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    Home | Recipes | Drinks

    Published: Feb 3, 2021 · Updated: Jan 15, 2023 by Angie Dixon ·

    Melktertjies (Milk Tart Shooters)

    jump to recipe Pin
    Melktertjies on a serving board.

    Melktertjies are a delicious, creamy, naughty milk tart liqueur. Reminiscent of a traditional milk tart - but with a kick.

    Melktertjies on a serving board.

    Milk tart is one of my favourite comforting desserts. The creamy milk tart sprinkled with cinnamon brings happiness and good times. It’s also a South African favourite.

    Looking for a real milk tart? Why not try out my traditional milk tart or no-bake milk? In my opinion, the no-bake milk tart tastes the closest to this particular milk tart shooter.

    So it’s not surprising at all that someone took this delicious dessert and turned it into a cocktail shooter.

    Because of its popularity, a few companies jumped on the bandwagon and started to produce this shooter commercially. But none of them tastes as good as the homemade version. Of course, you can make it as strong as you like.

    When are milk tart shooters served?

    Well, anytime really. A celebration, a party, a braai (bbq). But let me set the scene…

    The salads, potato dishes and braaibroodjies (basically toasted sandwiches made on the bbq) have been made. Someone is slicing the biltong for a snack. The meat is spiced and is sitting in its silver bakkie (metal roasting dish). The rugby match is now over, there were cries of celebration or the licking of wounds.

    Man slicing biltong with a knife.

    The fire has been blazing since half-time, but now everyone is huddled around standing in the smoke, sipping on their wine, whisky, or Klippies and coke (brandy and coke).

    Music is playing in the background, people are laughing and talking. Then Kurt Darren comes on. Half the party roll their eyes, and the other half begins to sokkie. Before the first lamb chop hits the grill, shots are being poured and someone is yelling “waar is die kaneel?” or “where is the cinnamon?” before they hand out a round of melktertjies.

    Melktertjies - Milk Tart Shooter

    Ingredients

    Here are some notes on the ingredients used in this recipe. Please see the recipe card for quantities.

    Melkterjie (milk tart shooter) ingredients.

    Sweetened Condensed Milk - this gives the melktertjies (or milk tart shooters) their creamy flavour and sweetness, which also cuts through the vodka. Condensed milk is basically milk that has been heated until 60% of the water has been removed, and sweetened with sugar. This creates a shelf-stable milk product.

    Can I use plant-based sweetened condensed milk instead? Sure, use your favourite plant-based sweetened condensed milk. Just keep in mind that this may result in melktertjies which don't taste exactly like a traditional milk tart.

    Evaporated Milk - this adds a delicious slight caramel flavour and another layer of creaminess to the melktertjies.

    Evaporated milk can be substituted with plain whole or full-fat milk, or even cream, or half-and-half. For plant-based or vegan versions simply use your favourite plant-based evaporated milk.

    Vodka - here I would suggest using a vodka that you like drinking, and this recipe requires a plain, unflavored vodka. For this recipe, I chose the classic Swedish Vodka Absolut.

    Ground cinnamon is used to top off this delicious milk tart shooter, and helps invoke the traditional milk tart flavour.

    Melktertjies on a serving board.

    How to Make Milk Tart Liqueur/Melktertjies

    In a mixing bowl or large jug, combine the condensed milk, evaporated milk and vodka. Mix all the ingredients together, and place them into a bottle. Chill the mixture for an hour or two before serving.

    Storage

    The best-before date for this milk tart liqueur is dependent on the best-before dates and storage conditions for the condensed milk and evaporated milk. Generally evaporated milk keeps for 3 days once opened, and condensed milk for 5 days once opened. If using milk, cream or half-and-half, also take their best before dates into consideration.

    Milk tart liqueur in a carafe.

    How to serve Melktertjies or Milk Tart Shooters

    As shooters

    Fill the shooter glasses almost to the top with the melktertjie mixture. Then sprinkle ground cinnamon over the top and enjoy! This is the most common way in which the milk tart liqueur is enjoyed.

