Elegant, silky, and beautifully simple 🇫🇷✨
Here’s a classic French vanilla custard tart (similar to a traditional French tarte à la crème or vanilla custard tart).
🥧 Classic French Vanilla Custard Tart
Serves: 8
Time: ~1 hour + chilling
Ingredients
🥖 Sweet Shortcrust Pastry (Pâte Sucrée)
- 1 ¼ cups (160g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (115g) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- ¼ cup (50g) sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1–2 tbsp cold water
- Pinch of salt
(Shortcut: use a 9-inch pre-made tart shell if preferred.)
🍮 Vanilla Custard Filling
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (100g) sugar
- 4 large egg yolks
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
(or seeds from 1 vanilla bean for authentic flavor)
Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Tart Shell
- Mix flour, sugar, and salt.
- Cut in cold butter until crumbly.
- Add egg yolk + water; mix just until dough forms.
- Wrap and chill 30 minutes.
- Roll out and press into a 9-inch tart pan.
- Chill 15 minutes.
- Blind bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15–18 minutes until lightly golden.
(Line with parchment + pie weights.)
Cool completely.
2️⃣ Make the Vanilla Custard
- Heat milk in a saucepan until just steaming (not boiling).
- In a bowl, whisk yolks + sugar until pale.
- Whisk in cornstarch and flour.
- Slowly pour warm milk into egg mixture while whisking.
- Return mixture to saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thick (3–5 minutes).
- Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla.
Custard should be smooth and thick.
3️⃣ Assemble
- Pour warm custard into cooled tart shell.
- Smooth the top.
- Chill at least 2 hours until fully set.
✨ Optional Finishes
- Dust with powdered sugar
- Sprinkle freshly grated nutmeg (very French-style)
- Top with fresh berries
- Lightly brûlée the top with sugar for a crisp layer
💡 Pro Tips
- Use whole milk for classic richness.
- Strain custard before pouring if you want ultra-smooth texture.
- Let tart sit at room temp 15 minutes before serving for best flavor.
If you’d like, I can also share:
- A baked custard tart version (firmer, more traditional)
- A no-bake French pâtisserie-style version
- Or a caramelized crème brûlée tart variation 😍