Eat Cook Explore

Insatiably Curious

  • Reviews
    • Restaurants
    • Products
    • Sunday Selection
  • Travel
    • Hotels
    • Travel Gear
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
    • Giveaways
  • Store
  • About
    • Contact
    • PR and Disclosure
Home » Norfolk Treacle Tart
Norfolk Treacle Tart

April 20, 2016 By May EatCookExplore Leave a Comment

Norfolk Treacle Tart

Sharing is caring!

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

The history of the treacle tart

Treacle Tart is one of my favourite puddings and is also Harry Potter’s favourite too. If you have a sweet tooth, you will love this sticky sweet pudding too.

It is said to have originated sometime in the late 1800’s after the invention of Golden Syrup in 1883. Even though the name suggests that treacle is used, the modern day recipe that we are more familiar with uses “Light Treacle” or Golden Syrup.

The Norfolk Treacle tart is not the same as the regular one that you are probably more familiar with. No one is really sure about its origin but it is also sometimes called the Walpole House Treacle Tart because of their association with Sir Robert Walpole, the first British Prime Minister. It was supposed to have been invented in Houghton Hall, his home situated between King’s Lynn and Fakenham. This is sometime in the 1600’s where they used Treacle in the recipe as Golden Syrup had not been created yet. The recipe is more like a rich custard as it doesn’t use any bread crumbs.

How to make a Norfolk Treacle Tart

Every time I bake, I am quite thankful for those basic baking lessons I took in Home Economics at school. We were schooled in all the manual methods for baking and the techniques and tips just stuck.

This Norfolk Treacle tart recipe calls for short crust pastry. This is one of the easier pastries to make and I have used it successfully in a few other recipes documented here. The basic recipe calls for just flour and cold butter in the ratio of 2:1, a pinch of salt and a bit of water to bind the pastry. The method is simply to use the “rub-in” method which I speed up by cutting up the butter in the flour with a knife before using the hands. It’s quite therapeutic. If you want to avoid the hassle, you can always use a good quality all-butter shop bought shortcrust pastry.

The next step to using a shortcrust pastry to make a tart base is to roll out the pastry and line the case. For this recipe, a plain unsweetened shortcrust recipe is ideal as you will get plenty of sticky sweetness from the filling. Then this is blind baked before the filling is added. A pastry case like this can then be used to make a savoury or sweet tart. Totally versatile.

Where my baking fails is when I take shortcuts or ignore instructions like “bake blind “using baking beans. I didn’t have any to hand and didn’t use any which resulted in a wonky tart base. On this occasion, I also over-baked it a bit and it was way too crumbly. But never mind, I just carried on, just like an experiment.

I followed the recipe to make the tart filling, which is just butter, eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice and double cream. I filled my wonky tart case and put it back in the oven to bake, with fingers crossed. (I know I will be a disaster if I ever did a GGBO). If you are looking for the more familiar recipe that uses breadcrumbs, you can find Nigel Slater’s here.

Tip: If you can’t get Golden Syrup, you can substitute with either corn syrup with a bit of added molasses, honey or even maple syrup, but this is much runnier.

Voila! 25 minutes later, I have created something resembling a treacle tart, albeit a bit shallower than normal as some of the filling had leaked through the cracked crust. We live and learn.

The result was quite a buttery and tasty tart which is delicious served with a generous pouring of cream, a dollop of clotted cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Norfolk Treacle Tart

Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time50 mins

Ingredients

  • 6 oz / 170g shortcrust pastry
  • 4 oz / 110g unsalted butter
  • 8 tbsp golden syrup
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 4 tbsp double cream
  • 2 lemons zest finely grated

Instructions

  • Pre-heat the oven to 200°C (400°F) Gas 6. Put a baking sheet in the oven to pre-heat.
  • Make or use shop bought all butter short crust pastry. Roll out the pastry to a size bigger than the tin.
  • Line a shallow 23 cm (9 in) tart tin with the pastry and bake blind.
  • When done, remove and allow to cool. You can do this way in advance.
  • Meanwhile, gently warm the butter and syrup together in a pan - just enough for the butter to melt but not letting the mixture get too hot.
  • https://eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Norfolk-treacle-Tart-006.jpg
  • Remove the pan from the heat and allow the mixture to cool a little.
  • In another bowl, whisk the eggs, cream and lemon zest together.
  • Gradually whisk in the warm butter and syrup mixture, then pour the mixture into the pre-baked pastry case.
  • Place the tart on the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until the centre is set.

How to store a treacle tart?

Keep it at room temperature as you don’t want it to firm up too much.

