Homemade custard
Once you've cracked this technique for silky smooth vanilla custard, you'll never go back to tinned
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roll the pastry out thinly on a lightly floured surface. Line a 23cm round x 2.5cm deep fluted flan tin, easing the pastry into the tin and the flutes carefully so you don’t stretch it. Roll a rolling pin over the top of the tin to trim off any excess pastry. Prick the pastry base lightly with a fork. Chill for 10 mins while the oven heats up.
Put the flan tin on a baking sheet. Line the pastry with foil and baking beans, and bake for 12 mins until the pastry is set. Remove the foil and beans from the pastry case, and bake for another 5 mins until the pastry is very pale golden. Remove and lower the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
While the pastry is baking, make the filling. Beat the egg in a medium bowl, then stir in the crème fraîche, golden syrup, treacle, apple and breadcrumbs. Finely grate the zest from the lemon and stir into the filling mix with 1 tbsp lemon juice. Leave to stand for 10-15 mins so that the breadcrumbs can absorb the other ingredients slightly.
Pour the filling into the pastry case and bake for 30 mins or until the filling is softly set. Remove the tart and let it cool a little to firm up. Remove from the tin and serve warm or cold.