Best 8 Portuguese Egg Custard Tarts Recipes

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In the realm of delectable pastries, Portuguese egg custard tarts, also known as Pastéis de Nata, stand as beacons of culinary excellence. These iconic tarts, originating from the heart of Lisbon, Portugal, have captivated taste buds worldwide with their symphony of flavors and textures. With a crispy, flaky crust that crumbles at the first bite, and a velvety, creamy custard filling that dances on the palate, these tarts are a true testament to the art of baking. Our collection of recipes delves into the secrets of crafting these delectable treats, guiding you through each step to ensure perfect results. From the classic Pastéis de Nata to variations like the Pastel de Belém, a custard tart elevated to a national treasure, and even a vegan-friendly rendition, this article offers a comprehensive exploration of this iconic Portuguese dessert. So, prepare to embark on a culinary journey and discover the magic of Portuguese egg custard tarts in all their glory!

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS (PASTEIS DE NATA)



Portuguese Custard Tarts (Pasteis de Nata) image

This slightly streamlined recipe for the world-famous pasteis de nata, or Portuguese custard tarts, uses just few basic ingredients but requires numerous steps and a certain amount of finesse. The results are so worth it, though, you'll want to make a double batch. The extra moisture inside the sticky dough, activated by a very hot oven, creates the signature flaky, buttery, crispy crust, which encases a custard subtly scented with lemon, cinnamon, and vanilla.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Portuguese

Time 4h

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
⅓ cup cold water
1 stick high-quality unsalted butter, fully softened, divided
¾ cup white sugar
¼ cup water
1 tablespoon water
1 cinnamon stick
1 lemon, zested in large strips
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1 ½ cups milk
6 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Combine flour, salt, and cold water in a bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon until dough just comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Dough should be sticky; adjust with more flour or water to achieve what's shown in the video.
  • Transfer dough onto a well floured surface. Dust a little more flour over the top. Knead for a minute or two to form a round. Cover and let rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Roll dough into a square about 1/8 inch thick, dusting with flour as necessary; dough should still be sticky.
  • Spread 1/3 of the butter over 2/3 of the square using a silicone spatula, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Flip the unbuttered side over the middle of the square and fold the opposite end over it like a letter. Straighten the edges as needed.
  • Turn dough with a bench scraper to unstick it from the counter; dust with flour. Flip and sprinkle more flour on top. Roll dough into a 1/8-inch-thick rectangle, carefully stretching edges as needed. Spread another 1/3 of the butter over 2/3 of the dough. Fold into thirds. Transfer onto a lined baking sheet and freeze until butter is slightly chilled, about 10 minutes.
  • Sprinkle dough with flour and roll into a square a little over 1/8 inch thick. Spread remaining butter over the dough, leaving a 1- to 1 1/2-inch border on the top edge. Dip your finger in water and lightly moisten the unbuttered edge. Roll dough into a log starting from the bottom edge. Dust with more flour and polish the ends as needed. Seal with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
  • Combine sugar, 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon water, cinnamon, and lemon zest in a pot. Boil over medium heat, without stirring, until syrup reaches 210 to 215 degrees F (100 degrees C). Remove from heat.
  • Preheat oven 550 degrees F (288 degrees C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
  • Whisk flour, salt, and cold milk together very thoroughly in a cold pot. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until milk thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for at least 10 minutes.
  • Whisk egg yolks into the cooled milk. Add the sugar syrup and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. Strain custard into a glass measuring cup.
  • Unwrap the dough and trim any uneven bits on the ends. Score log into 12 even pieces using a knife; cut through.
  • Place a piece of dough in each muffin cup. Dip your thumb lightly in some cold water. Press thumb into the center of the swirl; push dough against the bottom and up the sides of the cup until it reaches least 1/8 inch past the top. Fill each cup 3/4 of the way with custard.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is browned and bubbly, and the tops start to blister and caramelize, about 12 minutes. Cool tarts briefly and serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 210.2 calories, Carbohydrate 25.2 g, Cholesterol 125.2 mg, Fat 10.6 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 3.9 g, SaturatedFat 6.1 g, Sodium 98.3 mg, Sugar 14.1 g

PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS - PASTEIS DE NATA



Portuguese Custard Tarts - Pasteis de Nata image

These are delicious Portuguese Custard Tarts.