How long does a treacle tart keep?

It will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container but if you have it in the kitchen, it probably won’t last that long.

What else to see and eat in Norfolk? 

Since Norfolk is on the coast, there is a lot to explore. You can spend a day on one of their many sandy beaches, bring along a picnic or grab some fish and chips on the way. Norfolk is great for a gastronomic weekend. If you plan ahead, you can visit find a lot of fantastic local food from  local producers. You can even go fishing, crabbing or rock pooling.

Portland Cottage, Helhoughton, nr. Fakenham

A posh barn conversion

You can stay in a self catering cottage or a posh barn conversion while you enjoy the country air. Nearby, you can spend your days boating, sailing, cycling, walking or even seek out some of the newer English vineyards that have sprung up in this area. Cottages.com offer self-catering properties around the UK and are challenging food bloggers to create some regional dishes. They believe that self-catering holidays are a great way to try out local food. You can get more ideas about things to do from the Visit Norfolk site.

This recipe was done in association with Cottages.com

Sharing is caring!

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: baking, English recipes

« The New House of Ho Fitzrovia
Twice-baked Spinach & Comté soufflés »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.




Google
Custom Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Follow me on Twitter

Tweets by eatcookexplore_

Latest Posts

Cantonese Style Sweet and Sour Fillet Steak

Jenkins and Hustwit Luxury Gluten Free Cakes and Christmas Pudding

Restaurants and companies around the country who are offering free meals for children

Dubai’s dining and nightclub scene

How to eat out safely in a pandemic

Restaurants By Cuisine

American
Argentinian
British
Chinese
French
Indian
Italian
Japanese
Malaysian
Mexican
Street Food
Afternoon Tea
BBQ
Michelin

Twitter Updates

Tweets by @eatcookexplore_

Sponsors

eatcookexplore

🍣 Eater, Cook & Travel Writer Insatiably Curious
Hiker, Diver, Golfer, Adventurer
📷 iPhone
🧘🏻‍♀️🚵🏻‍♀️🏌🏻‍♀️Keeping Fit
🔜 UK Tour #ecxtravel #ecxfood

