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Sliced Manchester tart showing jam, banana and custard layers topped with toasted coconut on a rustic board

Classic British Manchester Tart with Banana and Coconut

A shortcrust tart layered with raspberry jam, banana and set custard, topped with toasted coconut and chilled until firm.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: British
Calories: 296

Ingredients
  

Shortcrust Pastry
  • 200 g plain flour
  • 100 g cold butter, cubed
  • 25 g caster sugar for the pastry
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 egg yolk large egg
  • 2 cold water to 3 tbsp
Filling and Topping
  • 120 g raspberry jam / 4 tbsp; seedless if you can find it
  • 2 ripe bananas firm-ripe, sliced
  • 600 ml whole milk
  • 40 g custard powder / 4 tbsp; Bird's or similar
  • 40 g caster sugar / 3 tbsp; for the custard
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract optional
  • 40 g desiccated coconut toasted

Method
 

Make the Shortcrust Pastry
  1. Rub the cold butter into the flour, 25 g caster sugar and salt with your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse breadcrumbs.
  2. Mix in the egg yolk and 2 tbsp cold water, bringing the dough together with your hands. Add the extra tablespoon of water only if it feels dry. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
  3. Roll the dough on a floured surface to about 3 mm thick and line a 23 cm / 9-inch tart tin. Trim the edges, prick the base with a fork, and chill for 15 minutes.
  4. Heat the oven to 190 C / 375 F. Line the pastry with parchment and baking beans, and blind bake for 15 minutes. Remove the beans and paper, then bake for another 8 to 10 minutes until the base looks dry and pale gold, not shiny. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Filling and Assembly
  1. Toast the desiccated coconut in a dry 20 cm / 8-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring often, for 2 to 3 minutes until light golden. Tip onto a plate to cool.
  2. Spread the raspberry jam evenly over the cooled pastry base. Arrange the sliced bananas in a single layer over the jam.
  3. In a 2-quart / 1.9 L saucepan, whisk the custard powder and 40 g sugar with a splash of the cold milk to a smooth paste. Add the rest of the milk and the vanilla, then heat over medium, whisking constantly, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 4 to 5 minutes.
  4. Pour the warm custard over the bananas and smooth the top with a spatula.
  5. Sprinkle the toasted coconut evenly over the warm custard so it sticks.
  6. Chill the tart uncovered for 30 minutes, then cover loosely and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight, until the custard is set firm but still creamy.
  7. Slice with a knife dipped in hot water and serve chilled.

Notes

  • Blind bake pastry until sandy and dry, not just golden at edges
  • Cook custard until thick enough to coat a spoon before pouring
  • Chill tart at least 3 hours, overnight is even better
  • Toast coconut separately, don't skip it, it makes the topping
  • Use ripe but firm bananas so they don't turn to mush