Description
A traditional Portuguese custard tart with a flaky pastry base.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- 6 large egg yolks
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 strip of lemon peel
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed if frozen)
- Powdered sugar and ground cinnamon for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Puff Pastry Base – Start by lightly flouring your surface and rolling out the puff pastry sheet to smooth the seams. Roll it tightly into a log shape, then slice into 12 equal pieces. Press each round into a muffin tin, using your thumbs to mold it up the sides. Chill while you make the filling.
- Make the Custard Filling – In a saucepan, whisk the flour and a bit of milk until smooth. Add the remaining milk, cinnamon stick, and lemon peel. Heat over medium, stirring constantly until thickened. In another saucepan, bring the sugar and water to a boil and let it bubble for 3 minutes—no stirring. Remove both from heat and discard the cinnamon and lemon peel. Let the milk mixture cool slightly. Whisk the egg yolks in a bowl, then slowly add both the sugar syrup and the milk mixture, whisking continuously to avoid scrambling the eggs.
- Fill and Bake – Preheat your oven to 500°F (or as high as it will go). Fill each pastry cup with custard—about three-quarters full. Bake for 15–17 minutes, or until the custard bubbles and blackens slightly on top, and the edges of the pastry are golden brown.
- Cool and Serve – Let the Pastéis de Nata cool slightly before removing them from the tin. Dust with cinnamon and powdered sugar if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
- The spiral pattern you create when rolling the pastry gives that iconic flaky swirl when baked.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Portuguese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tart
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg