Rhubarb and custard slices

Rhubarb and custard slices

These delectable rhubarb and custard slices are pretty as a picture for afternoon tea served with orange-scented rhubarb compote.

Rhubarb and custard slices

Is rhubarb and custard your ultimate flavour combination? Then try this gorgeous rhubarb and custard tart next time you need a hit.

  • Serves icon Makes 12 slices
  • Time icon Hands-on time 1 hour, oven time 25 min, plus chilling and setting

These delectable rhubarb and custard slices are pretty as a picture for afternoon tea served with orange-scented rhubarb compote.

Is rhubarb and custard your ultimate flavour combination? Then try this gorgeous rhubarb and custard tart next time you need a hit.

Nutrition: Per Slice

Calories
413kcals
Fat
20.8g (11.7g saturated)
Protein
5.5g
Carbohydrates
50.5g (35.2g sugars)
Fibre
1.3g
Salt
0.3g

Ingredients

  • 320g sheet all-butter ready rolled puff pastry
  • 2 gelatine sheets (we like Costa Fine Leaf, from Waitrose, Ocado and Amazon)
  • 90g cornflour
  • 125g caster sugar
  • 4 medium free-range egg yolks (see tips)
  • 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste or extract
  • 375ml milk
  • 500ml single cream
  • 50g unsalted butter, chopped

For the rhubarb compote

  • Juice 1 orange
  • 2 tbsp golden caster sugar
  • 500g rhubarb, trimmed, split down the middle and cut into 4cm lengths

For the icing

  • 230g icing sugar
  • 50ml lemon juice or water
  • Yellow or pink food colouring gel

You’ll also need

  • 2 baking trays lined with compostable baking paper
  • 20cm loose-bottomed square tin lined with compostable baking paper with a 5cm overhang on each side
  • Piping bag fitted with a 2mm plain nozzle
  • Cocktail stick
Sticky screen? No thanks! Tap to prevent your screen from going off while cooking.

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 200°C/180°Cfan/gas 6. Cut the pastry sheet into 2 even squares (roll it out slightly if needed) then set on the prepared trays. Cover each sheet with a piece of baking paper and put another baking tray on each to weigh down the pastry and keep it flat while baking (work in batches if you don’t have enough trays).
  2. Bake for 25 minutes or until the pastry is golden and cooked through, swapping trays halfway. Remove the tray weights and the top sheets of paper, then take the pastry out of the tray, peel off the bottom paper and set aside to cool completely on a wire rack.
  3. Soak the gelatine in a small bowl of water for 5 minutes to soften.
  4. To make the custard, whisk the cornflour, sugar, egg yolks and vanilla to a thick paste in a large heatproof bowl. Put the milk and cream in a saucepan over a medium heat and bring to just below boiling. Gradually whisk the warm milk into the cornflour mixture until smooth.
  5. Return the milk mixture to the saucepan, then set on a medium heat and bring to the boil, whisking constantly until thickened (about 5 minutes). Squeeze the excess water from the gelatine, then stir into the pan with the butter. Whisk until melted and combined, then remove from the heat.
  6. Using a serrated knife, trim the pastry to fit the prepared tin. Put 1 piece in the base of the prepared tin, then pour over the custard and set aside for 15 minutes to cool slightly. Set the remaining piece of pastry on top, cover and chill until firm (about 4 hours or overnight).
  7. To make the rhubarb compote, put all the ingredients in a pan, then stir and bring to a simmer. Cover, remove from the heat and set aside, still covered, for at least 10 minutes or until cool (see Make Ahead).
  8. To make the icing, whisk 200g of the icing sugar with 40ml of the juice or water until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk the remaining icing sugar with the remaining juice or water and a little food colouring until smooth.
  9. Pour the white icing over the cool pastry and spread using a palette knife or the back of a spoon to cover evenly. Scrape the coloured icing into the piping bag and pipe lines across the top, 1cm apart. Take your cocktail stick and drag it across the lines of icing to create the classic decoration (it’s known as feather icing). Leave to set (about 30 minutes).
  10. Using a serrated knife, cut the custard pastry into slices, then serve each custard slice with a spoonful of compote.

Nutrition

Nutrition: per serving
Calories
413kcals
Fat
20.8g (11.7g saturated)
Protein
5.5g
Carbohydrates
50.5g (35.2g sugars)
Fibre
1.3g
Salt
0.3g

delicious. tips

  1. Lightly beat the leftover egg whites, label and freeze. Defrost to use in other recipes.

  2. You’ll need to start the custard slice recipe 1 day ahead. The whole thing, unsliced, will keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Once cooled, the rhubarb compote will keep covered and chilled for up to a week – it’s great spooned over porridge or yogurt, or served on the side with a slice of cake.

Buy ingredients online

Recipe By:

Sophie Austen-Smith
Former deputy food editor, delicious.

Subscribe

Fancy getting a copy in print?

Subscribe to our magazine

Rate & review

Rate

Reviews

Share a tip

Or, how about...?

Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe

Coffee recipes

Walnut and coffee pastry layer cake

Monica Galetti’s coffee and walnut layer cake features alternating layers...

Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe

Rhubarb recipes

Ultimate rhubarb and custard tart

Tried, tested and timeless… a rhubarb and custard tart is...

Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe

Best of British recipes

Rhubarb and custard crumble tart

If you can’t decide whether to make a tart or...

Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe

Sweet tart recipes

Portuguese custard tarts (pastéis de nata)

Our foolproof Portuguese custard tart recipe will give you a...

Subscribe to our magazine

Food stories, skills and tested recipes, straight to your door... Enjoy 5 issues for just £5 with our special introductory offer.

Subscribe

Unleash your inner chef

Looking for inspiration? Receive the latest recipes with our newsletter

We treat your data with care. See our privacy policy. By signing up, you are agreeing to delicious.’ terms and conditions. Unsubscribe at any time.