Melktert, which means "milk tart" in
Afrikaans, is a
South African dessert consisting of a sweet
pastry crust containing a creamy filling made from
milk,
flour,
sugar and
eggs. The ratio of milk to egg is higher than in a traditional Portuguese
custard tart (
Pastéis de nata) or Chinese
egg tart, in which both was influenced by the Portuguese, resulting in a lighter texture and a stronger milk flavour. Some recipes require the custard to be baked in the crust, and others call for the custard to be prepared in advance, and then placed in the crust before serving.
Cinnamon is often sprinkled over its surface. The milk used for the custard can also be infused with a cinnamon stick before preparation.