Pineapple tart facts for kids
Pineapple tarts in the shape of rolls open at the ends and filled with jam
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| Alternative names | Nastar, tat nanas, kueh tae, kue nanas |
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| Type | Tart |
| Course | Dessert |
| Region or state | Maritime Southeast Asia and East Asia |
| Associated national cuisine | Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei |
| Main ingredients | Pastry (butter, egg yolk, corn starch), pineapple jam |
A pineapple tart is a yummy, small pastry filled with sweet pineapple jam. You can find them in many parts of Southeast Asia, like Indonesia (where they're called nastar), Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore.
These tasty tarts might have been created around the 1500s. That's when pineapples, which originally came from South America, were first brought to Asia by Portuguese traders.
Contents
What is a Pineapple Tart?
The pastry part of the tart is made with lots of butter and egg yolk, plus a little corn starch. This makes it rich, buttery, and so soft it almost melts in your mouth!
The pineapple jam is made by slowly cooking fresh, grated pineapple with sugar and spices. Common spices include cinnamon, star anise, and cloves, which give it a special flavor.
Pineapple tarts come in different shapes. Some are flat and open, with jam on top and a pastry criss-cross pattern. Others are rolls filled with jam, open at the ends. You can also find them as small, round balls or longer shapes filled with jam.
Where are Pineapple Tarts Popular?
Indonesia's Nastar
In Indonesia, pineapple tarts are called nastar. This name comes from "nanas tart," with "nanas" meaning pineapple. They are very popular cookies, especially during holidays like Lebaran (Eid), Natal (Christmas), and Imlek (Chinese New Year).
Many Indonesian cookies, including nastar, were inspired by Dutch baking traditions. Most nastar are small, round cookies, about 2 cm wide. The pineapple jam is usually hidden inside the cookie, not spread on top.
Malaysia and Singapore's Festive Treats
In Singapore and Malaysia, pineapple tarts are a special "festive cookie." People love to eat them during celebrations like Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, and Deepavali. You can also buy them all year round at bakeries and souvenir shops.
Taiwan's Fènglísū
Pineapple cake The Taiwanese version of a pineapple tart is known as fènglísū (鳳梨酥), or pineapple cake. Here, the pineapple filling is completely covered inside a rectangular pastry.
Taiwanese pineapple cakes are usually sweet because of the sugar added. Many bakers also add or even replace some of the pineapple with winter melon. This makes the jam less tart and gives it a smoother texture.
Australia's Pineapple Tart
In Australia, the term "pineapple tart" often means a different kind of pastry. It's a twist on the Neenish tart, with pineapple jam under the main filling and passionfruit icing on top.
