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Melktert

South Africa’s beloved milk tart — a silky, cinnamon-dusted custard in a buttery pastry shell, served chilled or warm.

⏱ 35 minPrep time
🔥 40 minCook time
🍽 8Servings
🏷 DessertCategory
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Melktert, or milk tart, is the dessert that shows up at every South African birthday, church tea, and Sunday gathering. The Dutch brought the custard tart to the Cape in the 1600s, and South Africans have been perfecting it ever since, with every family swearing its version is the best. What never changes is the heart of it: a trembling, milky custard in a crisp pastry case, finished with a snowfall of cinnamon.

Silky custard under a cinnamon cloud

The filling is barely set, soft enough to quiver on the spoon, with a delicate sweetness that lets the milk and vanilla shine. The pastry stays crisp and buttery underneath, and the cinnamon on top adds warmth without stealing the show. Chilled, it slices like a dream; slightly warm, it is pure comfort in a bowl.

Craving more? Explore all South African Kitchen recipes.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Make the pastry: rub the butter into the flour, sugar, and salt with your fingertips until it looks like coarse crumbs. Mix in the egg yolk and enough ice water to bring it together into a ball.
  2. Wrap the dough, chill for 30 minutes, then roll it out and press it into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Trim the edges and chill again.
  3. Blind bake the shell at 375 F for 15 minutes with pie weights, then 8 minutes without, until pale golden. Set aside.
  4. Whisk the eggs, remaining sugar, and cornstarch in a bowl until smooth.
  5. Heat the milk in a saucepan until steaming, then whisk it slowly into the egg mixture. Return everything to the pan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the custard thickens, about 5 minutes.
  6. Stir in the vanilla and pour the custard into the baked shell.
  7. Bake at 350 F for 18 to 20 minutes, until the edges are set but the center still wobbles slightly.
  8. Cool completely, dust generously with cinnamon, and chill before slicing.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Chill the tart completely before slicing so the custard sets firm enough to cut cleanly. A short rest in the fridge also makes the pastry easier to roll.

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Recipe details

Prep35 min
Cook40 min
Servings8
CategoryDessert
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →