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South African Milk Tart

Traditional South African Milk Tart (Melk Tert) has a soft buttery sweet crust pastry that is filled with creamy custard and sprinkled with cinnamon.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 8
Calories 278 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 475 ml 2 cups milk
  • 120 ml 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 5 egg yolks
  • 150 g 3/4 cup sugar
  • 35 g 2 1/2 tbsp cornstarch or cornflour
  • 30 g 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 57 g 2 tbsp salted butter (or unsalted butter with 1/2 tsp salt)
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • 2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the pastry according to recipe instructions and blind bake until golden brown and crisp. Allow to cool.
  • In a saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, cream, vanilla extract, almond extract, and nutmeg. Heat until warm.
  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, flour, and salt.
  • Temper the egg mixture by gradually whisking in two ladles of the warm milk mixture.
  • Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan and cook, whisking continuously, until thickened and smooth, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Pass the custard through a fine-mesh sieve, then beat in the butter.
  • Pour the custard into the prepared crust. Press a piece of parchment paper sprayed with cooking spray onto the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming.
  • Chill the milk tart in the fridge for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, until set.
  • Before serving, dust the cinnamon over the milk tart, slice, and enjoy!