There's nothing quite like a classic South African milk tart. This post shares more than just an easy milk tart recipe; it’s a guide to turning baking time into a memorable and educational bonding session with your children, perfect for any homeschooling curriculum
There are few things more comforting than the creamy, cinnamon-dusted slice of a homemade milk tart. This beloved treat is a cornerstone of South African heritage. For homeschooling parents, it offers more than just a delicious dessert. This easy milk tart recipe is a fantastic opportunity to create lasting memories and incorporate practical life lessons into your day.
Turning your kitchen into a classroom is one of the most effective ways to teach valuable skills. When you start baking with your children, you are doing more than just following steps. You are teaching measurement, fractions, and sequencing. Activities like whisking and mixing also help develop fine motor skills, a crucial part of early childhood development, as noted by educational resources like Nemours KidsHealth. So, let’s get our aprons on!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple, budget-friendly ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry.
- 1 packet of Tennis biscuits, crumbed
- 125g butter or margarine, melted
- 1 medium-sized tin of condensed milk
- 1,25L (2½ cups) milk
- 5ml (1 tsp) vanilla essence
- 2 eggs
- 3,5ml (½ tsp) salt
- 15ml (1 tbsp) custard powder
- 45ml (3 tbsp) Maizena (cornflour)
- Ground cinnamon, for dusting
Our Simple Step-by-Step Method
For the Biscuit Base:
- Child’s Task: Let your child have fun crushing the Tennis biscuits into fine crumbs.
- In a bowl, mix the melted butter and biscuit crumbs together.
- Press the mixture firmly into a 24cm glass dish. Put it aside.
For the Creamy Filling:
- In a medium saucepan, combine the condensed milk with 375ml (1½ cups) of milk. Heat the mixture until it begins to boil, then remove it from the heat.
- Child’s Task: In a separate mixing bowl, help your child whisk the eggs, the remaining 125ml (½ cup) of milk, vanilla, salt, custard powder, and Maizena until smooth.
- Slowly pour the warm milk mixture into the egg mixture, whisking continuously.
- Return the combined mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it thickens.
- Pour the thickened filling over your prepared biscuit base.
- Allow the tart to cool slightly before placing it in the fridge to set completely.
- Just before serving your South African milk tart, let your child generously dust the top with cinnamon.
This is one of the best homeschool cooking activities because it delivers a delightful result with minimal fuss, making it an ideal quick dessert for kids to help create. For more local recipe inspiration, check out the amazing collection at Food24.
Share Your Baking Adventures!
Making this easy milk tart recipe is a wonderful way to connect with your children and your heritage. Did you and your little chefs enjoy making this tart?
We would love to see your creations! Share your experience in the comments below. For more fun and educational ideas, subscribe to our weekly newsletter!