Butter tarts are a classic Canadian dessert known for their rich, buttery flavour and flaky pastry. These bite-sized treats feature a sweet filling made from butter, sugar, eggs, and maple syrup, all enveloped in a golden-brown crust. Whether you prefer them with raisins or without, gooey or firm, butter tarts are a beloved dessert enjoyed by people of all ages. They are often served at potlucks, bake sales, and holiday gatherings, making them a staple of Canadian cuisine.
Let's cook with our recipes!
AWARD-WINNING BUTTER TARTS
Butter tarts are a Canadian tradition. Waaaay back in the 1970s, a national contest here in Canada concluded that these butter tarts, originating from Wilkie's Bakery in Orillia, Ontario, were the best. I certainly think so and it's the only recipe I use. Add a sprinkle of toasted walnuts when you add the raisins, if you wish, or use only walnuts if you don't like raisins.
Provided by Lennie
Categories Pie
Time 1h5m
Yield 16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Prepare muffin pans by rolling out pie dough and cutting 4-inch (approx) circles; fit dough circles into muffin cups; set aside in fridge until ready to fill.
- In a small bowl, place raisins and cover with hot tap water; let stand on the counter for 30 minutes.
- In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, mix together the soft butter, brown sugar, salt and corn syrup; stir well until sugar is dissolved and butter is creamed.
- Add egg and vanilla and mix well.
- Drain raisins.
- Retrieve tart shells and divide raisins equally into all shells; then divide butter mixture into all tarts.
- Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes; filling will be lightly browned but still bubbling.
- Canadians fall into two camps about butter tarts and are quite loyal to their favourite type: runny or firm.
- I like runny-- the type that dribbles when you bite into one; if you like firm, bake them for the full 20 minutes, even adding another minute or two if you wish.
- Let cooked butter tarts cool in pans for 10 minutes after removing from oven; then remove and place on racks until completely cool.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 84.1, Fat 3.2, SaturatedFat 1.9, Cholesterol 19.2, Sodium 41.1, Carbohydrate 14.4, Fiber 0.2, Sugar 8.6, Protein 0.6
CANADIAN BUTTER TARTS
This recipe is adapted by Valerie Hatfield-Ringrose from the best of several recipes, plus her own additions. It has been made and perfected many times over the years. The tarts are the classic runny type, one of the few true Canadian concoctions.
Provided by Valerie Hatfield-Ringrose
Categories Desserts Pies Tarts Butter Tart Recipes
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Fill a cup with ice and water. Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Cut in the shortening to make pea-size pieces. Add the tablespoons of ice water from the cup until dough holds together. Form the dough into a ball. The dough is now complete. Put it into a plastic bag or wrap it up and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
- Roll the dough between two sheets of waxed paper. Cut the shells using a large glass or your smallest pot. You should have about 12 shells when finished. Put these shells into a greased muffin or tart pan.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
- Put walnuts and coconut on baking pan and roast for 5-10 minutes, until brown. Remove from oven and set temperature to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
- Fill the bottom of each tart shell with about 10 raisins each.
- Whisk together sugar, egg, butter, vanilla and hot water. Add coconut and walnuts. Pour mixture into tart shells, filling 2/3 full and no more.
- Bake in 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool before attempting to remove. Makes 12 tarts.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 371.2 calories, Carbohydrate 41 g, Cholesterol 16.8 mg, Fat 22.3 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 3.7 g, SaturatedFat 5.9 g, Sodium 121.5 mg, Sugar 22.7 g
BUTTER TARTS
Old family recipe from my daughter-in-laws family in southern Mississippi. It is very good.
Provided by Barbara
Categories Desserts Cookies International Cookie Recipes American Cookie Recipes
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C).
