Easy Egg Tarts

I am in the mood of baking and cooking now. Whenever I find the time, I would vigorously browse for interesting recipes so that I could start on it. Sometimes, I found too many good recipes I have a hard time choosing which one to start with.

I came across an egg tart recipe last night and thought that I should give it a try since it looked quite simple and I have all the ingredients that the recipe called for. But above all, this is also one of my boyfriend's favourite pastry.

Ingredients:

(yields 10 tarts)

Crust

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

3 tbsp sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter (chilled)

1 large egg

Filling

1/2 cup sugar

4 large egg yolks

2/3 cup milk (I used fresh milk)

Method:

1) Preheat oven to 175 deg C.

2) For the crust, pulse to combine flour, sugar, salt & butter in a food processor until mixture is crumbly. As I do not own a food processor, I used stand mixer to do this.

3) Blend in the egg until the dough comes together into a dough. The dough can be crumbly.

4) Shape dough into a ball and put into a ziplock bag. Refrigerate for about 15 minutes.

5) Next is the filling. whisk together sugar and egg yolks by hand until sugar is mostly dissolved. Do not over stir until foamy.

6) Slowly, whisk in milk and strain mixture into a measuring cup.

7) Divide the chilled dough into 10 equal dough balls and press each one evenly into a muffin cup to form small tart shells.

8) Press pastry until it comes about 2/3 up the side of the muffin cup. Flatten the top edge of the crusts a bit with your finger to help prevent the filling from running out.

9) Pour the filling into the tart shells, filling them to the top but not overfilling.

10) Bake for 20-25 minutes, until tarts are set but still slightly jiggly in the center when the pan is shifted.

11) Cool for about 30 minutes in the pan.

12) Take tarts out from the muffin pan using a butter knife and place on a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe adapted from http://www.bakingbites.com

Outcome:

For a first timer in making egg tarts, I am quite satisfied with the results. The egg surface is quite smooth and the taste is just right! The slightly salty but heavy butter crust when combined with the smooth sweet egg custard within the shell is simply delicious. I would definitely make more of these and give it to my friends and family :)