Rarely seen outside of the UK, treacle tarts are one of the great pleasures of life that you simply cannot miss out on. Easy to make and densely delicious, you owe it to yourself to try these at least once in your life.
For some oddly similar, yet distinctly different recipes, why not try these Butter Tart Bars, or these Mincemeat Tarts with Butter Pastry?
Treacle Tarts Recipe
A treacle tart might seem like a pretty weird thing to someone outside the UK, but every Brit has a special place in their heart for the sticky pastry.
Either because of its reputation as a school dinner dessert or just as a home cooking staple, treacle tart is a British classic for a reason.
Treacle Tarts Recipe Ingredients
Make sure you check the recipe card at the very bottom for the exact amount needed for these.
- Lyle’s golden syrup
- Half & half cream
- Lemon zest
- Lemon juice
- Molasses
- Butter
- Egg
- Bread crumbs
- Mini tart shells
How To Make Treacle Tarts Recipe
- Combine the ingredients together in a small bowl
- Break the eggs with a fork to mix them together properly
- Fill the mini tart shells up to the brim with the mixture
- Bake at 375 Fahrenheit for 15 minutes until the shells are golden brown and the mixture is bubbling
- Cool on a cooling rack until warm, or wait until they are completely cooled and top with whipped cream
What Actually Is A Treacle Tart?
Looking at a treacle tart, most people’s initial thoughts will probably be what on earth this small, brown goo in their pie crust actually is.
A treacle tart is basically just a very thick and sweet custard that bakes into a gooey, hard pasta that looks hard but is actually quite supple when you try to break it open.
The mixture of golden syrup, half and half, and some egg combines with a good amount of breadcrumbs into a substance like no other – treacle. Try as you might; you could never hope to replicate the texture, flavor, and consistency of properly made treacle-like you’d find in this recipe.
For that reason alone, you need to try it; it’s basically a marvel of cooking science.
What To Serve On Top Of Your Treacle Tart
A treacle tart is amazing on its own, but not everyone wants just a bare pastry and a sweet filling. What about toppings?
Well, the traditional topping for a treacle tart would be either some simple whipped cream or a custard. A standard British custard, also known as a crème anglais, is basically just a sweetened cream that is thickened with egg yolks, heated slowly in a saucepan.
A whipped cream is even easier – just get some heavy cream in a big enough saucepan for it and whisk it intensely, turning the bowl as you whisk until it takes on enough volume that you think it’s done. For a touch of extra flavor, sprinkle in a bit of powdered sugar and some vanilla extract, about a teaspoon of sugar, and a half teaspoon of vanilla per cup of heavy cream.
You could also serve it with some vanilla ice cream, but don’t do this after a big meal!
Looking for more tasty Pie recipes? Try these out:
Treacle Tarts
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Lyle’s golden syrup (half of a jar)
- 1/4 cup half & half cream
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fancy molasses
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
- 24 mini tart shells
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
- Combine the first eight ingredients into a small bowl, mixing with a fork to break up the egg and combine everything thoroughly.
- Fill the 24 mini tart shells to the brim with the mixture.
- Place in the oven and bake at 375 degrees for 13-15 minutes, until the tart shells are golden brown and the mixture is bubbling in the centre.
- Remove from the oven and place the baking sheet on a cooling rack.
- Cool for a while and serve either warm or cold with whipped cream on top!
Nutrition
Karen cox says
I am just making mine. My parents were English ,we had those all the time. =Made as tarts and also a 9 inch very shallow pie shell. My moms take on it is coconut and you just pour the Lyles lovely golden stuff on it.. bake and NUMMMMMM!!! But I always forget what to bake them at!! And my mom is gone.. So here I am on your websitemmm
Katelyn says
What brand of pastry shells did you use? And where did you get them?
Amanda says
Amazon has golden syrup, as well as black treacle.
AbigailEpstein says
I just made this, exactly as listed, with 2 inch mini shells, and it only filled 10 tartlets.
Valerie says
I just found this on Pinterest and would love to try it (I’ve been dying to know for years what this fabulous dessert of Harry’s is like)… where do you get Lyle’s syrup though? I’ve never heard of it.
Rachel Iverson says
yours look really good. I make mine differently, but the idea is the same. I grew up in England & so these were something we had a couple of times a year or so. I have never had mini ones, only big ones, in fact I just made one last week! I live in Edmonton also & have a blog….intheiversonkitchen.wordpress.com of you want to take a peek!
thekitchenmagpie says
@Rachel Iverson So is this pretty close to what you would expect? Other than the mini shells, I would love to make a shortcrust pastry version…these are “made for tv” fast and easy haha!
The Kitchen Magpie says
They are yummy! I really want to try the BIG real tart next, these are great for parties though, with the tidbit size!
Pat Faryna Langridge says
Can’t wait to try these. Tnx Karlynn
thekitchenmagpie says
@Pat Faryna Langridge Hope you like them Pat!