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Hungarian Tart

The classic South African bakery favourite! Melt-in-your-mouth buttery biscuit base filled with sweet jam and topped with grated pastry crumble.

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By DenisiyaPublished on June 28, 2017
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Hungarian Tart
⏱️
Prep Time15 mins
🍳
Cook Time30 mins
⌛
Total Time45 mins
🍽️
ServingsMakes 16 Squares
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This Recipe Makes 16 Squares

Hungarian Tart (Krummel Tert) is a delicate biscuit (cookie) like treat (similar to short crust pastry) spread with jam & finished off with a crumbly top layer. In spite of its name this treat has no relationship with Hungarian food yet remains a South African favourite. Most Indian households in South Africa will remember this treat as Jam Tarts.

It’s not excessively sweet, has great surface with the jam in the middle, the buttery base & the faint crunch from the top layer of ground dough. A couple of squares of this with a some coffee/tea, is immaculate paradise.

This recipe is fairly simple & not forgetting really quick to make. If you’re expecting guests at the last minute, this is an ideal treat to prepare as it does not take up much of your time.

🥗

Ingredients

Scale:
Base Yield: Makes 16 Squares
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Step-by-Step Instructions

28 Steps
  1. Step 1

    Firstly, preheat oven to 180° Celsius or 356° Fahrenheit.

  2. Step 2

    Grease a baking tray/casserole with spraying oil or butter & set aside.

    Step 2 visual guide
  3. Step 3

    Crack the egg into a small bowl.

    Step 3 visual guide
  4. Step 4

    Beat the egg using a fork & set aside until ready to use.

    Step 4 visual guide
  5. Step 5

    Make sure that the butter is at room temperature.

    Step 5 visual guide
  6. Step 6

    Add the butter into a mixing bowl.

    Step 6 visual guide
  7. Step 7

    Add the icing sugar to the butter.

    Step 7 visual guide
  8. Step 8

    Cream the butter & the icing sugar using a spoon. I prefer using a wooden spoon for this process.

    Step 8 visual guide
  9. Step 9

    Once creamed, add in the vanilla essence & the beaten egg.

    Step 9 visual guide
  10. Step 10

    Thereafter, pour in the vegetable oil.

    Step 10 visual guide
  11. Step 11

    Mix well until all the ingredients are combined. You should end up with a lumpy mixture.

    Step 11 visual guide
  12. Step 12

    Thereafter, add in the flour & the baking powder.

    Step 12 visual guide
  13. Step 13

    Give it a quick mix until the ingredients are incorporated. The mixture should be crumbly at this point. Don’t worry, it will get smooth in a bit.

    Step 13 visual guide
  14. Step 14

    Now its time to get your hands messy, begin kneading until it forms a soft dough.

    Step 14 visual guide
  15. Step 15

    Separate the dough into two parts. I usually use a bigger piece of the dough for the base & leave aside a smaller piece to grate at the end.

    Step 15 visual guide
  16. Step 16

    Using the bigger piece of the dough, spread it evenly on a greased baking tray. Use a small glass & roll over to flatten if necessary.

    Step 16 visual guide
  17. Step 17

    Using a fork, prick the layer of dough.

    Step 17 visual guide
  18. Step 18

    Now it’s time for the main ingredient, the jam. Spread a nice amount of any jam of your choice over the pricked dough. I personally love strawberry, raspberry or mixed berries jam so I have used raspberry jam in my Hungarian Tart.

    Step 18 visual guide
  19. Step 19

    Remember the smaller piece of dough that was set aside? It’s time to grate that dough over the jam. This will create the crumbly effect.

    Step 19 visual guide
  20. Step 20

    Once the dough has been grated over, it’s ready to be baked. Place the baking tray/casserole into the preheated oven & bake for 25-30 minutes.

    Step 20 visual guide
  21. Step 21

    When it has finished baking, it should be golden on the top & give off a tantalizing aroma.

    Step 21 visual guide
  22. Step 22

    Set the hot tray/casserole aside & allow it to cool down until bearable to touch.

    Step 22 visual guide
  23. Step 23

    Once cooled, slice into squares. I usually get 16 pieces out of this mixture, but it will depend on how big your baking tray/casserole is.

    Step 23 visual guide
  24. Step 24

    It may be served as is.

    Step 24 visual guide
  25. Step 25

    If you want to take it a step further, sift over some icing sugar. This step is optional.

    Step 25 visual guide
  26. Step 26

    Plate & serve.

    Step 26 visual guide
  27. Step 27

    Goes best with a hot drink, preferably tea or coffee. This treat can also be served with a dollop of ice cream or whipped cream.

    Step 27 visual guide
  28. Step 28

    To store these Hungarian Tarts, simply place them into an airtight container. It can be stored for up to two weeks.

    Step 28 visual guide
Video Tutorial

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Frequently Asked Questions & Cooking Tips

Expert kitchen guidance and troubleshooting for making the best Hungarian Tart

How should I store Hungarian Tart to maintain freshness?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 to 2 weeks. For milk-based sweetmeats like burfee or soji, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 7 to 10 days.

Can I substitute butter with margarine or oil?

Pure butter or ghee provides the authentic rich aroma and texture characteristic of traditional Indian sweetmeats and bakes. Margarine can be used in a pinch, but butter delivers superior flavor.

Denisiya - Founder & Chef at EatMee Recipes
About the Creator

Meet Denisiya

Hi, I'm Denisiya! Food lover, recipe developer, and founder of EatMee Recipes. I specialize in authentic South African Durban Indian cuisine, comforting curries, and modern Instant Pot adaptations. Every recipe on this site is tested in my personal kitchen to ensure you get mouth-watering, foolproof results every time.

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