Provided by John J. Pacheco

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Portuguese

Time 40m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 cup milk
3 tablespoons cornstarch
½ vanilla bean
1 cup white sugar
6 egg yolks
1 (17.5 ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.) Lightly grease 12 muffin cups and line bottom and sides with puff pastry.
  • In a saucepan, combine milk, cornstarch, sugar and vanilla. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Place egg yolks in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk 1/2 cup of hot milk mixture into egg yolks. Gradually add egg yolk mixture back to remaining milk mixture, whisking constantly. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, or until thickened. Remove vanilla bean.
  • Fill pastry-lined muffin cups with mixture and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and filling is lightly browned on top

Nutrition Facts : Calories 335.9 calories, Carbohydrate 38.7 g, Cholesterol 104 mg, Fat 18.2 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 5 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 114.2 mg, Sugar 18.5 g

PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS



Portuguese Custard Tarts image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     dessert

Time 40m

Yield 12 tarts

Number Of Ingredients 7

3 egg yolks
1/2 cup caster sugar (superfine)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 sheet puff pastry or 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

Steps:

  • Pour the egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch into a saucepan and whisk them together. Gradually beat in the cream and milk until smooth. Place the pan over medium heat, and stirring constantly, cook until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Switch off the heat, and stir in the vanilla extract. Transfer the custard to a bowl, cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming, and leave out to cool.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 12-count muffin pan.
  • Halve the puff pastry sheet horizontally. Set one half on top of the other, and set it aside for 5 minutes. Tightly roll up the puff pastry from short end to short end. Cut the puff pastry log into 12 (1/2-inch) rounds. Lay each piece on a lightly floured surface, and using a rolling pin, flatten out each round until they are 4-inches in diameter. Press each round into each muffin pan. Spoon the cooled custard into the pastry cases, and bake until the pastry and custards are golden, about 20 to 25 minutes. Leave the tarts in the pan for 5 minutes, and then remove and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS



Portuguese Custard Tarts image

Try these typical Portuguese Custard Tarts. Filled with a delicious cream sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, it's impossible to resist.

Provided by Food From Portugal

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h15m

Yield 14 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

14 ounces puff pastry
2 tablespoons cornstarch
6 egg yolks
7 ounces sugar
1 3/4 cups and 2 1/2 tablespoons milk
1 lemon, zest of
1 cinnamon stick
cinnamon, and powdered sugar for dusting

Steps:

  • Grease muffin pans with margarine.
  • Place the puff pastry over a table dusted with flour. Dust the pastry with a little more flour and roll out the pastry into a rectangle shape with a rolling pin. Roll the pastry from one end to the other and cut in round slices with 4 centimeters / (1 1/2 inches). Put the slices within the muffin pans and press the center of the pastry with fingers until fill completely the muffin pans, set aside.
  • In a bowl, dissolve the corn starch in 50 ml / (3 1/3 tablespoons) milk.
  • In a saucepan, pour the remaining milk, lemon peel, cinnamon stick, the dissolved corn starch and sugar. Stir and bring to low heat, stirring occasionally. When starts boiling, remove the lemon peel and the cinnamon stick (reserve both). Turn off the heat and add the egg yolks one by one, stirring constantly. Add the lemon peel and the cinnamon stick and place back over low heat until obtain a creamy mixture, about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180ºC / (350ºF).
  • Turn off the heat, remove the lemon peel and the cinnamon stick and pour the cream in the muffin pans. Bake for about 30 minutes.
  • Remove from oven, unmold and let cool. Sprinkle with cinnamon and powdered sugar and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 256.3, Fat 13.7, SaturatedFat 4.1, Cholesterol 75.4, Sodium 89, Carbohydrate 29.7, Fiber 0.4, Sugar 14.4, Protein 4.1

PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS RECIPE BY TASTY



Portuguese Custard Tarts Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: caster sugar, water, cinammon sticks, milk, double cream, egg yolks, egg, vanilla extract, corn flour, puff pastry

Provided by Ellie Holland

Categories     Bakery Goods

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 ⅓ cups caster sugar
½ cup water
1 stick cinammon sticks
1 cup milk
½ cup double cream
5 egg yolks
1 egg
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
¼ cup corn flour
18 oz puff pastry

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F).
  • In a small pan, place the sugar, water, and cinnamon stick. Simmer for 3 minutes and set aside.
  • Combine milk and cream in a saucepan and place over a medium heat. Bring mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat and set aside.
  • To a large bowl, add the egg yolks, whole egg, vanilla extract, and corn flour. Whisk until fully combined and no lumps remain.
  • Temper the egg mixture by introducing the hot milk and cream in two 100 milliliter batches, then whisk.
  • Return mixture to the saucepan and place over a low-medium heat. Whisk continually until mixture thickens. Turn off heat.
  • Remove cinnamon stick from the syrup and slowly trickle into the custard, whisking continually.
  • Lightly flour a work surface and cut puff pastry into 12 equal pieces.
  • To a lightly greased muffin tin, push each piece of puff pastry down and up into the sides of the muffin holes until evenly distributed.
  • Pour custard into each muffin tin so each one is three quarters full. Bake for 16-20 minutes until golden and brown.
  • Serve warm with a dusting of icing sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 378 calories, Carbohydrate 34 grams, Fat 24 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 8 grams, Sugar 13 grams

PORTUGUESE EGG TARTS



Portuguese Egg Tarts image

Not the chinese egg tarts! It's another variation. The tops are suppose to be burnt. I got it from Leelee in jo's deli bakery site.

Provided by hkjenn

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h15m

Yield 20 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

30 g shortening
30 g pastry margarine
60 g hong kong flour
60 g plain flour
12 g eggs
5 g shortening
1/2 teaspoon caster sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons water
1 drop yellow food coloring
5 egg yolks
90 g caster sugar
75 g evaporated milk
175 g dairy whipping cream
250 ml uht milk (full cream milk)

Steps:

  • Mix well the egg and sugar.
  • Add in the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
  • Leave aside for later use.
  • Method for Oil Dough: Put all ingredients together to make into a dough.
  • Keep in the fridge for abt 15 minutes Method for Dough: Put all ingredients into mixing bowl and mix to a dough.
  • Method for assembling: Roll the dough to 1 cm thick and fold in the oil dough.
  • Roll it to 2 single and 2 double fold.
  • Keep in the fridge for 30 minutes Roll the dough to 1/2 cm thick and cut the size required.
  • Put in the mould and pour in the egg filling and bake at 180C for 15 minutes Notes: The egg fillings is enough for 2 recipe of the dough.
  • So if you are doing 1 whole recipe of the egg filling, then double the dough recipe.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 124.8, Fat 8.1, SaturatedFat 3.5, Cholesterol 58.5, Sodium 30.3, Carbohydrate 11.1, Fiber 0.2, Sugar 4.7, Protein 2.2

EGG CUSTARD TARTS



Egg custard tarts image

These Portuguese-style golden tartlets are perfect to finish off a dinner party or as an afternoon treat with coffee

Provided by Miriam Nice

Categories     Afternoon tea, Buffet, Dessert, Snack, Treat

Time 1h30m

Yield Makes 12

Number Of Ingredients 11

200g plain flour , plus extra for rolling
1 tbsp golden caster sugar
100g unsalted butter , chilled
4 egg yolks
1 tbsp cornflour
100g golden caster sugar
1 vanilla pod
1 cinnamon stick
thick strip of lemon zest
250ml milk
250ml double cream

Steps:

