Custard Tart with Cherries

SERVES
6-8 6-8
Custard Tart with Cherries
Main INGREDIENTS
  • Flour
Ingredients
Method

Ingredients

Pastry
  • 150g plain flour
  • 20g caster sugar
  • 75g salted butter
  • 50ml cold water
Filling
  • 750ml milk
  • 125ml cold water
  • 4 large eggs
  • 190g caster sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 60g cornflour
  • 15g apricot jam
Decoration
  • 180g cherries
  • Icing sugar
  • 100g white chocolate
  • 100g dark chocolate

  • Method

  • 1
    To make the pastry: Place the flour, sugar and butter in a food processor. Blend until the butter and flour form a breadcrumb consistency.
  • 2
    Add the cold water and blend again until the mixture forms a dough. Remove from the processor and wrap in cling film, leave to rest for 30 minutes in the fridge.
  • 3
    Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to an even thickness and carefully line the Heart Tart Dish.
  • 4
    To make the filling: Ensure the oven rack is in the centre of the oven and pre-heat to 180°C/ Fan 160°C/ Gas Mark 4.
  • 5
    Mix the milk and water together in a saucepan and bring to the boil.
  • 6
    Beat together the eggs, sugar, vanilla and cornflour in a large bowl until light and frothy. Add the warm milk mixture slowly and mix well.
  • 7
    Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook, stirring continuously until the custard is a thick pouring consistency.
  • 8
    Remove from the heat and set aside to cool a little. Pour the warm custard into the lined tart dish and bake for 1 hour.
  • 9
    Remove from the oven and leave to cool. Then place in the refrigerator overnight to set. Brush a layer of melted apricot jam on the top of the tart before serving.
  • 10
    Decoration: Top the custard tart with cherries and dust with icing sugar for a speedy finish.
  • 11
    For a more decorative look dip the cherries in dark and white chocolate melted gently in separate bain-maries. Place each cherry on a baking tray lined with baking paper to set before adding to the tart.
  • 12
    Cook’s Notes
  • 13
    Use 250g ready-made pastry to save time.
  • 14
    Decorate with other seasonal berries such as raspberries, strawberries or blueberries or chocolate curls.