- Cream the butter, sugar and eggs well. Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
- Pour batter into tart shells, no more than half full. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes. Watch carefully!!--they'll burn quickly. Filling will keep in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or so. Liquid coffee creamer can be used for cream. Use any good pie pastry for shells.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 641.3 calories, Carbohydrate 85.5 g, Cholesterol 54.7 mg, Fat 31.5 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 7.9 g, SaturatedFat 9.6 g, Sodium 256.2 mg, Sugar 50.2 g
BUTTER TARTS
There may be no more perfectly satisfying treat than a Canadian butter tart. It is small and sweet, bracingly so, with hints of butterscotch and caramel. And each bite delivers three textures: flaky crust, chewy top, gooey center. While its exact origins may never be found, the tart became popular in Ontario in the early 20th century and spread across Canada thanks to its inclusion in the 1913 "Five Roses Cook Book." Today there are numerous variations. Runny or firm? Raisins or plain? This recipe can be adapted to please all partisans.
Provided by Sara Bonisteel
Categories easy, snack, pies and tarts, dessert
Time 45m
Yield 1 dozen
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Make the pastry: In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, rub butter or lard into flour until mixture is in pea-size pieces.
- In a small bowl, mix water, egg yolk and vinegar until well combined. Add liquid to the flour mixture, using a fork to combine. Add 1 tablespoon more water if it looks dry.
- Knead dough several times by hand to bring it together and shape into a flat square. Wrap with plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Once chilled, roll out the dough into a 16-inch-by-12-inch (40.5 centimeters by 30.5 centimeters) rectangle about 1/8- to 1/4-inch (3 to 6 millimeters) thick. Flour the work surface and rolling pin as you work with the dough.
- Use a circular 4-inch (10 centimeter) cookie cutter (or a clean 28-ounce/496 milliliter can) to cut 12 pieces. Reroll dough if needed to cut more circles, but try to cut as many pieces on the first pass. With your fingertips, press each circle into the cup of a standard muffin tin, so that the edge of the dough is flush with the pan. Refrigerate while while you make the filling.
- In a bowl, cover raisins with hot tap water to plump. Heat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Make the filling: In a bowl, mix brown sugar and salt, and then beat the butter into the sugar by hand until smooth. Add vanilla and egg and mix until combined. Do not use an electric mixer; it will add too much air to the filling.
- Drain the raisins and place seven or eight raisins in each chilled tart shell.
- Divide the filling evenly among the tart shells, filling each one about halfway. Place muffin tin on a baking sheet. Bake 13 to 15 minutes for a runnier tart and 17 to 19 minutes for a firmer one.
- A few minutes after removing the tarts from the oven, run a knife or offset spatula around the edge of each tart to loosen. Let cool completely in the tin. To remove, run a butter knife or offset spatula around and under each tart to pop it out of the tin.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 177, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 18 grams, Fat 12 grams, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 100 milligrams, Sugar 18 grams, TransFat 0 grams
BUTTER TART FILLING
A perfect buttery sweet filling makes these irresistable! Passed down by my great Aunt who was French Canadian. She cooked with approximate measures, so these amounts may vary to taste.
Provided by ScrappieDoo
Categories Tarts
Time 30m
Yield 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Mix the brown sugar into the melted butter.
- Add the vanilla, vinegar and lemon juice.
- Beat the eggs lightly and add to mixture; add corn syrup.
- Sprinkle 5 or 6 raisins (or walnuts or pecans) into the bottom of each tart shell. These tarts are also delicious without anything in them.
- Ladle the filling into the tart shells, filling about 2/3 of each shell.
- Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes or until the filling is just barely set.
- Cool tarts and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 165.9, Fat 4.7, SaturatedFat 2.7, Cholesterol 41.2, Sodium 49.1, Carbohydrate 31.9, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 18.1, Protein 1.2
REAL CANADIAN BUTTER TARTS, EH?
These butter tarts are traditionally Canadian, made with sweet maple syrup.
Provided by mrsmambo
Categories Desserts Pies Tarts Butter Tart Recipes
Time 32m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Place tart shells on a baking sheet; sprinkle raisins evenly into the bottom of each tart shell.
- Whisk together butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl; whisk in egg. Pour mixture into tart shells; sprinkle each tart with walnuts.
