There are days when I still linger outside my local bakery’s doors. Just sniffing and gazing longingly in their window at all the delicious, warm, freshly baked goodies. Most days I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything but there are still the odd days when I find myself doing this. (I mean it’s not like I’m pressed up against the window, breathing heavily or anything :-P). What do you miss most from visiting a bakery? Is it the smell of cinnamon doughnuts, the flakiness of a croissant? Or is it simply the lure of that glorious creation, white bread? For me, it all comes down to the simple Baked Custard Tart and that is why I had to try creating them myself. So this one is for you my bakery lovers, my classic gluten free custard tarts.
It’s funny actually, how many times people have asked me for these melty goodies. I guess they’re just one of those iconic choices huh. Nary a bakery will you find without a simple baked custard tart on their shelf. It’s like a chocolate eclair…. oh gawd, don’t get me thinking about those!! They’re definitely in the too hard basket at the moment. But a simple baked gluten free custard tart? Nah, that one’s easy. Honest! Like truly! The only really “hard” part is making the delicious melt-in-you-mouth gluten free shortcrust pastry. And even that isn’t that hard!
Simple and Delicious
I think what makes gluten free custard tarts so special are there simplicity. There really isn’t a lot to them. A basic shortcrust pastry that’s all flaky and melty and just the right amount of crumbly. And a soft and delicately vanilla flavoured custard with that little nutty note from the nutmeg. Because what is a custard tart without nutmeg people!! I mean it even looks wrong!
The best part about whipping these up for you guys, is that I’ve taken the hard part out for you. I’ve created a really simple gluten free shortcrust pastry recipe that really is super easy to nail. So check that off the list! And the rest? Well it really is as basic as whisking some eggs, warm milk, vanilla and sugar together in a bowl. Wollah! Simple, delicious and destined for your stomach along with a big cup of coffee and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
So please, don’t dirty your local bakeries windows any longer. Simply hop in the kitchen and give these gorgeous Gluten Free Custard Tarts a go. You’ll thank me later… well, if you can… your mouth will likely be glued shut with custardy goodness!
Oh and if you’re not a glutard yourself, do me a favour? Make these for your glutarded friends, we’ll love you forever and ever and ever. We’re good like that, simply win us over through our stomachs. Now if only I could nail that chocolate eclair recipe!…. hmmmmm
Classic Gluten Free Custard Tarts
Ingredients
- 1 Batch Gluten Free Shortcrust Pastry *see notes below for link to recipe
- 3 Eggs
- 300 ml Full Cream Milk
- 1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 Tbsp Caster Sugar
- Sprinkle Ground Nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180 Degrees Celsius and thoroughly grease the sides and base of 6 small fluted pie tins with removable bases (approx 9cm base measurement.) Whip up 1 batch of my Sweet and Simple Gluten Free Shortcrust Pastry (see below for recipe) and blind bake as per instructions, set aside.
- In a large heat proof bowl place the milk. Microwave for 30 seconds - 1 minute or until milk is just warmed through.
- In another bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar and vanilla extract together. Then slowly add the warmed milk, whisking the entire time.
- To make baking easier, please the pastry shells (still in their tins) onto a large oven tray together. Then gently pour the custard mixture into the still warm pastry shells and place into the oven carefully.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until custard has just started to set. To test this give the tray a little jiggle, if the custard shows a little liquid movement still it's not quite ready.
- Once baked, remove from the oven and allow to stand in their tins for 5 minutes before separating carefully. Sprinkle generously with ground nutmeg! Enjoy warm from the oven or allow to cool completely, either are glorious. Though served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream takes them to the next level!
- They will store for up to a week in an airtight container.... if they last that long!
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