Milk Tart/Melktert – Easy, Rich and Creamy – Perfect entertaining pie with an easy press-on pastry crust. 
It doesn’t take much to make this delicious, perfect-for-entertaining tart. This popular South African milk tart qualifies as one of those quick and easy tarts to whip up in a pinch. All the ingredients for this milk tart are right in your pantry – no extra shopping needed and it is all made from scratch. And the best part – it is very comforting and great for the holiday season. 
Milk Tart or as the Afrikaans call it Melktert is a creamy milky tart. A little reminiscent of custard pie but more delicate, with a lighter texture and a strong milk presence. Don’t wait for this pie to firm up – it just doesn’t, more of a pudding with a crust. It is made with a sweet pastry crust often referred to as Pate sablée, the good thing about this pastry is that you do not have to worry about rolling it out – all you do is press the crust into the pie pan – freeze for 30 minutes and then bake without weight. Freezing prevents the pie from rising. 
Here are a couple of tips when making milk tart
- You can make the crust ahead of time, bake and leave out until ready to be use.
- Use store bought pastry pie if you are pressed on time
- Switch up the flavors, I used nutmeg and cinnamon
- A lot of recipes call for throwing in a cinnamon stick so it infuses the milk mixture – if you have some handy by all means use it, if not just use cinnamon spice.
Enjoy!
Milk Tart
Ingredients
Sucre Patee (Pastry Crust)
- 1 1/2 cups (188 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup (35grams ) confectioner’s sugar powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 9 Tablespoons (125grams) unsalted butter(cold or frozen) , cut into small pieces
- 1 large egg yolk
Milk filling
- 2 1/4 ( 496 ml) cups milk
- 2 tablespoon (28grams) butter
- 2 tablespoons (20 grams) flour
- 3-4 tablespoons (23- 30grams) cornstarch
- 1/2 cup (100grams) sugar
- 2 Large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg or replace with cinnamon
Instructions
Pastry Crust
- Butter or spray a 9-inch pie pan with a removable bottom – making sure it is has been adequately sprayed. Set aside
- Place flour, salt and sugar in a food processor pulse for a couple of times to mix ingredients.
- Throw in butter and pulse until rough dough forms.
- Then add egg yolk - pulse until the dough barely comes.
- Remove dough place on a work surface - knead just enough to incorporate all the dough. Working the dough as little as possible.
- Do not overwork the dough; otherwise it’ll be too tough. When it’s ready, the dough will be barely moistened and come together into a ball.
- Lightly press the dough on the prepare pie pan – working from the center up until the bottom and sides are fully covered with pastry – again be very gentle when pressing the dough onto the pie pan.
- Place pie pan in the freezer and freeze for at least 30 minutes or more this helps prevent the dough from rising- if you are in a rush brick, then bake with beans to prevent rising.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven
- Bake crust for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the crust is dry and golden browned. Set aside
Milk Filling
- Place saucepan over medium heat, add butter, nutmeg and milk -bring to a boil and remove from the heat.
- In another bowl, mix together flour, cornstarch, sugar, vanilla and almond extract- whisk in eggs until smooth. Gently whisk into the saucepan making sure there are no lumps
- Now return the pan back on the stove – keep stirring constantly until in starts to bubble.
- Cook for about 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and pour mixture into the baked pastry shell Sprinkle with cinnamon. Chill until ready to be served.
Tips & Notes:
- You can make the crust ahead of time, bake and leave out until ready to be use.
- Use store bought pastry pie if you are press for time
- Switch up the flavors, I used nutmeg and cinnamon- just love the flavor combination
- A lot of recipes call for throwing in cinnamon stick so it infuses the milk mixture – if you have some handy by all means use it, if not just use cinnamon spice.
Nutrition Information:
Stephanie says
This was so amazing! I’m South African and have been living abroad for year. I made this for a dinner party and was so happy with how it turned out. I’d like to note that I made the pastry without a food processor and didn’t mind it too difficult at all. I would also highly recommend making this with full cream milk. Also half the nutmeg and no vanilla essence for a more traditional tasting milk tart
ImmaculateBites says
Thanks for the feedback. Glad to hear it worked out well.
Charley de greeve says
Saw this yesterday and thought I’d give it a go last night for my dad who is originally from SA, and I forgot to put the vanilla essence in tried again this afternoon, and used the half/half nutmeg – cinnamon in the mixture instead of just nutmeg.SO HAPPY with it! Takes me straight back to Durban❤️ Just make sure you keep mixing when on the job, and use heaped spoons of the cornflour. Thankyou so much for sharing x
ImmaculateBites says
Glad it worked out well, charley. Thanks for taking time out to share your thoughts with us .
Stephanie says
Hi! Are these American cup sizes? Would you be able to post the amounts in ml? Thank you!
Also wanted to ask if this can be made without a food processor?
ImmaculateBites says
Yes they are . Recipe has been updated .
Enjoy!!
Aneesa says
Hi! So i have been looking for the best milk tart recipe and yours seems to be the best. I just wanted to know if I could use cake flour instead of all purpose flour?
By the way I’m really really excited to try this!
ImmaculateBites says
Yes you sure can. Happy Cooking!!
Samru says
Is it compulsory to do those in a food processer?
imma africanbites says
Hi. You can use your bare hands,it’d work as well. But using a food processor would make it a breeze.
