Summer Torte – Perfect For Entertaining

This is a great dessert to bring to a family get together.  It looks pretty, and everyone will think you slaved away, but it is really quite simple.

You will need fruit, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, an egg, butter, flour and salt.

The prep is less than 15 minutes, baking time is 18 - 22 minutes.  The shell needs to cool for about one hour, and the finished torte has to chill for at least one hour.

I usually cut the decorative fruit while the shell is cooling.
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To Begin, make a cookie dough base, and press it into a well greased torte pan.

     My recipe

• 1 cup butter 
• 1 cup white sugar 
• 1 egg 
• 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

This is a butter cookie recipe, but if you are pressed for time a roll of premade sugar cookie would probably work, too.

Bake at 350 degrees (F) for 18-22 minutes, until browned.

Allow to cool, and remove from pan.



Now you'll need a filling.  I like this recipe:

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Other flavor can be substituted for the vanilla, such as lemon, almond, coconut... it's a matter of preference, and the fruit you'll be using.

• Beat the ingredients together until they are creamy and spreadable, then apply liberally to the well of the baked shell.

Last, add cut fruit, cover lightly with plastic, and allow the torte to chill.  

Berries and Kiwi work well, and here is one I made for Easter using melon, pineapple and grapes.