Print

Mary Berry Manchester Tart 

Mary Berry Manchester Tart

The Mary Berry Manchester Tart Recipe is a traditional English dessert that features layers of shortcrust pastry, raspberry jam, custard, and desiccated coconut. It’s a nostalgic dish, often evoking memories of school dinners and family gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Pastry:

  • 1 ¼ cups (160g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 23 tablespoons cold water

For the Filling:

  • ¾ cup (225g) raspberry jam
  • 2 cups (500ml) whole milk
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Topping:

  • ½ cup (50g) desiccated coconut, toasted
  • 1 banana, sliced (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Pastry: Combine flour, butter, and sugar, then mix until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add egg yolk and water to form a dough.
  2. Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  4. Roll Out the Pastry: Roll the dough to fit a 9-inch tart tin, then trim the edges.
  5. Blind Bake: Line with parchment paper, add baking beans, and bake for 15 minutes. Remove beans and bake for another 5 minutes.
  6. Spread the Jam: Evenly spread the raspberry jam over the cooled pastry base.
  7. Make the Custard: Heat milk and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix sugar, cornstarch, and egg yolks, then combine with milk and cook until thickened.
  8. Pour the Custard: Pour the custard over the jam layer and smooth the surface.
  9. Toast the Coconut: Sprinkle toasted coconut over the custard layer.
  10. Chill the Tart: Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.