Grace says
I am an American, and there is a South African man starting work with me. I am wanting to make him something South African to welcome him to our team. Is melktert something he would appreciate? Is it a festive food? It is summer here. Would you eat melktert in the summer? I just don’t want to make a fool of myself if it’s a Christmas or holiday food and I serve it to him in August. 😀 Thank you!!
imma africanbites says
Hi, Grace. Milk Tart is usually eaten during the holidays as a celebratory dessert. Maybe you can try this other South African treat Malva Pudding ( https://www.africanbites.com/malva-pudding-chocolate/ ). In this recipe tho, instead of drenching this cake with plain warm butter sauce, I added some chocolate to it. Hope this helps.
Lynn says
We eat melk tert throughout the year,it is definitely not only a holiday food.
Canny says
Here in South Africa we eat milk tart all year round. It is in the shops and bakeries here all the time and people often buy it or make it for the weekend so it’s definitely not just a holiday treat. You can have it anytime.
Azuka says
I read this recipe with great interest. But then, looking at the photos I was totally puzzled. The early photos of the making of the crust shows a wooden thingy with a knob on it. I’ve never seen anything like that associated with baking. Could you tell me what this device is? Does it have moving parts? What do you use it for?
Denise F says
It looks the center section of her food processor, before she puts the top on. The blade would be covered by the pie crust mix so all you would see is the center post. HTH
Netalie says
Hi, could this recipe be made with almond milk as an alternative to milk? Thanks
ImmaculateBites says
Yes it could.
Ed says
The best bit about this recipe is the easy pastry / sablé. Its a joy to work with compared to man other recipes that require a rolling pin and that are a pain to handle. Being a bit of a perfectionist, I love it when the pastry case looks immaculate before baking and that’s easy to do with this dough. this is now my go-to recipe for sweet shortcrust.
Oh, and the filling is pretty tasty too 🙂
ImmaculateBites says
Awesome!! I love immaculate looking pastry cases too ;). I am so glad this recipe is a hit with you, Ed! Thanks for stopping by!
Nick M says
Love this! As a South African I’m always looking for my favorite recipes that remind me of my childhood in SA. I have tried this both with and without the almond essence and I prefer without – Tastes much more like the original, the almond was overpowering to the overall taste.
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Nick. Wow, you must have had a really sweet childhood 🙂 ! I am glad you loved this recipe. True, almond essence is a little strong. Best to use only a little at a time. I am glad you found out what works for you. Thank you for stopping by 🙂 !
Nikki says
Hi, looks like a great recipe, just confused regarding point 3 and 4 in the filling, once it bubbles you remove it from heat or once it bubbles you stop stirring and continue cooking for 5-6 minutes?
ImmaculateBites says
Once it bubbles . You Stop stirring. , after mixing the mixing the rest of the ingredients – bring to a boil. Then reduce heat on low and let it cook for 5-6 minutes.
Lisa says
Hi Imma, I felt for a treat so I tried making the milk tart, it was quick and seemed easy however the filling is not setting, I’ve put it in the fridge but it’s still quite runny, can you think of something I might have done incorrectly?
ImmaculateBites says
I can’t say for sure without actually being present. If all else fails try adding about a tablespoon of cornstarch to the filling to thicken it up and make it set. This should be done during the cooking process.
Sonia says
Same thing here and I added more cornstarch. Disappointed
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Sonia,
Sorry to hear about that. This tart doesn’t set- it’s not runny either nor it is it firm- it’s like custard sauce. Just made it this weekend . Will be posting a video of this soon to show the consistency.
Azuka says
I would like to try the recipe, but absolutely can’t have any corn products, such as cornstarch, in the ingredients. My wife is severely allergic to corn products which hampers our life no little bit. Is there an alternative to cornstarch that could be used in the recipe? Typically, I use flour to replace cornstarch, and sometimes use guar gum, which is 9X as potent as the starch. Do you have a recommendation?
ImmaculateBites says
Flour would do just fine . Let me know if you try them, would love to hear about it.
Kristen says
Hi there. I know this a bit of an old recipe, but I’m hoping you still read these comments. Firstly, I made this recipe for my dad who loves milk tart but was never able to find one as good as his mother’s and he said this one was even better! I’m going to make it again at Christmas, but I want to make it ahead of time. How long does the crust alone keep in the fridge? I’ll make the filling closer to the time, but I do want to get the crust out of the way asap. Thanks!
ImmaculateBites says
So happy to hear this! It can last for a few days, for best results . Cover it tightly so it does not absorb any flavor from other food in the fridge.
LYNETTE says
Help, my batter didnt stay whiteish.. it turned brownish… i think i did something wrong. Also the almond extract is very strong.
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Lynette , It might have got slightly burnt when cooking the milk mixture – try reducing the heat . You don’t have to use almond extract leave it out completely. It’s a matter of preference.
Ayesha says
Hi do i bake the filling or pop it in the fridge
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Ayesha! You do not bake the filling. When you pour the filling into the baked pastry shell, sprinkle with cinnamon and chill until ready to be served.
Susi V says
Awesome recipe that turned out just perfect! The crust was perfectly crumbly and the filling just the right taste and texture. As another South African pointed out, almond essence is not commonly used here and I left it out, and also used less spices in the filling to ensure a light colour and subtle taste. The nutmeg and cinnamon topping is traditional and a winner combination.
I am a South African (though admittedly of German descent) and this the first time I made milk tart. I have come across this blog many times before while looking up recipes for African dishes and it is always a source of inspiration and useful info. I will be back soon no doubt. Thank you!