May EatCookExplore 🏔🏖🏰
The annual fungi foray luncheon @hambleton_hall fo The annual fungi foray luncheon @hambleton_hall following a vigorous morning of mushroom hunting in nearby woods. Learnt so much from mycologist Paul Nichol.  Lunch by Chef Aaron and team, who have had a Michelin star for 28 years. The longest in the UK!!  The Menu: 1) Cepe tortellini, wild mushroom consommé 2) roast guineafowl, trumpets, one mushroom risotto & 3) sable Breton, caramelised apples and blackberries.  Perfectly executed, beautifully presented and fab service. Highly recommend that you book early for next year’s event.  @prideofbritainhotels @relaischateaux #instafood #foodgasm #ecxfood #igfood #foodgawker #f52grams #food52  #foodspotting #igfood #igfoodie #instaeat #luxfood #foodblog #buzzfeat #yahoofood #foodism #thefeedfeed
Bugs and beer pairing with @hobgoblinbeer . We had Bugs and beer pairing with @hobgoblinbeer . We had crispy grasshopper, crickets, cricket flour blini, buffalo worms.  Very deliciously concocted by @pidginlondon Followed by a luscious 3 course meal. Swipe for pics. #invite @londonunattached @jamesramsden_  #foodstagram #foodpic #foodpicture #instafood #foodgasm #ecxfood #igfood #foodgawker #f52gram #food52  #foodspotting #igfood #igfoodie #instaeat #luxfood #foodblog #buzzfeat #yahoofood #foodism #thefeedfeed #eaterlondon #beerpairing
Have you been foraging? The hedgerows were laden w Have you been foraging? The hedgerows were laden with these plump blackberries. I picked a ton and made a blackberry sorbet. The result is a dark rich wine colour and utterly delicious.  The recipe is really simple- you just need some simple syrup, lemon juice and blackberries. And you don’t need an ice cream machine. You’ll find the recipe here: https://www.eatcookexplore.com/easy-blackberry-sorbet-recipe/  #foodstagram #foodpic #foraged #foodpicture #instafood #foodgasm #ecxfood #igfood #foodgawker #f52gram #food52  #foodspotting #igfood #igfoodie #instaeat #luxfood #foodblog #buzzfeat #yahoofood #foodism #thefeedfeed #eaterlondon
Recently, I’ve been exploring more of London. Th Recently, I’ve been exploring more of London. This weekend has been a revelation. I was #ebiking around Rickmansworth and found all these fab cycle routes. One of them took me along the canal to this very cute cafe at Lock 81.  I think it’s a must to get lost while you go exploring. You never know what you’ll find.  #visitlondon #visitengland #guardiancities #ecxtravel #travelogue #traveldiaries #travelawesome #wanderful #writetotravel #ngtuk #passionpassport  #destinationearth #exploringtheworld #TTOT #tripnatics #wearetravelgirls #girlswhotravel #cycletours #cyclinglife #guardiantravelsnaps #womenwhoexplore #mytinyatlas #natgeography #darlingescapes #girlmeetsglobe
Today is the UN International Day of the World's I Today is the UN International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. Did you know that Indigenous Peoples live in all regions of the world and own, occupy or use 22% of global land area (About 500m people who speak almost 7000 languages.  Many of them face extreme poverty and marginalisation and human rights violations. They have a significant role to play in sustaining the world's diversity of the world's cultural and biological landscape.  UNESCO works in partnership with indigenous peoples to provide support when facing all these challenges.  This pic of the Totem poles in Stanley Park, Vancouver. The shortest one in front is the  Thunderbird House Post Totem Pole. These are used to support #FirstNation cedar house beams. This pole is a replica of a house post carved by Kwakwaka'wakw artist Charlie James in the early 1900s.  Totem poles are unique to the north west coast of #BritishColumbia and Lower Alaska. Each carving tells of a real of mythical event and every carving has a meaning.  While in Vancouver, I tried to find out more about history and culture of the First Nation peoples'. More details on the blog.  #wonderfulplaces #ngtuk #natgeotravel #guardiantravelsnaps #guardiancities #prettylittlecities #visitBC #VisitVancouver #VisitCanada #firstnationsart #veryvancouver #explorebc #ecxtravel #traveldiaries #culturetrip #natgeoyourshot
#AD So glad to be able to venture out again. Vent #AD  So glad to be able to venture out again. Venturing out for a break from London, we went to explore some historic places not too far away. For a quick day trip as part of @Roadchef’s Great British Getaway, we ventured down to explore the old National Trust owned village of Chiddingstone in Kent. It's like a living museum. The whole street of Tudor buildings was bought to preserve them. You will find a well-stocked village shop that is like a throwback in time, including an old fashioned sweet shop display of pick and mix. Don't miss the tea shop in the back courtyard.  You can visit Chiddingstone Castle and its 35 acres of beautiful grounds. (swipe for more pics) The house is worth a visit for its renowned art collection.  On route, we stopped at Roadchef for some refreshments and were thrilled to find quite a few outlets open, including Chozen Noodles and Costa Coffee. We took our takeaway and had a socially distanced lunch al fresco in the garden outside. We would have picked @Leon but it was just being finished. To find more great roadtrip locations and explore more treasures that the UK has to offer, Roadchef has put together a handy guide, which is now available to view on its brand new website.
.
#roadchef #RoadchefGBGetaway #destressanddelight #culturetrip #ngtuk #natgeoyourshot #natgeoyourshot #ecxtravel #visitengland #ukstaycation
Escape to the country. It’s been a breathe of fr Escape to the country. It’s been a breathe of fresh air to be out of London. Visiting friends, doing outdoorsy things.  We’ve had cricket lunches, country walks, fresh air and wildlife. All with minimal human contact.  Now to find more places to visit from London. Got any suggestions?  Pic is of a one room castle, surrounded by a moat!  #ecxtravel #travelogue #traveldiaries #culturetrip  #visitbritain #writetotravel #ngtuk #passionpassport  #destinationearth #exploringtheworld #TTOT #tripnatics #wearetravelgirls #girlswhotravel #guardiantravelsnaps #womenwhoexplore #mytinyatlas #natgeography #darlingescapes #girlmeetsglobe
AD (Pic- sunbathing mushrooms) 🔆Fun Fact : Did AD (Pic- sunbathing mushrooms) 
