowl filled with ice cubes and cold water and stir the pastry cream occasionally until it is thoroughly chilled, about 20 minutes.
6. The pastry cream can be kept, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Assembling Your Tart

1. After you have let your tart crust and your pastry cream cool, scrape the pastry cream into the tart pan. Smooth top evenly. Rinse berries, and arrange as you would like on top of the tart. Then, gently remove the tart from the pan as carefully as you can to resist breaking the tart. It can be refrigerated for a few hours before serving if needed.