Portuguese Milk Tart: A Silky-Smooth Spoon Dessert

Portuguese Milk Tart, or “Latte alla Portoghese”, is a simple and creamy spoon dessert, perfect to bring to the table at the end of a dinner party with guests or for a special snack among friends. Very similar in flavor and pudding texture to the famous crème caramel, unlike the latter, which is usually packaged in small single-serving portions, Portuguese Milk Tart is made in a single pan and does not include the addition of fresh cream among the ingredients.

Ingredients :

For the Custard:

• 2 cups (490 ml) whole milk
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon (110 g) granulated sugar
• 5 large eggs
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 vanilla bean (or 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract)

For the Caramel:

• 1/3 cup (70 g) granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons (40 ml) water

How to make Portuguese Milk Tart:

1. First, heat the milk on the stove with the vanilla bean until it comes close to boiling, then remove the vanilla.
2. Separately, whisk the eggs and yolks in a bowl with the caster sugar.
3. Then pour the hot milk in a trickle, stir carefully with a whisk and set aside.
4. In the meantime, prepare the caramel: gather the water and sugar in a nonstick pan.
5. Let it cook gently until an amber caramel is obtained.
6. Pour the sauce into the bottom of a 22-cm-diameter (8.5 inches). bundt mold.
7. Spread the prepared milk and egg mixture inside and cover the bottom of the mold with aluminum foil.
8. Transfer everything inside a large baking dish and pour the water until it reaches about halfway up the mold.
9. Then bake in a hot oven at 160 °C (320°F) for 80 minutes.
10. After the baking time has elapsed, take the cake out of the oven and let it settle at room temperature, then refrigerate and chill for at least a couple of hours.
11. Once ready, unmold the Portuguese-style milk on a serving platter.
12. Bring the Portuguese-style milk to the table.
13. Cut it into slices and serve.

Bon Appétit!