No-egg egg custard tarts
These no-egg egg custard tarts came about by accident. I was looking in the fridge and I saw there was more milk than usual. Normally, I would make a cheese sauce to go with my vegetables, but as the weather has been warm, I have been eating salads. So, I decided to make custard instead – everyone loves custard and it can be banana custard, go over a crumble or… Well, there was a pack of pastry in the fridge, so why not make some egg custard tarts!
The no-egg custard tart recipe
This recipe is quite straightforward, especially if you can make custard already! You basically just need puff pastry and custard! You can of course make your own pastry, but ready made means you can have these on the table even quicker! Here’s my egg custard tart recipe.
A vegan take on the egg custard tart. Made easy with ready made pastry.
- 1 pack pastry (puff, or shortcrust) I used puff pastry
- 568 ml milk (that's 1 pint). I used Oat milk.
- 40 g custard powder OR cornflour
- 40 g granulated sugar
- splash of vanilla extract (a bit more if using cornflour)
- sprinkle of ground nutmeg
Take your pastry out of the packaging and allow to rest for a few minutes to warm up (this will prevent it cracking).
In a large heatproof bowl, mix the custard powder (or cornflour) with the sugar, and add a large splash of milk. Stir until you have a smooth paste (add more milk if necessary).
Put the rest of the milk in a saucepan, with the vanilla, and heat until simmering (bubbles just starting to appear around the edge of the pan).
Carefully pour the hot milk into the custard mix and stir, before pouring back into the saucepan and continuing to stir on a low heat. You can use a whisk or a wooden spoon. Turn off the heat.
Roll out the pastry and using a pastry cutter (or a large glass) cut rounds at least one centimetre bigger than your cases/tins.
Gently press the pastry rounds into your cases (lightly grease them if they are metal). Press the tops over to give them some stability.
Spoon (or pour) the custard into the pastry cases, leaving about 0.5cm space at the top.
Sprinkle with nutmeg, then bake at Gas Mark 7 (425f / 220c) for 10-12 minutes. Check the pastry is cooked before removing from the oven and allowing to cool fully.
Remove from their cases and refrigerate until cold.
Enjoy!
I have added a few step by step photos of filling the tarts so you can visualise how easy these are to make!
What do I need?
You can make these in a regular bun tray, individual silicon cases, or even in mini tart cases. If you are still struggling, you can use any small ovenproof dish and make a larger sharing tart. Pastry cutters are useful but not essential as you can just use an upturned glass or mug, or even use a knife to cut your circles.
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Serving
Serve these straight from the fridge, just as they are. If you want to be fancy, you can dress them up with fresh fruit, but they are really good just as they are.
Storage
These can be stored in the fridge for two or three days, but the pastry may become less crisp (the taste will still be great!) I have not tried freezing these, but I would imagine they would still be okay, although the custard might crack and pull away from the pastry.
Sharing
I hope you have a play with making these no-egg custard tarts! Next time I make some, I will try and take some proper photos before they are all gobbled up! I love seeing your adaptions and interpretations of my recipes and I’d love to see your photos of these!
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Leave me a comment below… I love to chat!
I hope to speak with you soon
Laurena x
Hi Laurena, I often see versions of these at bakeries here ‘pastel de nata’, doesn’t sound very German lol. I went through a phase of eating (vegan) custard for breakfast recently, added a little lemon of course ☺️ One time I put a bit too much turmeric in it, it was saved by lashings of maple syrup! I made a custard tart a few months ago in honour of my Dad (wasn’t vegan though). About to make a start on dinner now…should end up resembling something like bean enchiladas 😋 (I’ll send a pic when it’s ready, it always takes ages with me lol)
Custard for breakfast – fabulous Eva! Put it in some pastry and serve with coffee lol! Pastel de Nata I believe is the Portugeuse name for custard tarts with cinnamon on top (boys love Nandos and they have them in there)! Did your Dad love custard tarts too? Did you put anything on it, or just have it as it was? Ooo, excited to see your bean enchiladas! Well done! xxx
I would always get a Portuguese tart with my coffee at the Sainsbury’s cafe lol. Hmm… I heard lots of Nando’s are closing down in the UK, I’m not sure whether that’s a bad or good thing🤨
Dad liked most pastries really (food in general!) but was particularly food of custard tarts (or galaktopoureko😋) Just had it plain. I made a cake for St Fanarious day tomorrow, a saint for finding lost things apparently (any excuse to make a cake lol). It’s a simple recipe but mine turned out very ‘short’, oh well- I’ll never win Star Baker 😝
Yes… apparently there’s no chicken, and possibly no turkeys for Christmas! Also, the price of toys are apparently going up 20% on 1st September and loads will be out of stock so children are being told to make a long list with lots of choices! Haha, Dad’s and food… you’ve reminded me Dad liked Eccles cakes- I wonder if I can make them!? I’ll have to look St. Fanarious up, sounds intriguing.
Ooh Eccles cakes, yummy…I’m sure you’ll do your Dad proud with that one too🙂
Is your cake a Fanouropita? I’m excited and want to make one… sounds lovely! 7 or 9 ingredients and how many are eating it?
It’s vegan too! I didn’t even know there was a significance about the number of ingredients until my mum mentioned it earlier. It’ll just be me and hubby eating it😋If it didn’t turn out like a rock cake I would’ve given some to our neighbours lol… I think they have a fairly good idea what kind of baker I am after I offered them some blueberry muffins I made a few months ago lol (I hope they didn’t throw them away hehe).
Yes… not sure I have enough oil to make a whole cake so maybe just a small one, but I’ll try and remember in the morning! Then I’ll look for my motivation to eat less cake😂