Rhubarb and custard crumble tart
- Published: 28 Feb 10
- Updated: 18 Mar 24
If you can’t decide whether to make a tart or crumble then make this fabulous rhubarb and custard crumble tart which combines the two desserts.
- Serves 8
- Takes 45 minutes to make, 40 minutes to cook, plus chilling and cooling
Ingredients
- 2 large free-range eggs, plus 3 egg yolks
- 135g caster sugar
- Finely grated zest of 1 orange
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- 300ml double cream
- 2 vanilla pods, split lengthways, seeds scraped and reserved
- 500g rhubarb, cut into 4cm lengths
- Knob of butter
For the shortcrust pastry
- 280g plain flour, plus extra to dust
- 60g custard powder
- 200g chilled butter, cubed
- 4 tbsp caster sugar
- 2 large free-range egg yolks
For the crumble topping
- 170g plain flour
- 110g chilled butter, cubed
- 55g light muscovado sugar
Method
- For the pastry, put the flour in a blender with the custard powder and a good pinch of salt. Whizz briefly, then add the butter. Pulse until the mix resembles fine breadcrumbs. Transfer to a big bowl and stir in the sugar. Add the egg yolks and 3-4 tbsp ice-cold water. Quickly mix together, then shape into a flat disc, wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan180°C/ gas 6 and pop a baking sheet inside to heat up. For the crumble, put the flour and a pinch of salt in a bowl, add the butter and rub together with your fingers until the mix resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar, then scatter over a shallow baking tray. Set aside.
- Roll out the pastry on a floured work surface and use to line a 21cm, loose-bottomed, fluted tart tin that’s 3.5cm deep. Trim any excess pastry and prick the base all over with a fork. Line with baking paper and fill with baking beans or rice. Bake for 10 minutes on the hot baking sheet. Remove the paper and beans/rice, and bake for 5 minutes more until the pastry is crisp. Remove from the oven and set aside. Leave the oven on.
- Make the custard filling. Mix the eggs and egg yolks, 60g of the caster sugar, orange zest and cornflour together in a bowl. Put the cream, 1 split vanilla pod and seeds in a pan over a medium heat and bring almost to the boil. Slowly strain the hot cream over the egg mixture, stirring. Pour back into the cleaned pan and return to the hob. Heat gently, stirring, until the custard is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Pour into a jug, then cover the surface with cling film to stop a skin forming. Cool and chill.
- Place the rhubarb in a bowl, stir in the remaining 75g caster sugar and the seeds from the remaining vanilla pod, scatter over a shallow baking tray, dot with butter, drizzle with 1 tbsp water and add the vanilla pod. Roast for 15 minutes. Put a colander over a bowl, then pour the rhubarb into the colander, discarding the vanilla pod. Reserve the juices and allow the rhubarb to cool a little.
- Pour the custard into the pastry case, then top with the rhubarb, poking it under the custard a little. Bake on the baking sheet for 12-15 minutes until the custard is just set. Put the crumble topping in the oven at the same time, shaking its tray occasionally, cooking for the same amount of time until crunchy and golden. Remove both from the oven. Carefully remove the tart from the tin. Scatter with the crumble and some of the reserved rhubarb juice. Serve warm or at room temperature.
- Recipe from March 2010 Issue
Nutrition
- Calories
- 897kcals
- Fat
- 59.2g (35g saturated)
- Protein
- 10.7g
- Carbohydrates
- 86.3g (33.1g sugar)
- Salt
- 0.8g
delicious. tips
Freeze any leftover pastry for up to 3 months or make some jam tarts as well.
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I made this but cheated and asapted the recipe. I didn’t use eggs or custard powder in the pastry, just the flour, butter, sugar & added water. Lovely pastry. I used one carton of ready made custard for the filling, and added the cornflour, orange zest & one vanilla pod and brought it to a simmer before cooling. It was absolutely delicious & was a bit quicker to make than making my own custard. I used frozen rhubarb aswell! Will make the same way again next time.
“I love this recipe because we grow rhubard, and it will make a change from my usual crumble”
“I love this recipe because…Rhubarb + custard + crumble what classic flavours together in a crumble , whats not to love YUM
I love this recipe because it reminds me of my childhood when my mum would make rhubarb crumble. Fond memories!
I love this recipe because…there is nothing more tasty like rhubarb with custard.
I love this recipe because we have it growing in the garden, its tasty, easy to make & great for summer with cream or winter with custard! Nice heart wholesome pudding.
I love this recipe because I love rhubarb.
I love this recipe because….. it’a rhubarb…… I’m always looking for new ways to eat the rhubarb growing in my garden
I love this recipe , I grow rhubarb and I am always looking for new ways to use it.
I love this recipe because rhubarb and custard is my favourite dessert and to have them together in a tart is perfection!
I love this recipe because I need to get rid of piles of rhubarb
I love this recipe because it reminds me when we were children (many years ago) Mum used to make all sorts of pies/jam/puddings, etc with rhubarb. Those were the days…lol
I love this recipe because…we grow rhubarb and this is great to do for the family – a nice twist on the traditional rhubarb and custard.