Manchester Tart a Simple and Quick Recipe

Using a shop-bought pastry case makes this Manchester Tart so quick and easy. This old school pud has a layer of raspberry jam, sliced banana and homemade custard. Decorated with desiccated coconut and a cherry on top!

You could absolutely make your own sweet shortcrust pastry for Manchester Tart. If you're so inclined check out my Lemon Tart recipe which uses a really simple homemade pastry.

Or you might go down the route of a sheet of shortcrust pastry, like the one I used for this Easter Cream Tart. However, possibly the simplest and least time-consuming option is a ready-made shop-bought sweet pastry case.

I am all about making recipes simple and easy and there's nothing wrong with buying a case. Nothing wrong with making one either. You do you!

Old School Pudding

As you might have gathered I have a real love for old school puddings. My Cornflake Tart has proven very popular as has this Chocolate Concrete.

There's nothing like a bit of nostalgia when it comes to dessert and this Manchester Tart will take you right back to the 80s faster than you can say Body Shop White Musk!

Why is it called Manchester Tart?

A Manchester Tart is a traditional English custard pie, hailing from, you guessed it: Manchester. It was a very popular school pudding that was served up in the 70s and 80s.

Some might say it's old-fashioned but in my mind, the 80s were only 20 years ago...

It's actually a variation of a dessert called Manchester Pudding that was first recorded by Mrs Beeton, a Victorian cookery writer.

Should it have bananas?

My version of Manchester Tart has a layer of thinly sliced banana in between the jam and custard. That's the way I remember having it at school but you can leave the banana out if you want to.

How to make it

This is almost a no-bake dessert because if you're using a ready-made pastry case all you need to do is make the custard, which is really easy.

Step One: Heat the milk and vanilla bean paste (or extract) in a medium-sized saucepan. Bring it just to the boil and then turn the heat off.

Step Two: In a separate bowl, add the egg yolks, caster sugar and custard powder.

Use a whisk to thoroughly mix together then slowly pour in the hot milk, whisking as you pour.

Step Three: Tip the contents of the bowl back into the saucepan you used for heating the milk.

Set the saucepan over a medium heat and whisk continuously for a couple of minutes. The mixture will get very thick, as soon as you feel and see it thickening remove it from the heat and set it aside to cool.

Step Four: Spread the raspberry jam over the bottom of the pastry case.

Step Five: Thinly slice a banana and arrange the slices on top of the strawberry jam.

Step Six: Pour the custard on top.

Amy's tip: Depending on the size of your pastry case, you might have some excess custard. I transfer any leftovers into small containers and keep them in the fridge for a quick custard pot pudding.

Step Seven: Sprinkle over the desiccated coconut and add the glace cherries on top. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until the custard has set.

I hope you love this Manchester Tart as much as we do and it brings back some fond memories for you!

More Old School desserts