🔆Fun Fact : Did you know that Mushrooms can act in a similar way to human skin and produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.  Chestnut mushroom are the same as button mushrooms but grown for longer?? 🤯  To boost the vitamin D content of your regular mushrooms at home, simply buy your UK or Irish mushrooms and lay them in the sun between 10-3pm for around 15-120 minutes to get a real vitamin D boost.  When fresh button mushrooms are exposed to the midday light the can manufacture more than 10 mcg vitamin D per 100g mushrooms which is a substantial portion of our daily recommended intake!  Second pic is one of my grandma’s favourite #homecooking recipe, minced pork & mushrooms in dark soy.  #shiningalight @mushroom.miles
Nature. Seeing beauty soothes the soul. These blue Nature. Seeing beauty soothes the soul. These bluebells usually bloom in Spring. I’m a few weeks late in posting this but never mind.  I’ll be back in here a bit more regularly now. More flowers to share. Hope everyone is keeping well.  #travelblogger #earthwanderer #exploremore #phototravel #ecxtravel #travelogue #traveldiaries #travelawesome #wanderful #writetotravel #ngtuk #passionpassport  #destinationearth #exploringtheworld #TTOT #tripnatics #wearetravelgirls #girlswhotravel #guardiantravelsnaps #womenwhoexplore #mytinyatlas #natgeography #darlingescapes #girlmeetsglobe
AD It’s midsummer. It's time for some BBQ cookin AD It’s midsummer. It's time for some BBQ cooking over an open fire. Here is my recipe for the Weeping Tiger Beef using a piece of Dry-Aged @herefordbeefuk rump steak.  I love Thai flavours and the best way to eat a lovely piece of steak is to cook it simply, here it is cooked rare, the surface is charred to perfection. Then dress the steak salad with this spicy, tangy and umami-rich dressing (nam jim jaew). It takes just minutes to cook and assemble. A delicious and super quick mid-week meal and low carb too! 
Recipe below. See the blog post for more details and substitutions. 
Ingredients 
#HerefordBeef Dry Aged Steak ( Sirloin, Rump or Rib Eye) 
8 cherry tomatoes 
mixed salad leaves
Coriander  Steak marinade 
1 tbsp light soy sauce 
1 tbsp fish sauce 
Dressing 
5 birds eye chillies, finger chillies or chilli powder
3 tbsp fish sauce 
3 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp tamarind juice
1 tbsp finely chopped shallots or spring onions
1 tbsp palm sugar or brown sugar
1 tbsp chopped coriander 
Recipe link in profile. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
#imadeit #thecookfeed #tastemade #f52grams #onthetable #shareyourtable #steakdinner #grassfedbeef #thefeedfeed #food52 #heresmyfood #foodbible #foodblogfeed #beautifulcuisines #thaifood
Do you feel the love in the air? @maddoxgallery ‘s stunning floral installation, #ithinkyouloveme , perfect for setting the mood. How are you showing your love this week? 💕 .
.
.
.
.
 #lovelondon #ecxtravel #travelogue #traveldiaries #travelawesome #wanderful #writetotravel #ngtuk #passionpassport #destinationearth #exploringtheworld #TTOT #tripnatics #wearetravelgirls #girlswhotravel #guardiantravelsnaps #womenwhoexplore #mytinyatlas #natgeography #darlingescapes #prettycitieslondon #guardiancities #girlmeetsglobe
INVITE A #sustainablebreakfast with @huskihome @sm INVITE A #sustainablebreakfast with @huskihome @smegstorelondon -bowl of #high fibre @eattroo #porridge, berries, fruit, extra omega 3 with added seeds and nuts with a drizzle of Inulin fibre. Using coconut shell bowls, coconut tree spoons, making eco friendly substitutes where I can. .
.
.
.
.
#foodgasm #ecxfood #igfood #foodgawker #f52gram #food52 #foodspotting #igfood #igfoodie #instaeat #luxfood #foodblog #buzzfeat #yahoofood #foodism #thefeedfeed
Wishing you and yours a fabulous Christmas!! What Wishing you and yours a fabulous Christmas!! What did Santa bring you? 🎅🏼🎄 🎁 #christmas2019 #christmasinlondon
The Cartier shop on Bond St all wrapped up for #ch The Cartier shop on Bond St all wrapped up for #christmasinlondon . That’s a present I’d want under my tree!! What’s did you ask Santa for this year?  #ecxtravel #instapassport #londonigers #igerslondon  #thisislondon #lovelondon #prettycitylondon #prettylittlelondon
#invite A Sunday lunch with a difference @kricketl #invite A Sunday lunch with a difference @kricketlondon Brixton branch. Sitting in the buzzy dining room under the arches, we enjoyed a #roastbeef lunch with a spicy twist. Accompanying the beef was crispy roast potatoes, a rich beefy gravy, beets, spinach and a side of slow cooked beef. Preceding the main, we had chaat, crab and duck heart skewers. All quite unusual, balanced slicing, perfectly cooked. Pudding was a halwa ice cream with the shortest shortbread biscuit. Just fab. #bestsundaylunch.....................#foodstagram #foodpic #foodpicture #instafood #foodgasm #ecxfood #igfood #foodgawker #f52grams #food52  #foodspotting #igfood #igfoodie #instaeat #luxfood #foodblog #buzzfeat #yahoofood #foodism #thefeedfeed #eaterlondon
All aboard the Loubi Express! @claridgeshotel ‘s All aboard the Loubi Express! @claridgeshotel ‘s 10th Anniversary tree dominates their lobby. Created in conjunction with famed she designer @louboutinworld Christian Louboutin. Alongside the tree is the Loubi Express. A red velvet clad train carriage with 4 exclusive tables. You can enjoy specially designed cocktails or a bottle of @laurentperrieruk #champagne. What a stylish and unique way to celebrate Christmas in London.
.
.
.
#ecxtravel #travelogue #traveldiaries #christmasinlondon #lovelondon #londonlife #thisislondon #visitlondon #travelawesome #wanderful #prettylittlecity
Winter is a time to cosy up on a comfy sofa, a hot Winter is a time to cosy up on a comfy sofa, a hot chocolate, a heated throw, a Christmas scented candle and a good book. How do you like to keep cosy and nest in the winter? #savillschristmas @libertylndngirl @savills @smallluxuryhotels .
.
#thisislondon #lovelondon #luxurydecor #prettycitylondon #cosyinteriors #londonhotels #prettylittlelondon #christmasdecor
Londoners are undeterred! Yesterday, London was sh Londoners are undeterred! Yesterday, London was shocked by yet another terrorist attack on #londonbridge , albeit by a lone person with a knife. Visitors should not be put off from visiting London Bridge or the nearby @boroughmarket .  All the stalls are ready to welcome you. Today is also #smallbusinesssaturday , so please go along and support the traders. Visit the new #boroughmarketkitchen where you will find lots of deliciousness like these truffle tortellini @latuapasta . #lovelondon #londonisopen #boroughmarket #londonmarkets #streetfood
Load More… Follow on Instagram

