Egg Tarts

Mainly adapted from Christine's Recipe. Visit her website for the original recipe. (http://en.christinesrecipes.com/2009/03/cantonese-egg-tarts-recipe.html#.URtSKxEaySM)


Ingredients for the crust:

225g plain flour
125g butter
50g icing sugar
1 egg, whisked
1 tsp vanilla essence


Ingredients for the custard:

3 eggs
90g caster sugar
225g hot water
85g evaporated milk


Methods for the crust:

1. Place butter at room temperature until softened. Whisk the butter and sugar until the mixture is smooth, fluffy and light in color.

2. Add in whisked egg, half at a time, whisk slowly. Add vanilla extract, mix well.

3. Sift in flour and make sure all ingredients combine well. Knead into dough.

4. Roll out the dough to a 1/2 cm thickness. Cut dough with a cookie cutter that is just a bit smaller than your tart tin in size.

5. Line dough in the middle of tart tins, one by one. Lightly press the dough with your thumbs, starting from the bottom then up to the sides. While pressing the dough, turn the tart tin clockwise/anti-clockwise in order to make an even tart shell. Trim away any excess dough.


Methods for the custard:

1. Add sugar into hot water, mix until completely dissolved. Let the water cool.

2. Whisk egg with evaporated milk. Pour in sugar water. Mix well.

3. Sift egg mixture to get rid of any foam into a tea pot. Carefully pour egg mixture into each tart shell.


Baking methods:

1. Preheat oven to 200C. Bake tarts for 10 to 15 minutes until the edges are lightly brown.

2. Lower the heat to 180C. Keep an eye on them. Once you see the custard being puffed up a bit, pull the oven door open about 2 to 3 inches. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until the custard is cooked through. Just insert a toothpick into the custard. If it stands on its own, it’s done.