Custard tart facts for kids
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| Type | Pastry |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Portugal, France, United Kingdom |
| Serving temperature | cold |
| Main ingredients | Pastry crust, egg custard |
Custard tarts are a delicious baked pastry. They have a crust made of pastry dough. Inside, they are filled with a creamy, sweet mixture called egg custard. These tasty treats are popular in many places around the world.
Contents
History of Custard Tarts
The idea of custard is very old! The word "custard" actually comes from an old French word, *crustade. This word meant a type of pie.
In the Middle Ages, people made different kinds of custard tarts. Some old names for them were doucettes and darioles. In 1399, a special dinner for King Henry IV of England even included "doucettys."
Old recipes for these tarts usually had a pastry crust. The filling was a mix of cream, milk, or even broth. They added eggs, and something sweet like sugar or honey. Sometimes, they also put in spices. People were making tarts that look a lot like today's custard tarts as early as the 1300s.
During times of fasting, like Lent, people sometimes used almond milk instead of dairy. This was quite expensive, so only rich people could afford it. Sometimes, people even added savory things like minced pork or beef marrow. Mixing sweet and savory was common in medieval England. But the custard part itself was always sweet. Today, in Portugal, tarts often have cinnamon on top. In Britain, people usually use nutmeg.
Modern Custard Tarts
Today, most custard tarts are made with a shortcrust pastry. The creamy filling uses eggs, sugar, milk or cream, and vanilla. Before baking, they are often sprinkled with nutmeg.
Unlike some other egg tarts, custard tarts are usually eaten at room temperature. You can buy them as small, individual tarts. These are usually about 8 centimeters (3 inches) wide. You can also find bigger tarts that you cut into slices to share.
Custard Tarts in Britain and the Commonwealth
Custard tarts have been a favorite treat in Britain and many Commonwealth countries for a long time. People often call them "egg custard tarts" or just "egg custards." This helps to tell them apart from other types of custard. These other custards are often made with cornflour, not eggs. You can buy egg custard tarts in almost every supermarket and bakery across the UK.
In the UK, the custard tart is seen as a classic British food. A famous chef named Marcus Wareing made a custard tart for a special banquet. This banquet celebrated Queen Elizabeth's 80th birthday on a TV show called Great British Menu.
Traditionally, British custard tarts are only topped with a dusting of nutmeg. They don't usually have fruit on top like French tarts. They also don't have cinnamon like some Dutch versions.
There are some fun variations of the classic recipe. The Manchester tart has a layer of jam spread on the pastry before the custard is added. Other versions might have fresh fruit or rhubarb baked into the filling. Tarts with fancy fruit designs often show the influence of French baking.
Custard Tarts Around the World
Custard tarts are enjoyed in many different forms globally.
In Indonesia, there is a version called pai susu (milk custard pie). It comes from Bali. This pie has a thin pastry crust filled with egg custard and condensed milk. It's usually very flat, with a super thin layer of custard. Another Indonesian tart is similar to the Portuguese pastel de nata.
In France, custard tarts are known as flans pâtissiers. Sometimes, these can have fruit inside them. This makes them a bit like a clafoutis.
In Portugal and Macau, a very famous type of custard tart is the Pastel de nata. These are small, round tarts with a caramelized top.
See also
In Spanish: Tartaleta de crema para niños