Navigation

  • Restaurant Reviews
  • Product Reviews
  • Recipes
  • Sunday Selection
  • Food Producers
  • Travel
  • Hotel Reviews
  • Giveaways
  • Contact

Images and content unless otherwise indicated Copyright © Eat Cook Explore 2009-2020

Lastest on Tumblr

The annual fungi foray luncheon @hambleton_hall following a vigorous morning of mushroom hunting in nearby woods

The annual fungi foray luncheon @hambleton_hall following a vigorous morning of mushroom hunting in nearby woods

The annual fungi foray luncheon @hambleton_hall following a vigorous morning of mushroom hunting in nearby woods. Learnt so much from mycologist Paul Nichol.

Lunch by Chef Aaron and team, who have had a Michelin star for 28 years. The longest in the UK!!

The Menu: 1) Cepe tortellini,… [more]

Bugs and beer pairing with @hobgoblinbeer

Bugs and beer pairing with @hobgoblinbeer

Bugs and beer pairing with @hobgoblinbeer . We had crispy grasshopper, crickets, cricket flour blini, buffalo worms. Very deliciously concocted by @pidginlondon Followed by a luscious 3 course meal. Swipe for pics. #invite @londonunattached @jamesramsden_

#foodstagram #foodpic #foodpicture #instafood #foodgasm #ecxfood #igfood #foodgawker #f52gram #food52 #foodspotting #igfood #igfoodie #instaeat… [more]

#AD | So glad to be able to venture out again

#AD | So glad to be able to venture out again

#AD | So glad to be able to venture out again. Venturing out for a break from London, we went to explore some historic places not too far away. For a quick day trip as part of @Roadchef’s Great British Getaway, we ventured down to explore the old National Trust… [more]

Foodies100 Index of UK Food Blogs
Foodies100

You might also like

Cantonese Style Sweet and Sour Steak Recipe

Cantonese Style Sweet and Sour Fillet Steak

Jenkins and Hustwit Yorkshire Farmhouse Cakes - Almond and Cherry loaf cake

Jenkins and Hustwit Luxury Gluten Free Cakes and Christmas Pudding

Vegetables

Restaurants and companies around the country who are offering free meals for children

Dubai Madinat

Dubai’s dining and nightclub scene

Michel Roux's Landau Restaurant at the Langham Hotel

How to eat out safely in a pandemic

Affiliate Disclosure

Eat Cook Explore participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn commissions by linking to Amazon. In more human terms, this means that whenever you buy a product on Amazon from a link on here, I get a small percentage of its price and it doesn't cost you anything more. That helps support the site by offsetting a fraction of what it takes to maintain the site, and is very much appreciated.

Copyright © 2021

Copyright © 2021

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.