    On the rocks...so we discovered

    Once, some time back, I made a batch of melktertjies and left it in the fridge before we left for a weekend gathering. Which meant we had about a litre of this delicious drink between my husband and myself.

    Now, we didn’t just sit down and knock back shots like 20-year-olds. Instead, we enjoyed this drink poured over ice with a dash of cinnamon on hot summer evenings, like sensible adults. Similar to how you would enjoy some Amarula or some Bailey’s.

    Melktertjies FAQ

    Can I make melktertjies vegan-friendly?

    Yes, this milk tart liqueur can be made using your favourite plant-based condensed milk and evaporated milk.

    Can I make melktertjies ahead of time?

    Yes, but I would recommend making them the day before the event and then storing them in a sealable bottle or jug in the fridge.

    Melktertjies (milk tart shooter) topped with ground cinnamon.

    Rate & Review!

    If you made this recipe, please leave a star rating! It gives my readers and me helpful feedback. If you want more recipes, subscribe to my newsletter, and follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

    Recipe Card

    Melktertjies on a serving board.

    Melktertjies (Milk Tart Shooters)

    Angie Dixon
    A delicious, creamy, naughty milk tart liqueur. Reminiscent of a traditional milk tart - but with a kick.
    4.8 from 20 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Email Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep time.Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total time.Total Time 10 minutes mins
    CourseCourse Drinks
    CuisineCuisine South African
    Servings 22 shooters

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tin sweetened condensed milk (395g/14oz)
    • 1 tin evaporated milk (380ml/13 fl oz)
    • 300 ml vodka or fill up the condensed milk tin with vodka (10 fl oz)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Empty the tin of condensed milk and evaporated milk into a jug or mixing bowl.
    • Measure out the vodka. I use the condensed milk tin to measure out the vodka. If you want more of a kick, use the evaporated milk tin.
    • Mix all the ingredients together, and place them into a bottle.
    • Chill the mixture for an hour or so before serving.
    • To serve, pour out shots, sprinkle with ground cinnamon. Cheers!

    Notes

    The amount of vodka you add to this mix can be anywhere between 300 - 400ml, this is dependent on how sweet or how much of a punch you want the shooter to have.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Shooter | Calories: 120kcal

    Nutrition information is an estimate. If scaling the recipe remember to scale your cook and bakeware accordingly. All temperatures stated are conventional, unless otherwise stated. Recipes tested in grams and at sea level.

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Spanakopita (Spinach Pie) »

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Ces says

      December 23, 2022 at 10:02 am

      Thus made me so homesick now. loved the way you described that typical gathering on a weekend in SA. I miss that so much. Will be prepping melktertjies for Christmas!

      Reply
      • Mary-Lou says

        December 23, 2022 at 12:11 pm

        Hi Ces,

        Thank you so much! And hopefully a couple of melktertjies will ease that homesickness.

        Have a Happy Christmas!

        Reply
    2. Gisela Tietz-Santos says

      July 28, 2021 at 8:25 pm

      Good day, I want to make the milk tart shooters as presents for my neighbours and I would like to add a best before date on the label. Please let me know how long a bottle will last when stored in the fridge.
      Kind regards and thank you
      Gisela

      Reply
      • Mary-Lou says

        July 29, 2021 at 8:02 am

        Hi Gisela

        Both condensed milk and evaporated milk can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 5 days after opening the cans. So I would apply the same timeline to these shooters.

        Hope your neighbours enjoy them!

        Reply
        • Hein says

          December 17, 2021 at 3:06 am

          Alcohol does not freeze, my father in law kept this in the freezer.

          Reply
          • Mary-Lou says

            December 17, 2021 at 11:10 am

            Great tip!

            Reply
      • Adam Potgieter says

        September 20, 2021 at 8:58 am

        If you need a best before date, you’re doing it wrong.

        Reply
        • Desirè Van Den Berg says

          November 14, 2021 at 1:35 am

          I make the drinkable Milktart and l can safely tell you it is safe to consume up to 3 weeks after the manufacturing date !

          Reply

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