Perfect Portuguese Tarts

Instructions

• WHISK egg yolks and egg with milk, cream, sugar and cornstarch in a large saucepan and set over medium. Continue whisking until mixture thickens, 7  to 10 min. Whisk in vanilla, then scrape into a medium bowl. Lay a piece of plastic wrap directly on surface to prevent skin from forming. Chill in freezer until very cold, but not frozen, about 1 hour.

• UNROLL puff pastry sheet. Sprinkle cinnamon evenly over the surface. Re-roll sheet into a tight log. Cut log into 12 equal rounds. Lay a pastry round on a lightly floured counter and roll with a rolling pin until it is 4 in. across. Pastry will be very thin. Repeat with remaining rounds. Gently push each round into a muffin cup, pressing along the bottom, then up the sides until it reaches the rim. Keep muffin tin in refrigerator until custard is chilled.

• PREHEAT oven to 500F (not the broiler). Divide cold custard among 12 pastry cups.

• BAKE in centre of oven until tops are brown, but not burnt, 13 to 15 min. If tops have not browned, continue baking and check at 2-min intervals. Cool in pan on a rack for 5 min. Remove from pan and let cool slightly on rack, about 15 min. Serve tarts warm or cool.