Hong Kong-Style Egg Tarts

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Yield: Making 16 egg tarts of a tart pan

Ingredients
For the custard filling
• 4 medium eggs, beaten (reserve 2 tablespoons for your pastry dough)
• 3/4 cup hot water
• 6 tbsp. sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt (pinch of salt)
• 1/4 cup evaporated milk
• Dash of vanilla (optional)
For the pastry dough
• 2 cups cake flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons of beaten egg
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• Dash of vanilla (optional)

Instructions
• Pre-heat the oven to 400˚F / 200˚C
Make custard filling
• Melt sugar and salt with hot water. Mix until dissolved then let cool.
• Whisk eggs and then take 2 tablespoons out for the pastry dough. Stir in sugar water and also evaporated milk (if adding vanilla, add now). Stir and combine everything well.
• Strain the filling to ensure no lumps. Chill in the refrigerator while you make your pastry.
Making the pastry
• In a large bowl, sift flour, sugar and salt. Then add softened butter. Bring the mixture together with your hands, careful not to knead the pastry dough too much or you will make the pastry tough.
• Add the 2 tablespoons of reserved beaten egg and bring together until smooth. If the dough is too sticky, coating your hands with flour will help. Cover with plastic wrap and then refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until the dough is firm.
• Take the dough out and divide into 16 equal portions. Spray the tart pan with a light coating of oil. Take one portion of your dough and roll it into a ball and place in your tart shell. Press the shell into the pan with your fingers. Try to make the wrapper uniform in thickness and avoid a thick bottom. Repeat to finish all.
Baking the egg tart.
• Pour the custard filling to the shells until it is about 80% full. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the surface becomes golden brown and a toothpick can stand in the egg tart.
• Cool down for several minutes and then take the egg tarts out of the pan. Serve while still warm.

Enjoy!
* Recipe inspired by chinasichuanfood.com