🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Dessert
Maids of Honour Tarts
By eatmundo · July 6, 2026
🇬🇧 UKThese delightful Maids of Honour Tarts, hailing from Richmond, are a historic British sweet treat. They feature a crisp puff pastry crust filled with a delicate, lemon-kissed cheese curd, offering a sophisticated balance of sweet and tangy.
Ingredients
check them off as you prepareHow to Make It
- 1
Begin by preparing the pastry: In a large bowl, combine 200g plain flour with 100g cold, diced butter. Rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs, being careful not to overwork it.
- 2
Add 2-3 tablespoons of ice-cold water gradually, mixing until a dough forms. Gently bring the dough together, flatten slightly, wrap in cling film, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This chilling helps the pastry become easier to roll.
- 3
While the pastry chills, prepare the curd filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together 125g ricotta cheese (or traditional fresh curd cheese), 50g caster sugar, 1 large egg yolk, the zest of half a lemon, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
- 4
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and lightly grease an 8-hole tart tin (approx. 7cm diameter per hole). On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled pastry to a thickness of about 3mm.
- 5
Using a 9cm round cutter, cut out 8 circles of pastry. Carefully press each pastry circle into the prepared tart tin holes, ensuring they line the sides without tearing.
- 6
Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the cheese curd filling into each pastry case, filling it almost to the top. Distribute evenly for consistent baking.
- 7
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the filling is set with a light golden hue on top. The tarts should feel firm when gently pressed.
- 8
Remove the tart tin from the oven and let the tarts cool in the tin for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve these delightful historical treats warm or at room temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which type of cheese is best for Maids of Honour Tarts?+
Traditionally, a fresh curd cheese like a mild, unaged ricotta or even a homemade curd cheese is used to achieve the signature creamy, slightly tangy filling. Avoid hard or strongly flavored cheeses.
How can I prevent the pastry from becoming soggy?+
To ensure a crisp crust, blind bake the pastry cases until light golden before adding the filling. Also, ensure the filling isn't too wet and bake immediately after filling.
How do I know when Maids of Honour Tarts are perfectly baked?+
The tarts are done when the pastry is golden brown and the cheese-lemon filling is set, no longer wobbly in the center. A slight golden blush on the filling's surface is also a good indicator.
Should the almonds be blanched or unblanched for the filling?+
For a finer, smoother texture in the filling, use blanched and finely ground almonds. If you prefer a slightly coarser texture and more rustic appearance, unblanched ground almonds can be used.
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