Delight your taste buds with these classic Chinese Custard Tarts, a beloved dim sum dessert featuring golden, flaky pastry shells filled with silky-smooth, creamy custard. This recipe perfectly balances the delicate sweetness of evaporated milk and vanilla with a buttery crust made from scratch, ensuring each bite melts in your mouth. Simple techniques, like incorporating cold butter into the dough and straining the custard for an ultra-luxe texture, elevate this traditional treat. Ready in under an hour, these tarts are perfect for any occasion, whether served warm for a cozy tea time or room temperature at a festive gathering. Experience the magic of homemade Chinese bakery favorites straight from your kitchen!
Preheat your oven to 200Β°C (400Β°F). Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin and set aside.
To make the tart crust, combine the all-purpose flour and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add in the cold, cubed butter.
Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
Gradually add the cold water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overwork the dough.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently to form a smooth ball. Flatten it slightly, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 15β20 minutes.
While the dough chills, prepare the custard filling. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, and evaporated milk until smooth.
Add the vanilla extract and boiling water to the custard mixture, then strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps. Set aside.
Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator and roll it out on a floured surface to about 1/8-inch thick. Use a 3-inch round cutter to cut out 12 circles and gently press them into the prepared muffin tin.
Pour the prepared custard mixture into each pastry shell, filling each about 3/4 full.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20β25 minutes, or until the custard is set and the edges of the pastry are golden brown. To test if the custard is done, insert a toothpick into the centerβit should stand upright but still have a slight tremble.
Remove the tarts from the oven and let them cool in the muffin tin for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Serve warm or at room temperature, and enjoy!
Calories |
2590 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 130.4 g | 167% | |
| Saturated Fat | 77.1 g | 385% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 869 mg | 290% | |
| Sodium | 386 mg | 17% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 299.4 g | 109% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 6.5 g | 23% | |
| Total Sugars | 115.6 g | ||
| Protein | 54.5 g | 109% | |
| Vitamin D | 5.6 mcg | 28% | |
| Calcium | 520 mg | 40% | |
| Iron | 14.3 mg | 79% | |
| Potassium | 928 mg | 20% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.