Fat Badger’s Brown Sugar Custard Tart

Thank you to Beth O’Brien, pastry chef extraordinaire, for sharing this delicious recipe, best custard tart I’ve ever tasted.

Fat Badger’s Brown Sugar Custard Tart

SERVES

4

PEOPLE

PREP TIME

30

MINUTES

COOKING TIME

90

MINUTES

Ingredients

  • For the pastry

  • 80g butter

  • 80g icing sugar

  • 1 egg

  • 240g plain flour

  • 35g ground almonds

  • pinch of salt

  • 1 egg, to egg wash

  • For the custard

  • 240g milk

  • 900g cream 2

  • 200g dark brown sugar

  • pinch of salt

  • 12 egg yolks

  • caster sugar, Maldon sea salt and crème fraîche, to finish

Method

  1. Cream the butter and sugar together in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment for two minutes until combined but not aerated. Add the egg and mix well, then add the flour, almonds and salt and mix to combine. Wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

  2. Remove the pastry from the refrigerator. Roll out to an even disc around 3mm thick. Line a deep tart tin (25cm in size), pushing the pastry into the corners and pushing against the edges of the tin.

  3. Chill for at least 30 minutes while you preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4. Trim the edges and line the tart with baking paper and fill with baking beans. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then remove the baking beans, brush generously with egg wash and bake for a further seven minutes.

  4. For the custard, eat the milk and cream to just about a simmer while you combine the sugar, salt and egg yolks in a bowl. Pour half the hot milk and cream over the yolks, whisk to combine, then pour this mixture back into the pot and whisk thoroughly. Reduce the oven temperature to 155°C/Gas Mark 3.

  5. Pour the custard into the blind baked tin and return to the oven. Bake for 55-60 minutes, until there is only a very slight wobble in the centre when baked. Chill fully before slicing.

  6. To serve, sprinkle a generous amount of caster sugar on top of each slice and use a blowtorch to brûlée. Put a pinch of flaky salt on top and serve with crème fraîche.