Grandma's Milk Tart
Each family has their own recipe, but the basics of them all are the same. Baked base, with a delicate cinnamon infused custard in the middle. This is grandmothers comfort food at its best.
Crust
- 1 1 ⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1 ⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 pinch fine salt
- 1 ⁄3 cup caster or 1/3 cup superfine sugar
- 80 g butter softened
- 1 small egg
Filling
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 60 -100 ml white sugar depending on personal taste
- 2 eggs
- 3 tablespoons cornflour
- 3 tablespoons flour
- half teaspoon vanilla essence
- 2 tablespoons butter
Crust
Step 1 - Measure the flour, baking powder and salt in a jug and whisk until combined. Cream butter and sugar together with a beater attachment until pale and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Add the egg and beat until thoroughly incorporated. By hand add in the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
Step 2 - Press the dough into a 25cm/10inch tart plate with a removable base. Make sure that it isn't too thick and dock with a fork. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Meanwhile preheat oven to 200C/400F and when ready bake the base for 15 minutes or until golden and cooked through. You don't need to weight this down if you freeze the pastry. The pastry can be baked 1-2 days in advance and covered well and placed in an airtight container or box.
Filling
Heat the milk with the cinnamon stick to just under boiling point.
Lightly beat the eggs with the sugar, and then add the corn flour and flour.
Pour the hot milk into this mixture, stirring rapidly.
Return the mixture to the heat and cook, stirring until the mixture becomes thick.
Keep stirring while it is cooking to prevent it from catching on the bottom of the pot and getting lumpy.
Take the mixture off the heat and add the vanilla essence and butter.
Stir well until the butter is melted.
Pour the mixture into the prepared tart crust.
Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.