When Deputy Features Editor Marina Rabin dropped out of art school, she was confronted with a vast expanse of spare time and nothing to do. To fill her newly empty days, she applied herself to a worthy cause: the pursuit of the perfect treacle tart. The winner? Nigella’s offering in How to Eat.

Marina’s Favourite Creamy Treacle Tart

Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine British

Equipment

  • 1 flan dish
  • 1 cookie sheet

Ingredients
  

  • 100 g plain flour
  • 25 g cold unsalted butter diced
  • 25 g vegetable shortening diced
  • 3 tbsp iced water
  • 225 g golden syrup
  • 60 g fresh white breadcrumbs
  • ½ lemon juiced
  • 3 tbsp double cream

Instructions
 

  • Crumble butter/shortening into flour using your fingers
  • Once fine crumbs are achieved, sprinkle in water and lemon juice, then mix with fork until a bound dough forms
  • Roll out dough to line flan dish and let rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes
  • Preheat oven to 200℃ and insert cookie sheet to warm ahead of baking
  • Pour syrup into a pan on the hob, and once warm, add breadcrumbs, remaining lemon juice, and zest
  • Heat until warm and runnyish
  • Set aside for 5 minutes, add in cream
  • Spoon mixture into reserved flan dish, place on warm baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes
  • Turn oven temperature down to 180℃ and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until pastry is fully cooked
  • Serve with cold vanilla ice cream
Keyword dessert, dinner party, raisins, tart, treacle