The best classic South African unbaked milk tarts recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a milk tart and a flan? ›

Whether it be a French Flan Patissier, a Portuguese Pasteis de Nata or an Italian Torte della Nonna, there are definite similarities the world over. The major difference in comparison of Milk Tart to these, is the absence of lots of eggs in the custard.

Melktert (/ˈmɛlktɛrt/, Afrikaans for milk tart) is a South African dessert originally created by the Dutch settlers in the "Cape" (South Africa) consisting of a sweet pastry crust containing a custard filling made from milk, flour, sugar and eggs.

Allow the milk tart to cool at room temperature. If you put it in the fridge straight away, you will probably end up with a huge crack down the centre as a result of cooling too quickly. Be sure to use the best quality ingredients.

Melktert stems from the Dutch settlers in the Cape in the 1600s. The origin of Mattentaart is credited to a recipe listed in Thomas van der Noot's book, “Een notabel boexcken van co*keryen” (A Notable Book of Cookery) and it's possible that melktert developed from the same recipe.

History of the milk tart

It originated in the Dutch Cape Colony in the 1700s, amongst the Afrikaner population. It is believed to have developed from the Dutch 'Mattentaart', which was a cheesecake-like dessert. The Afrikaans name for this pudding is 'melktert', which translates directly to its English name, milk tart.

The science of perfect flan lies in the fact that, unlike most custard-based dishes, it contains both egg yolks and egg whites. Egg yolks are made up of fat, protein and about 50% water. The fat in the yolk gives desserts like crème brûlée, crème caramel and flan their creamy and smooth texture.

Also known as “Railway Coffee” – Condensed Milk is a classic South Africa favourite that is often added as a sweetener and creamer to coffee.

Amasi, a cultured dairy product, is cultured (sour) milk that is manufactured by inoculating pasteurised milk with a specific bacterial culture. The end product has a firm texture, no gas bubbles and no separation of whey from the coagulum. It has a pleasant sour taste with a slight bite/prickliness on the tongue.

Overmixing is exactly what it sounds like: the process by which a dough or batter gets mixed too much, typically yielding dense, tough, or deflated baked goods. Overmixed doughs and batters may have an unappealing look or feel, which remain just as unappealing when they're baked.

Making the Milk Tart Filling

Just as the milk comes to a boiling roll, reduce the heat to a simmer and whisk in the sugar-flour mix. The milk mixture is cooked on medium heat for about 10 to 15 minutes stirring consistently. This will prevent any lumps from forming.

Why does my tart have a soggy bottom? ›

Soggy bottoms

And finally, the most frustrating pastry problem of all – the soggy bottom. This normally happens when the oven is not hot enough or the pastry is not baked for long enough. However, it can also be because too much water was added to the dough.

Mix together sugar and butter in a large bowl until smooth. Add egg yolks and beat until light and fluffy. Sift in cake flour, baking powder, and salt; stir until well-blended. Mix in milk and vanilla until combined.

Whole milk is the most delicious type of milk because it has a rich and creamy taste. It is also the most natural form of milk, as it contains all the nutrients that are naturally present in milk. Whole milk is a type of milk that contains all of its original fat content, as it is neither skimmed nor separated.

Often, tarts are thinner than pies. Tart pans are typically fluted around the edges, and can be round, square, rectangular. Flan: A flan can mean one of two things: an inverted rich egg-based baked custard with a caramel syrup, or an open tart (one crust only on the bottom).

However, custard (and therefore flan) is made with eggs and sweetened milk alongside the cream, and flan itself includes caramel. On the other hand, pudding is made with sugar and some kind of starch to thicken the mixture (usually flour or cornstarch).

In some countries, such as the U.K. and Germany, flan is not a baked custard dessert but instead similar to a fruit tart, made with a cake-like crust, custard filling, and fresh fruit on top.

Flan Pâtissier is a French custard tart that is made with a pastry crust filled with vanilla custard and baked. Also known as Parisian Flan, you'll find it in every suburban bakery all across France.