Treacle Tarts Recipe (2024)

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Rarely seen outside of the UK, treacle tarts are one of the great pleasures of life that you simply cannot miss out on. Easy to make and densely delicious, you owe it to yourself to try these at least once in your life.

For some oddly similar, yet distinctly different recipes, why not try these Butter Tart Bars, or these Mincemeat Tarts with Butter Pastry?

Treacle Tarts Recipe (1)

Treacle Tarts Recipe

A treacle tart might seem like a pretty weird thing to someone outside the UK, but every Brit has a special place in their heart for the sticky pastry.

Either because of its reputation as a school dinner dessert or just as a home cooking staple, treacle tart is a British classic for a reason.

Treacle Tarts Recipe (2)

Treacle Tarts Recipe Ingredients

Make sure you check the recipe card at the very bottom for the exact amount needs for this pie.

  • Lyle’s golden syrup
  • Half & half cream
  • Lemon zest
  • Lemon juice
  • Molasses
  • Butter
  • Egg
  • Bread crumbs
  • Mini tart shells

How To Make Treacle Tarts Recipe

  • Combine the ingredients together in a small bowl
  • Break the eggs with a fork to mix them together properly
  • Fill the mini tart shells up to the brim with the mixture
  • Bake at 375 Fahrenheit for 15 minutes until the shells are golden brown and the mixture is bubbling
  • Cool on a cooling rack until warm, or wait until they are completely cooled and top with whipped cream

Treacle Tarts Recipe (3)

What Actually Is A Treacle Tart?

Looking at a treacle tart, most people’s initial thoughts will probably be what on earth this small, brown goo in their pie crust actually is.

A treacle tart is basically just a very thick and sweet custard that bakes into a gooey, hard pasta that looks hard but is actually quite supple when you try to break it open.

The mixture of golden syrup, half and half, and some egg combines with a good amount of breadcrumbs into a substance like no other – treacle. Try as you might; you could never hope to replicate the texture, flavor, and consistency of properly made treacle-like you’d find in this recipe.

For that reason alone, you need to try it; it’s basically a marvel of cooking science.

What To Serve On Top Of Your Treacle Tart

A treacle tart is amazing on its own, but not everyone wants just a bare pastry and a sweet filling. What about toppings?

Well, the traditional topping for a treacle tart would be either some simple whipped cream or a custard. A standard British custard, also known as a crème anglais, is basically just a sweetened cream that is thickened with egg yolks, heated slowly in a saucepan.

A whipped cream is even easier – just get some heavy cream in a big enough saucepan for it and whisk it intensely, turning the bowl as you whisk until it takes on enough volume that you think it’s done. For a touch of extra flavor, sprinkle in a bit of powdered sugar and some vanilla extract, about a teaspoon of sugar, and a half teaspoon of vanilla per cup of heavy cream.

You could also serve it with some vanilla ice cream, but don’t do this after a big meal!

Treacle Tarts Recipe (4)

Looking for more tasty Pie recipes? Try these out:

  • Campfire Cherry Hand Pies
  • Classic Apple Pie
  • Retro Coconut Impossible Pie

Treacle Tarts

Treacle tarts, straight out of the Harry Potter books!

5 from 3 votes

Review

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Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Total Time
20 minutes
Course
Dessert
Cuisine
British
Servings
24
Calories
106
Author
Karlynn Johnston

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Lyle's golden syrup (half of a jar)
  • 1/4 cup half & half cream
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon fancy molasses
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
  • 24 mini tart shells

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

  • Combine the first eight ingredients into a small bowl, mixing with a fork to break up the egg and combine everything thoroughly.

  • Fill the 24 mini tart shells to the brim with the mixture.

  • Place in the oven and bake at 375 degrees for 13-15 minutes, until the tart shells are golden brown and the mixture is bubbling in the centre.

  • Remove from the oven and place the baking sheet on a cooling rack.

  • Cool for a while and serve either warm or cold with whipped cream on top!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 106kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 12mg, Sodium: 56mg, Potassium: 20mg, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 35IU, Vitamin C: 0.6mg, Calcium: 7mg, Iron: 1.4mg

All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a co*cktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

Learn more about me

Reader Interactions

Comments & Recipe Tips Share a tip or comment!

  1. Karen cox says

    Reply

    I am just making mine. My parents were English ,we had those all the time. =Made as tarts and also a 9 inch very shallow pie shell. My moms take on it is coconut and you just pour the Lyles lovely golden stuff on it.. bake and NUMMMMMM!!! But I always forget what to bake them at!! And my mom is gone.. So here I am on your websitemmmTreacle Tarts Recipe (10)

  2. Katelyn says

    Reply

    What brand of pastry shells did you use? And where did you get them?

  3. Amanda says

    Reply

    Amazon has golden syrup, as well as black treacle.

  4. AbigailEpstein says

    Reply

    I just made this, exactly as listed, with 2 inch mini shells, and it only filled 10 tartlets.

  5. Valerie says

    Reply

    I just found this on Pinterest and would love to try it (I’ve been dying to know for years what this fabulous dessert of Harry’s is like)… where do you get Lyle’s syrup though? I’ve never heard of it.

  6. Rachel Iverson says

    Reply

    yours look really good. I make mine differently, but the idea is the same. I grew up in England & so these were something we had a couple of times a year or so. I have never had mini ones, only big ones, in fact I just made one last week! I live in Edmonton also & have a blog….intheiversonkitchen.wordpress.com of you want to take a peek!

    • thekitchenmagpie says

      Reply

      @Rachel IversonSo is this pretty close to what you would expect? Other than the mini shells, I would love to make a shortcrust pastry version…these are “made for tv” fast and easy haha!

  7. The Kitchen Magpie says

    Reply

    They are yummy! I really want to try the BIG real tart next, these are great for parties though, with the tidbit size!

  8. Pat Faryna Langridge says

    Reply

    Can’t wait to try these. Tnx Karlynn

    • thekitchenmagpie says

      Reply

      @Pat Faryna LangridgeHope you like them Pat!

Leave a Comment or Recipe Tip

Treacle Tarts Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a treacle tart made of? ›

It is prepared using shortcrust pastry, with a thick filling made of golden syrup (also known as light treacle), breadcrumbs, and lemon juice or zest. The tart is normally served hot or warm with a scoop of clotted cream, ordinary cream, ice cream, or custard.

What is a treacle tart slang? ›

'Sweetheart' in co*ckney rhyming slang.

Is treacle the same as molasses? ›

Both have a deep, aromatic flavour that adds a unique finish to food and drink recipes, but they are subtly different, with treacle tending to be a sweeter product that has less of a bitter profile than molasses. Compared to treacle, molasses is thicker in consistency and darker in colour.

What does treacle taste like? ›

What Does It Taste Like? Black treacle has a deep flavor that's rich, slightly burnt, and has a hint of bitterness. It is sticky and thick, just like molasses.

What is treacle called in USA? ›

More commonly known as treacle or black treacle or, in the US as blackstrap molasses, molasses are essentially what is left over after cane sugar is boiled to produce sugar and most of the sugar has been extracted.

What did Americans substitute for treacle as an ingredient? ›

Treacle is a generic British term for any syrup made during the refining of sugar cane. Later, refined sugar became more affordable and overtook treacle as a sweetener. However, colonial Americans often substituted molasses for treacle in their recipes.

What do the Brits call treacle? ›

What is treacle and what are its uses? Treacle is what the British call molasses--it is used in many dessert items--treacle pudding, treacle pie, treacle candy--it's very similar to toffee, just not as buttery.

What is a tart slang for a girl? ›

In the 19th century, tart was British slang for "pretty woman." Some believe it is a shortening of "sweetheart." But by the end of that century, tart described a prostitute, something many language scholars trace back to the tart that you get at the bakery.

What does treacle mean in England? ›

chiefly British. a. : molasses. b. : a blend of molasses, invert sugar, and corn syrup used as syrup.

Can you buy a treacle? ›

Lyle's Treacle, Black 454g | Sainsbury's.

Is treacle healthy? ›

Well, it has notable nutritional properties. Because of the particularly high proportion of molasses present, the nutritional profile of black treacle includes an elevated amount of vitamin B6, potassium, calcium, and iron.

Can I use golden syrup instead of molasses? ›

Golden Syrup

With its golden, amber color, it is lighter than molasses, though the two are similar in their thickness. Golden syrup also a liquid sweetener, so 1 cup of golden syrup can replace 1 cup of molasses. Golden syrup has a unique flavor, so it may alter the flavor of your recipe slightly.

When a guy calls you treacle? ›

Noun. (co*ckney rhyming slang) Sweetheart (from treacle tart). Listen, treacle, this is the last time I'll warn you!

When a man calls you treacle? ›

I believe it comes from “Treacle Tart” (a popular sweet dessert) rhyming with “Sweetheart”. Thus it's an endearment, like “love” or “darling”.

What is corn syrup called in the UK? ›

Corn syrup is labelled as “Glucose-Fructose Syrup” in UK product ingredients, and is not that common since cane and beet sugar (which we even grow here and accounts for 2/3 of all our sugar British Sugar - Wikipedia ) is far cheaper in the UK than corn syrup.

What does treacle tart taste like? ›

What Does Treacle Tart Taste Like? It tastes like a delightful custard-based pastry, similar to Lemon Bars but with the texture of Lemon Chess Pie. The tart filling, when served warm, is ooey-gooey like a pecan pie without the nuts.

What is the equivalent of treacle? ›

If you don't have treacle then you can use molasses as an alternative. We would not use extra sugar instead of the treacle as treacle is an invert sugar, which particularly helps to keep the cake moist.

Is treacle the same as maple syrup? ›

Maple syrup is made from maple trees and the sugary liquid is reduced to syrup. Golden syrup is made from plants. Golden syrup or light treacle is a thick amber-coloured form of inverted sugar syrup made in the process of refining sugar cane or sugar beet juice into sugar, or by treatment of a sugar solution with acid.

Is treacle tart like a butter tart? ›

These buttery mini pies, typically baked in a muffin tin, have a flaky crust filled with a gooey mixture of butter, sugar, syrup, egg, and sometimes raisins or nuts. They bear some resemblance to the American pecan pie and British treacle tart, but their uniquely rich flavor sets them apart.

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