Melktert pancakes: Classic South African dessert decadence

The season of eating all of the sweet things is here and that give you the best chance to get a bit creative. If you’ve had a Sunday lunch in a South African household, you’ve probably had meltert a.k.a. milk tart. It’s a creamy custard tart with cinnamon and we’ve decided to put the filling into pancakes. These melktert pancakes combine two classic desserts just like the holidays combine different friends and family members into your home.

Melktert pancakes suggestions

The pancake recipe is based on classic French crêpes which we often enjoy during those rainy days which often happen on Christmas day too. The creamy melktert custard filling is very close to what you would make for the actual tart. When adding the eggs, do it very slowly and make sure that the eggs don’t scramble. You can also sprinkle some more cinnamon sugar over the top to combine all of the flavours at once.

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If you’re looking for a tasty South African dessert that will turn heads and make everybody happy? This melktert pancakes recipe is for you.

Last updated on 25 November 2022

Melktert pancakes recipe

5 from 6 votes

Recipe by Irene Muller Course: DessertCuisine: South AfricaDifficulty: Easy

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Total time

1

hour 

Ingredients

• 2 cups 2 flour

• pinch pinch salt

• 2 large 2 eggs

• 750 ml 750 milk

• 500 ml 500 water

• 20 ml 20 vinegar

• 1 tbsp 1 sunflower oil

• For the melktert filling

• 1 can 1 condensmilk

• 3 cups 3 milk

• 1/4 cup 1/4 cornflour

• 2 large 2 eggs (separate egg yolks from egg whites)

• pinch pinch salt

• 1 tsp 1 vanilla essence

• 2 tbsp 2 butter

• cinnamon sugar

Method

• Sift the dry ingredients together.
• Beat the eggs, milk, water and vinegar together.
• Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well.
• Add the oil and mix. The mixture must look like smooth cream. If it looks to thick add more water.
• Leave to stand for a few minutes.
• Use a non-stick or slightly oiled frying pan.
• Bake pancakes one at a time and stack.
• For the melktert filling
• Add the condensed milk and two of the three cups milk in a saucepan. Stir the mixture and let it heat slowly on medium setting hot plate.
• Combine the remaining milk with maizena and add to the milk in a saucepan when the milk starts to simmer.
• Whisk the egg yolks and when the mixture starts to becomes thick, add the egg yolks, one by one and very slowly.
• Keep stirring.
• Add salt, vanilla and butter.
• Whisk the egg whites until fluffy and fold into the mixture.
• Stir carefully, remove from stove and leave to thicken further and let it cool.
• Place spoons full of the milk tart filling in the pancake and roll up.
• Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Serve with a wedge of lemon or lemon juice.

Notes

• You can use the milk tart filling recipe to make a traditional milk tart with a pastry base.

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For more tasty holiday dessert recipes that include classic South African flavours to prepare for your family and friends, head over to our recipe page. We have so many delicious options for you to explore.

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