Description
Delightful British classic, treacle tart invites sweet-toothed dessert enthusiasts on a nostalgic culinary journey through traditional English baking. Warm golden syrup, buttery pastry, and breadcrumbs combine to create a comforting slice that transports you directly to a quaint countryside kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 400 grams (14 ounces) golden syrup
- 150 grams (5.5 ounces) fine fresh white breadcrumbs
- 250 grams (9 ounces) plain flour
Binding and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 2 lemons, zest and juice
- 1 free-range egg, beaten
Fat and Greasing Ingredients:
- 130 grams (4.5 ounces) butter, plus extra for greasing
Instructions
- Create a crumbly pastry mixture by working cold butter into flour until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- Add cold water gradually to form a cohesive dough, then refrigerate for 20 minutes to rest and firm up.
- Position an oven rack with a baking sheet and preheat to 200°C.
- Lightly grease an 18cm tart tin, then carefully roll out the chilled pastry and line the tin, trimming excess edges.
- Prick the pastry base with a fork to prevent rising during baking.
- Set aside some dough for the lattice top, rolling it between sheets of cling film for precision.
- Warm golden syrup gently in a pan, then incorporate lemon zest, juice, and breadcrumbs to create a rich, fragrant filling.
- Pour the syrup mixture evenly into the prepared pastry case.
- Cut the reserved pastry into neat strips and weave a delicate lattice pattern across the top of the tart.
- Brush the lattice and edges with egg wash, trim any overhanging pastry, and press edges to seal.
- Bake at 200°C for 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 180°C and continue baking for 25-30 minutes until golden and set.
- Allow the tart to cool slightly, serving either warm or at room temperature for optimal flavor and texture.
Notes
- Adjust breadcrumb consistency by grating stale bread for lighter texture, ensuring fine, even crumbs.
- Minimize pastry shrinkage by chilling dough thoroughly and avoiding overworking, which develops tough gluten strands.
- Create gluten-free version using almond or coconut flour, maintaining delicate crumb structure while accommodating dietary restrictions.
- Enhance flavor complexity by adding orange zest alongside lemon, introducing subtle citrus depth to traditional treacle sweetness.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 35-40 mins
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 493 kcal
- Sugar: 47 g
- Sodium: 2 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg