Pastéis de nata

Ingredients:

• 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling dough
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 6 large egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Cinnamon and powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Place the puff pastry onto a floured surface and roll it out to an even thickness of around 1/8 inch.
3. Using a round cookie cutter or the top of a glass, cut out circles of dough that will fit into the muffin tin compartments.
4. Press the dough circles into the muffin tin cups, making sure that the base and sides are well-covered.
5. In a medium saucepan, whisk together granulated sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually whisk in milk and heavy cream, then add egg yolks and vanilla extract, whisk until all ingredients are well combined.
6. Cook mixture over medium heat, whisking constantly, until it starts to bubble and thickens up, this should take about 10 minutes.
7. Once thickened, remove from heat and let it cool for a minute or two.
8. Using a ladle, carefully pour filling into each of the pastry cases. Fill each to about 3/4 full.
9. Bake your pastéis de nata for about 20-25 minutes or until the crust becomes golden brown and the filling is slightly puffy and browned on top.
10. Once cooked, remove from the oven and let them cool before removing them from the muffin tin and placing them onto a wire rack.
11. You can sprinkle cinnamon on top, powdered sugar or both to serve.
12. Enjoy!

Verdict:

These Portuguese custard tarts are an absolute dream and are perfect for anyone who loves a delicious and sweet treat with a crispy crust. The creamy filling has a wonderful balance of sweet and vanilla flavors, and the cinnamon and powdered sugar are just the icing on top!

Serving suggestions:

These pastéis de nata can be served hot or cold. If you prefer them hot, then you should let them cool for a few minutes until they are warm to the touch. Sprinkle them with cinnamon or powdered sugar, and your guests will love them. The pastries go well with coffee, tea, or even a glass of cold milk.