Description
This South African milk tart features a crisp, buttery pastry crust filled with silky smooth custard and topped with fragrant ground cinnamon. It’s a lightly sweet, comforting dessert perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
- For the pastry crust:
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup (113 g) cold salted butter, cubed
- 2 to 3 tablespoons ice water
- For the filling:
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 5 large egg yolks
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (for topping)
Instructions
- Make the crust: In a bowl, combine flour and powdered sugar. Rub in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add ice water gradually and mix until dough comes together.
- Press dough evenly into a 9-inch pie dish. Freeze for 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Line crust with parchment and fill with pie weights. Blind bake for 20–25 minutes until lightly golden. Remove weights and parchment, and let cool completely.
- Prepare the filling: In a saucepan, heat milk, cream, vanilla, almond extract (if using), and nutmeg until hot but not boiling.
- In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and flour until smooth. Temper with 2 ladles of hot milk mixture while whisking constantly. Pour back into saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, for 2–3 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and strain through a sieve. Stir in butter until melted.
- Pour custard into cooled crust. Press greased parchment directly onto custard surface to prevent skin. Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Before serving, remove parchment and dust generously with ground cinnamon.
Notes
- To save time, you can use a store-bought pie crust.
- For extra spice, add a pinch of cardamom to the filling.
- Use lemon or orange zest for a citrus variation.
- Make ahead and refrigerate for up to 2 days before serving.
- Do not freeze, as the texture may be affected.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop, Baking
- Cuisine: South African
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 130mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