- Bake in the preheated oven until pastry is light brown and filling is bubbly, about 12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack, about 10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 306.5 calories, Carbohydrate 44.5 g, Cholesterol 25.9 mg, Fat 13.9 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 3 g, SaturatedFat 4.4 g, Sodium 176.6 mg, Sugar 27.3 g
CLASSIC BUTTER TARTS
This is a great treat that is a small twist on pecan or walnut pie. Included in the recipe is butter, brown sugars, spices, coconut and walnuts. These are in great demand every year from my family and friends.
Provided by Carol Kronick
Categories Desserts Pies Tarts Butter Tart Recipes
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Roll pie dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out circles of dough to fit cups of standard muffin tin. Gently place into muffin cups.
- In a saucepan, melt butter and margarine over low heat just until melted. Stir in brown sugar, coconut, spices, nuts, salt, eggs, lemon juice, and corn syrup. Mix well. Fill prepared muffin cups halfway with this mixture.
- Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 360.4 calories, Carbohydrate 43.2 g, Cholesterol 44.6 mg, Fat 20.9 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 3.1 g, SaturatedFat 7.6 g, Sodium 332.3 mg, Sugar 25.3 g
SWEET BUTTER TARTS
A friend of mine first introduced me to this easy recipe. I usually make six or eight batches at Christmas time.-Charlene Turnbull, Wainwright, Alberta
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers Desserts
Time 40m
Yield 1 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface; cut into twelve 4-in. circles. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of greased muffin cups. , In a small bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Add egg, milk, vanilla and maple flavoring. Stir in raisins., Fill each cup half full. Bake at 375° for 25 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 370 calories, Fat 18g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 38mg cholesterol, Sodium 253mg sodium, Carbohydrate 49g carbohydrate (24g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 3g protein.
CANADIAN BUTTER TARTS
Melt-in-the-mouth Canadian tarts
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Afternoon tea, Snack, Treat
Time 45m
Yield 18-20
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to fan 170C/ conventional 190C/gas 5. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface so it's slightly thinner than straight from the pack. Then cut out 18-20 rounds with a 7.5cm fluted cutter, re-rolling the trimmings. Use the rounds to line two deep 12-hole tart tins (not muffin tins). If you only have a regular-sized, 12-hole tart tin you will be able to make a few more slightly shallower tarts.
- Beat the eggs in a large bowl and combine with the rest of the ingredients except the walnuts. Tip this mixture into a pan and stir continuously for 3-4 minutes until the butter melts, and the mixture bubbles and starts to thicken. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Don't overcook, and be sure to stir all the time as the mixture can easily burn. Remove from the heat and stir in the nuts.
- Spoon the filling into the unbaked tart shells so it's level with the pastry. Bake for 15-18 minutes until set and pale golden. Leave in the tin to cool for a few minutes before lifting out on to a wire rack. Serve warm or cold.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 200 calories, Fat 11 grams fat, SaturatedFat 5 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 23 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 10 grams sugar, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 2 grams protein, Sodium 0.2 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Use quality ingredients: For the best butter tarts, use real butter, fresh eggs, and pure maple syrup. Avoid using margarine, egg substitutes, or pancake syrup, as they will not produce the same rich flavor and texture.
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing the batter will make the tarts tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Don't overfill the tart shells: If you overfill the tart shells, the filling may bubble over and make a mess. Fill the shells about two-thirds full.
- Bake the tarts until the filling is set: The tarts are done baking when the filling is set and no longer jiggles when the pan is shaken. The filling should also be a light golden brown color.
- Let the tarts cool before serving: The tarts need to cool slightly before serving so that the filling has a chance to set. If you serve the tarts too soon, the filling may be runny.
Conclusion:
Butter tarts are a classic Canadian dessert that is loved by people of all ages. They are easy to make and can be customized to your own taste. With a few simple tips, you can make perfect butter tarts that will be the hit of your next party or gathering. So, what are you waiting for? Give these delicious butter tart recipes a try today!
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