🥧 Pastel de Nata – Portuguese Custard Tarts

August 23, 2025 by Camila

🍳 Instructions

1. Make the custard base In a saucepan, whisk flour into a bit of cold milk to form a smooth paste. Add remaining milk, cinnamon stick, and lemon peel. Simmer gently for 5–10 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove peel and cinnamon.
2. Create sugar syrup In another pan, boil sugar with 100 ml water until it reaches 100°C (just before thread stage). Slowly whisk into the milk mixture.
3. Add egg yolks Let the mixture cool slightly, then whisk in egg yolks and vanilla. Strain to remove any lumps.
4. Prepare pastry shells Roll puff pastry into a log and slice into 12 rounds. Press each into a muffin tin, shaping to form thin walls.
5. Fill and bake Pour custard into pastry shells, filling ¾ full. Bake at 250°C (480°F) for 15–20 minutes until tops are blistered and golden.
6. Cool and serve Let cool slightly. Dust with cinnamon or powdered sugar if desired.