  • Tip the flour and sugar into a large mixing bowl. Slowly add around 150ml very cold water, or just enough so that you have a soft dough that picks up all the crumbs from the outside of the bowl, but isn't too sticky to handle.
  • Wrap the dough in cling film and chill while you coarsely grate the butter. Roll the dough out onto a floured work surface to a 30 x 40cm rectangle, then sprinkle the surface with half the grated butter to form an even layer. Don't worry if the butter clumps together, just make sure the pieces are evenly distributed. With the shorter edge facing you, fold the top third of the dough towards you to the centre and the bottom third up over it. Give the dough a quarter turn, then roll out to the same size as before, sprinkle with the rest of the butter and repeat. Wrap the dough tightly in cling film and chill for 30 mins while you make the filling.
  • Put the egg yolks and cornflour in a large heatproof mixing bowl and whisk in the sugar until pale and thick. Split the vanilla pod in half along the length and scrape out the seeds. Put the seeds in a medium-sized saucepan, along with the empty pod, the cinnamon stick and the lemon zest. Pour the milk and cream over the aromatics, stir and heat very gently until only just simmering. Pour the hot mixture over the egg yolks and whisk well. Pour the custard back into the pan and warm through for 2-3 mins or until thickened slightly to a consistency similar to double cream. Strain the custard through a sieve into a large jug and set aside, covered with cling film.
  • Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Grease a 12-hole muffin tin with butter. Take your pastry out of the fridge and roll it flat to 40 x 20cm. Starting at the longest side, roll it up tightly to make a long roll of pastry. Trim the ends, then cut into 12 pieces, and turn them cut-side up on the work surface, so the spiral is facing upwards. Carefully flatten them out until they are big enough to line the holes in the muffin tin, trying not to skew the spiral shape too much. Press into the tins, then carefully pour in the custard mixture, filling each tart almost to the top.
  • Bake for 30 mins or until the pastry is cooked through and the custard is just starting to puff up but not balloon.
  • Remove from the oven and allow them to cool and sink gently back into shape. Serve cold with coffee.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 300 calories, Fat 20 grams fat, SaturatedFat 12 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 25 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 11 grams sugar, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 4 grams protein, Sodium 0.1 milligram of sodium

PORTUGESE CUSTARD TARTS



Portugese Custard Tarts image

My version of the yummy traditional tarts found in Portugal

Provided by kazshaw

Time 1h

Yield Makes Tartlets

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 whole egg (large)
2 egg yolks (large)
115g golden caster sugar
2 tbsp cornflour
400ml full fat (creamy) milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 sheet ready rolled puff pastry

Steps:

  • Lightly grease a 12 hole muffin tin and pre-heat oven to 200C/180C fan/Gas 6
  • Put egg, yolks, sugar & cornflour in a pan and mix well together then gradually add the milk until mixture is well mixed and smooth.
  • Place pan on medium heat and stir constantly until mixture thickens and comes to the boil. Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
  • Put custard in a glass/ceramic bowl to cool and cover with cling film to prevent skin forming.
  • Cust pastry sheet into two pieces and place them on top of each other. Roll the pastry tightly, from the short side, into a log and cut the log into 12 even sized rounds.
  • On a lightly floured board, roll each round into a disc (approx. 10cm) and press the pastry discs into the muffin tin.
  • Spoon in the cooled custard and bake for 20-25mins until golden on top. Leave to cool in the tin for 5mins then move to a cooling rack to finish cooling although they can be eaten warm.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients: Fresh eggs, real butter, and full-fat milk will give your tarts the best flavor and texture.
  • Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing can make the tarts tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
  • Blind-bake the tart shells: This will help to prevent them from becoming soggy.
  • Use a water bath: This will help to create a smooth and creamy custard filling.
  • Chill the tarts before serving: This will help them to set and firm up.

Conclusion:

Portuguese egg custard tarts are a delicious and easy-to-make treat. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create these classic pastries that are sure to impress your friends and family. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a complete beginner, I encourage you to give this recipe a try. With a little bit of patience and care, you'll be rewarded with a batch of delicious and authentic Portuguese egg custard tarts.

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