A historical dessert from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913).
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
Put both kinds of milk together in a vessel, which is set in another and let it become sufficiently heated to set the curd
then strain off the milk, rub the curd through a strainer
add butter to the curd, the sugar, well-beaten eggs and lemon
Line the little pans with the richest of puff pastie and fill with the mixture
bake until firm in the centre, from ten to fifteen minutes
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
Combining sour and sweet milk creates a gentle acid-set curd through the lactic acid in the sour milk, which denatures the casein proteins without requiring aggressive heat or rennet. The double-boiler method (vessel within vessel) prevents scorching and maintains gentle, even heat around 180°F, creating delicate curds rather than rubbery ones. The rich puff pastry creates a moisture barrier that prevents the custard filling from making the bottom soggy, while the egg yolks provide emulsification and set the filling into a tender, sliceable texture similar to a lemon curd tart.
The curd filling can be made up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. Bring to room temperature and stir gently before filling the pastry shells. The puff pastry shells can be rolled, cut, and fitted into pans, then covered and refrigerated for up to 4 hours before filling and baking.
Store baked Maids of Honor in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The pastry will soften slightly but remains delicious. These are best served at room temperature or gently warmed in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes. Do not freeze, as the custard filling will separate upon thawing.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The curd filling can be made up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. Bring to room temperature and stir gently before filling the pastry shells. The puff pastry shells can be rolled, cut, and fitted into pans, then covered and refrigerated for up to 4 hours before filling and baking.
Store baked Maids of Honor in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The pastry will soften slightly but remains delicious. These are best served at room temperature or gently warmed in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes. Do not freeze, as the custard filling will separate upon thawing.
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