Maids of Honour – Traditional English Custard Cheesecake Tarts

May 08, 2023May 8, 20230 2
Traditional English Custard Cheesecake Tarts recipe perfect for dessert or tea time
in Dessert

Prep

30 min

Cook

20 min

Ready In

50 min

Level

Easy

Rating

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
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Ingredients

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter , diced
1/3 cup vegetable shortening , in teaspoonfuls ( use a good shortening such as Crisco )
2 large eggs , beaten
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon rose water ( optional ) or 1/8 teaspoon orange flower water ( optional )
1 pinch salt
1 vanilla bean ( or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract )
1/2 cup heavy cream , plus 2 tablespoons
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup ground almonds
1 large egg , beaten
2 teaspoons finely minced fresh lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon rose water ( optional ) or 1/4 teaspoon orange flower water ( optional )
fresh ground nutmeg
icing sugar , for dusting

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe
12
Calories
346
Sugar
14g
Fat
24g
Maids of Honour are a traditional English dessert, dating back to the Tudor era. Legend has it that these delicious tarts were first made by one of King Henry VIII's maids of honour, who had created the recipe as a result of combining two of the King's favourite desserts - custard and cheesecake. These tarts were said to be so delicious that the King himself requested the recipe, which was then kept a secret among the Royal Family. Today, Maids of Honour are a popular dessert in English culture, often served with a cup of tea or coffee.

Instructions

1.In a large bowl, combine the flour, butter, vegetable shortening, beaten eggs, lemon juice, rose water or orange flower water (if using), and salt.
2.If using a vanilla bean, scrape the seeds from the pod and add them to the mixture; otherwise, add the vanilla extract. Mix the dough until it forms a ball.
3.Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently roll it into a long strip, about 1/8-inch thick. Cut the strip into 12 equal pieces. Place each piece into a muffin tin, pressing it down to form a shell.
4.Preheat the oven to 375°F.
5.In a saucepan, heat the heavy cream, butter, and sugar until the butter has melted. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the ground almonds, beaten egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and rose water or orange flower water (if using).
6.Spoon the mixture into the prepared shells. Sprinkle the tarts with freshly ground nutmeg.
7.Bake the tarts for 18-20 minutes, until they are golden brown and puffy. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool completely before serving. Dust with icing sugar before serving.

PROS

Maids of Honour are a classic English dessert, perfect for special occasions or tea time.

The combination of custard and cheesecake filling combined with a crisp crust makes for a delicious and satisfying treat.

CONS

These tarts contain high amounts of sugar and fat.

They should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

While Maids of Honour are not a health food, they do contain almonds which are rich in vitamin E and healthy fats.
Almonds have also been linked to reducing inflammation and improving heart health.

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