Traditional South African Milk Tart
A classic South African custard pie with a flaky puff pastry crust and a dusting of cinnamon.
Origin & History
This dessert originated from Dutch settlers in the Cape and has become a staple at every South African tea table.
Ingredients
- 400g puff pastry
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- 2 tbsp flour
- 25g butter
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- Ground cinnamon for dusting
Method
- 1
Preheat oven to 200C and line a tart dish with pastry.
- 2
Boil milk with the cinnamon stick.
- 3
Whisk eggs, sugar, cornflour, and flour together in a bowl.
- 4
Remove cinnamon stick from milk and slowly whisk milk into egg mixture.
- 5
Return to heat and stir until thick.
- 6
Add butter and vanilla essence.
- 7
Pour into pastry shell and bake for 20 minutes.
- 8
Dust with ground cinnamon while warm.
Top Tips
- Use chilled pastry for a better lift|Do not boil the custard too fast to avoid curdling|Let it set completely before slicing|Use fresh cinnamon for the best aroma.
Serve with
Traditionally paired with other South African classics:
Community Kitchen
Every South African family has their own version of this recipe — small tweaks passed down through generations. Do you make yours differently? Share your family variation with the community.
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