Description
Portuguese Custard Tarts, or Pastéis de Nata, are flaky puff pastry shells filled with creamy, lightly caramelized custard, making them an irresistible dessert loved around the world.
Ingredients
Pastry:
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
Flour, as needed (for dusting)
Custard Filling:
3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
1/3 cup (40g) all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups (300ml) whole milk
1 cinnamon stick
Peel from 1 lemon (avoid white pith)
6 large egg yolks
For Serving (Optional):
Ground cinnamon, to taste
Powdered sugar, to taste
Instructions
- Roll out the thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface.
- Cut into circles slightly larger than your tart molds and press into molds. Chill while making custard.
- In a saucepan, whisk together sugar, flour, and milk.
- Add cinnamon stick and lemon peel.
- Heat gently, whisking, until mixture thickens and is smooth.
- Remove from heat; let cool slightly.
- Whisk egg yolks in a separate bowl.
- Gradually temper egg yolks by whisking in the cooled milk mixture.
- Strain mixture for smoothness.
- Fill pastry shells with custard.
- Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 18–20 minutes, until golden on top.
- Optionally, dust with ground cinnamon and powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
For extra flakiness, use homemade puff pastry.
Baking at a higher temperature (475°F / 245°C) creates a more caramelized top.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Portuguese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tart
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: Portuguese Custard Tarts, Pastéis de Nata, puff pastry desserts, Portuguese desserts, custard tart recipe, easy Portuguese tarts