Portuguese Custard Tarts (Pasteis de Nata) (2024)

Portuguese custard tarts (or pasteis de nata) are crisp, creamy, and decadently sweet. This Portuguese dessert recipe features a delicately spiced flavor and uses pantry ingredients like egg yolks, flour, and cinnamon to create a one-of-a-kind pastry. Try your hand at making these irresistibly delicious custard treats with trademark caramelized tops and flaky, buttery puff pastry. Follow the top-rated recipe for crave-worthy results, plus learn tips for making the best pasteis de nata ever.

What Does Pasteis de Nata Mean?

Pasteis de nata is Portuguese for cream pastries — the name describes the velvety texture of this classic dish. The pastel de nata was first made over 300 years ago in a monastery west of Lisbon.

Monks developed the custard-filled treat recipe with sugar and surplus egg yolks — a result of using egg whites to launder clothes. The crisp golden pastry filled with a soft, rich cream is an enticing bite of history.

How to Make Pasteis de Nata

A pastel de nata is made in three steps; dough, syrup, and custard. You'll find the full recipe below with step-by-step instructions, but here's what you can expect when you make this top-rated recipe;

Begin by making a pastry dough layered with unsalted butter. Next, combine sugar, spices, and water to make the syrup. Boil the syrup mixture until it reaches 210 degrees F, then remove it from heat.

Combine and cook all the custard ingredients on the stovetop before pressing pastry dough into muffin tins. Fill the dough with custard, then bake in the oven until the tops are fully caramelized.

How to Store Pasteis de Nata

While pasteis de nata are best enjoyed warm on the day they're made, they can be stored at room temperature for up to two days. Reheat them in a 350 degrees F oven for best results.

Can I Freeze Pasteis de Nata?

Yes, you can technically freeze Portuguese custard tarts — but be aware that the custard may split and become grainy. The chance of splitting goes up rapidly with time, so avoid keeping frozen pastries for longer than a month.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"Wow, these are absolutely amazing!" raves reviewer Tracy H. "I've been craving these ever since I tried them in Lisbon last year. I followed the recipe exactly and they came out perfect!"

"I own a bakery and an individual asked if I made Portuguese custard tarts," shares eatatsarahs. "I said I'd try, and this was the first and ONLY recipe I used! I now make these on a weekly basis and make 5-6 dozen a week."

"Love them," says an Allrecipes member. " Don't take your eyes away from the oven as they are easy to overcook."

Editorial contributions by Rai Mincey

Portuguese Custard Tarts (Pasteis de Nata) (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between custard tart and nata? ›

Instead of a short, crumbly pastry, the pastel de nata has a crisp, slightly salty, layered crust; and, rather than the firm, egg-rich fillings of the classic British or French custard tart, the filling is almost molten, and spiced with cinnamon and lemon zest, as opposed to our peppery nutmeg or sweet vanilla.

Should I refrigerate pastéis de nata? ›

How to Store Pasteis de Nata. While pasteis de nata are best enjoyed warm on the day they're made, they can be stored at room temperature for up to two days. Reheat them in a 350 degrees F oven for best results.

What is the difference between pasteis de Belem and pastéis de nata? ›

The diference is that the pastéis de Belém are pastéis de nata produced by the local pastelaria de Belém supposed to be the place owning the original recipe.

What is the most famous Portuguese tart? ›

No trip to Lisbon is complete without eating a pastéis de nata (or a few!). These Portuguese egg custard tarts are the perfect anytime-snack and really satisfy any sweet cravings you may have.

How do you cook Mother Gothel's recipes in Dreamlight Valley? ›

Combine one Herb with the Agave and one Majestea to make Mother Gothel's Tea, and the other Herb with the Majestea, Turnip, Paprika, and Yam to make Mother Gothel's Soup. Bring the Soup and Tea to Rapunzel. Finally, wait five minutes while Rapunzel rests her voice and warms up.

What is the recipe for the GREY stuff in Disney Dreamlight Valley? ›

How to Make Gray Stuff in Disney Dreamlight Valley? In order to craft this recipe players will need to gather one example of a Cocoa Bean, Sugarcane, and any Dairy Product. These three ingredients in Disney Dreamlight Valley combined at any of the game's cooking stations will produce a single example of Gray Stuff.

What is the most profitable meal in Dreamlight Valley? ›

Many of the most profitable recipes in Disney Dreamlight Valley are those which include rare fish, including White Sturgeon and Anglerfish. However, it can be difficult to come across a reliable supply of the fish unless you are using a Miracle Fishing Bait potion.

Are custard tarts Portuguese or Chinese? ›

It's not technically a Chinese native, however. Custard egg tarts have been a British confectionary since the medieval times andPortuguese pasteis de nata have been around since the 18th century, first made by Catholic monks in Belém,Portugal.

What is another name for pastéis de nata? ›

The Pastel de Nata is, undoubtedly, the most famous among the Portuguese sweets. Appreciated by both portuguese and foreigners, it makes success where it goes. It is called by different names: in Brazil, Pastel de Belém; in the United Kingdom, Portuguese Custard Tart; in the USA, it is the Egg Tart.

What are pastéis de nata very popular in Portugal? ›

Pastel de nata is a Portuguese egg custard tart pastry made with cinnamon. Not only popular in Portugal, they are also popular in other parts of Western Europe, Asia and in former Portuguese colonies such as Brazil, Mozambique, Macau and East Timor.

Can you reheat pasteis de nata? ›

How should I reheat these egg tarts? The best way to reheat these is in the oven or toaster oven, turn it up to about 200C/390F and bake them for about 5 minutes. The custard will be nice and warm and the pastry should be crisp and flaky again!

Can I freeze pasteis de nata? ›

You can place the natas in your freezer, or bake and enjoy; whichever you prefer. The quality and taste of the natas will not be compromised.

Can you eat pasteis de nata the next day? ›

You can buy custard pies anywhere, every pastry shop sells them but the best ones are made in Belem (Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém) Chiado (Manteigaria Silva) and Padaria Portuguesa (several locations). They can put them in a special box and they will be good to eat in the following 2 days.

What does nata mean in Portuguese? ›

English translation of 'nata'

Cream is a thick liquid that is produced from milk. You can use it in cooking or put it on fruit or puddings.

What are egg tarts called in Portugal? ›

Pastel de nata (Portuguese: [pɐʃˈtɛl dɨ ˈnatɐ]; pl. : pastéis de nata; Portuguese: [pɐʃˈtɐjʒ ðɨ-])) is a Portuguese egg custard tart pastry, optionally dusted with cinnamon.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Wyatt Volkman LLD

Last Updated:

Views: 5554

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Wyatt Volkman LLD

Birthday: 1992-02-16

Address: Suite 851 78549 Lubowitz Well, Wardside, TX 98080-8615

Phone: +67618977178100

Job: Manufacturing Director

Hobby: Running, Mountaineering, Inline skating, Writing, Baton twirling, Computer programming, Stone skipping

Introduction: My name is Wyatt Volkman LLD, I am a handsome, rich, comfortable, lively, zealous, graceful, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.