🇵🇹 Pastel de Nata (Portuguese Custard Tarts)

August 28, 2025 by Camila

🔥 Instructions

Make the dough:

1. Mix flour, salt, and water until a soft dough forms. Rest 15 minutes.
2. Roll into a square, spread ⅓ of the butter over ⅔ of the dough, fold, and repeat twice more with remaining butter.
3. Roll into a log, wrap, and chill for 2 hours or overnight.

Make the custard:

1. Whisk flour with ¼ cup milk until smooth.
2. Scald remaining milk and whisk into flour mixture.
3. Boil sugar, cinnamon stick, and water until it reaches 220°F (104°C). Remove cinnamon and whisk syrup into milk mixture.
4. Add vanilla and egg yolks. Strain and set aside.

Assemble and bake:

1. Preheat oven to 550°F (290°C).
2. Cut pastry log into ¾-inch pieces. Press into muffin tins to form shells.
3. Fill each shell ¾ full with custard.
4. Bake 8–9 minutes (mini tins) or 15–17 minutes (classic tins) until blistered and golden.

Serve:

• Dust with powdered sugar and cinnamon.
• Best enjoyed warm, fresh from the oven.