We all need an extra special vegan baked custard tart recipe. It seems to be something a lot of vegan miss as custard is based on eggs. The most common custard tart for vegans is usually one that just sets in the fridge without being baked but I love that ‘baked’ flavour. This tart is so easy and so satisfying. This recipe is based on a vegan custard powder, silken tofu, soy based cream, vanilla, lemon essence, sugar and a sprinkle of nutmeg. I also used my pie crust recipe for the base which made for a delicious combination.
The end result is a seductively creamy custard filling and a gorgeous flaky base. It’s definitely a winner because once you have made your pastry, pour your custard filling ingredients into a high powered blender, blend until smooth, then pour into your tart shell and bake.
I do have a few ideas for recipe variations…
- Add Tonka for a smokey caramel flavour
- Add cinnamon and other spices for a more warming custard
- Roast flaked almonds and decorate your finished tart with them to add texture and another element of flavour
- Use a traditional shortcrust pastry recipe as your base instead of my pie crust recipe
- Add a vegan whipped cream or aquafaba meringue to the top once baked
- You can even just bake the custard in a pie dish without a base and allow it to set before serving, this is what I did when I was tested the recipe
What are the ingredients for this vegan baked custard tart?
Vegan Baked Custard Tart Filling
- Vegan butter (I’m using Naturli)
- SIlken Tofu
- Raw or cane sugar
- Soy cream or any plant based cream (I’m using Alpro)
- Vegan custard Powder (I’m using Edmonds)
- Lemon Essence
- Vanilla Bean Paste
- Nutmeg (optional)
- Vegan Yellow Food Colouring or Turmeric
Vegan Pie Crust
The other ingredients I use for this recipe are
- Plain all purpose flour
- Brown sugar
- Sea salt
- Vegan block butter
- Solid vegetable shortening
- Vegetable oil
- Ice water
- Almond Flour
- Vodka or vinegar
To see pie crust ingredients and instructions go here
Recipe Substitutions
- You can swap cane sugar with white sugar
- You can swap soy cream with any plant based cream
Tools I Used For This Recipe
- Blender
- Small heat proof bowl
- Pie Dish
- Kitchen scales
My Top Tips For This Recipe
- Make sure you fill your tart with custard all the way to the top as it shrinks once baked
- Your custard will still be runny when you removed it from the oven, you need to allow it to set before serving
- Make sure you pre-heat your oven before baking your crust
Storage
Store in the fridge covered for up to 1 week.
See My Step By Step Photos For How To Make Your Baked Custard Tart
The steps to make this tart are so easy
- Melt your vegan butter and stir through sugar
- Add melted butter, tofu, cream, custard powder, lemon essence, vanilla, food colouring to your blender and blend until completely smooth
- Preheat your oven to 200C/400F
- Prepare your pie crust and blind bake for 10 minutes (see below for definition of blind baking)
- Remove baking beads and pour in your liquid custard
- Sprinkle nutmeg over the top and bake for 30 to 35 minutes
- The custard will rise but still be slightly running
- Slowly remove from the oven and allow to completely cool until the custard sets
What is blind baking and par baking?
Blind baking is when you only want to bake the crust and add a non-baked filling once it’s cooled. Par baking is when you want to partly bake your crust and freeze to bake at a later date.
Looking for other tart and pie recipes…
PrintEasy Vegan Baked Custard Tart
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 serves 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
The most satisfying vegan baked custard tart
Ingredients
Vegan Custard Filling
- 80 g vegan butter
- 100 g cane sugar or raw sugar
- 500 ml plant based cream (you can use coconut cream)
- 300 g silken tofu
- 35 g vegan custard powder (a lot of brands are vegan so just check ingredients and Gretchen Price has a recipe for it here too)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon essence
- 2 – 3 drops vegan food colouring or a pinch of turmeric
- Pinch of nutmeg
Vegan Pie Crust
Instructions
- Prepare your vegan pie crust first. Pre-heat your conventional oven to 200C/400F and blind bake your pie crust for 10 minutes. See instructions on my pie crust recipe page.
- Melt butter in a small heatproof bowl, add sugar and stir.
- Add butter mix and all remaining custard filling ingredients (except nutmeg) to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour into your blind baked pie shell, filling to the top of the shell. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until your pie crust is golden brown.
- Remove from oven and allow to completely cool and set. The custard will still be runny when you remove it from the oven so be careful.
- Once set, cut and serve.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Pie Making
- Cuisine: Dessert
Keywords: vegan baked custard tart
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Annette says
I made this today as a new years day treat with my own shortcrust pastry recipe. I added an extra few tbsp of cornstarch as I like a firmer custard. This was hands-down the best vegan custard tart I’ve made. Thank you Sara, amazing recipe!
jenny ren says
Hey sara I made this over the weekend, I think I over baked the pastry slightly but the custard was amazing! Will definitely make this again.
★★★★★
Kelly anne says
I baked this as soon as I got your newsletter. It was just like i remembered them to be.
★★★★
sarah-anne says
THIS RECIPE WAS AWESOME!
★★★★★
Mel says
I have been making my pie crust with real butter for years and have just gone vegan this year. This was the first recipe I’ve tried and it was just as good! Thank you for all your thoughtful insights. And the custard filling is amazing.
★★★★
Sara Kidd says
Aw mel! I’m so happy. Thanks for letting me know. Good luck on your vegan journey.
Rachael says
This will now be my go to pie crust! It is delicious and so easy to make.
★★★★
Tess says
YASSSSSSSS kiddo thank you so much
★★★★★
charlie says
Sara you’re the best! I’ve missed these so much since going vegan. I can’t beleve how easy this recipe was. Thank you
★★★★★
Sara Kidd says
Hey Charlie, I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for letting me know
Mandy says
Look I couldn’t do the crust so I just made and baked the custard and it was sooooo yummy.
★★★★★
Sara Kidd says
haha yep that’s what I did when I was testing the recipe. it’s still great
jessica says
OMG I HAVE WAITED SOOOOO LONG FOR THE RECIPE it was so good. Thanks so much!!!!
★★★★★
Fiona Phills says
Such a great recipe. I didn’t realise that most custard powders are vegan. Thanks Sara
★★★★
Sara Kidd says
So glad! Yep just always check the ingredients. xo
Jackie says
OMG this took me back to my childhood. I can’t believe how similar it is to the pies I used to buy at the bakery. Thanks so much
★★★★★
Sara Kidd says
Yay! Me too. Thanks Jackie
Mandy says
Hi Sarah I can’t find plant based cream can I use coconut cream 🙏
Sara Kidd says
Yes x
Sophia says
Sara! You’re a genius. This recipe was amazing.
★★★★★