Jump to Recipe
Share
Share
Pin
Share
Old Fashioned Butter Tarts, the best homemade Butter Tart Recipe and definitely better than store bought! A delicious Canadian tradition that can’t be missed.Syrupy and sweet exactly how they should be.
There’s nothing like bringing a taste of home to a new country that becomes your new home. All those years ago I missed my family and friends and yes I missed my Mom’s cooking and baking from her delicious shortbread to her lemon bread and how could I forget Calzone!
I have tried many butter tarts in my life but these tarts, thanks to my cousin Janet for the recipe, are definitely one of the best. The flaky pie crust with the filling of choice in that gooey centre makes every bite better than the last!
Table of Contents
Recipe Ingredients
- Pastry dough
- Butter – melted and cooled
- Brown sugar – light brown
- Syrup – corn syrup is the traditional syrup but you could substitute with maple syrup
- Salt
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- Raisins – or currants
- Chocolate chips – semi sweet or milk chocolate or a combination
- Pecans – coarsely chopped, you could substitute with hazelnuts or even walnuts
Why Soak Raisins In Water?
Because raisins are very dry, if they aren’t soaked then they will absorb the liquid from your baked goods, making the dessert less moist. That’s why it is imperative to soak them first, or any dried fruit for that matter.
They don’t have to soak in water, you can soak them in a fruit juice such as pineapple juice or even rum or brandy. I have made these tarts a few times this past couple of weeks, and we made them again when my cousin came to visit. This time we made a few different types. Pecan, Chocolate Chip and Plain Butter Tarts. It was hard to decide which was our favorite!
How To Make Butter Tarts
Anyone who has never had a Canadian Butter Tart before and trys one is always quick to say “these are amazing, one of the best things I have ever eaten”, I hope you feel the same way. For the full instructions and ingredients scroll down to the bottom of the page for the recipe card.
Prepare either theSimple Pie DoughorBrown Sugar Pie Dough. Or you can use prepared store bought tarts. If you use homemade pastry, the dough will have to be wrapped in plastic wrap and chilled for approximately 60 minutes.
Remove the pastry from the fridge, roll out on a lightly floured surface, cut out with a round cookie cutter. Gently form the circles into the muffin pan. Use a small lightly floured shot glass to gently form the rounds into the tin.
If using raisins, be sure to soak them in boiling water for a bit before using. They should be immediately add hot raisins to butter mixture and stir until butter has melted.
Add the lightly beaten egg and vanilla, brown sugar, salt and corn syrup, stir to combine, do not over mix.Over mixing can add air to the filling, which will cause it to bubble over when baking.
If not using the raisins then melt the butter, let cool slightly, then add the lightly beaten egg, vanilla, brown sugar, salt and corn syrup, stir to combine do not over mix. At this point you can either stir in the chopped pecans, chocolate chips or leave the filling plain.
Pour the filling into the prepared tart shells and bake in the pre-heated oven until they start to brown. Once they are cool enough to touch move to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
What are Canadian Butter tarts?
It is believed that between 1663 and 1673 approximately 800 young women were sent to Québec from France to help colonize. They brought with them their traditional European recipes but of course they had to adapt to making them with the ingredients available.
The sugar pie, was made with a filling of flour, butter, salt, vanilla, and cream, it is considered the forerunner to the butter tart.
Although the butter tart as we know it now was common in Canadian pioneer cooking. The earliest published recipe dates back to 1900 in theWomen’s Auxiliary of the Royal Victoria Hospital Cookbook, which was written in Barrie Ontario, Canada.
The Best Pastry Dough For Butter Tarts
Butter tarts are best made with a flaky pie crust therefore I like to use either aSimple Pie Doughor aBrown Sugar Pie Dough, either work perfectly.
What Is The Perfect Filling?
The perfect filling for butter tarts is a gooey center but not liquidy. If you find that your filling is too liquidy then make the tarts for an extra 2-3 minutes but watch them carefully so they don’t burn.
Different Variations
Besides adding raisins or currents, you could add a few chocolate chips, chopped nuts or even dried fruit. If you use dried fruit then it is a good idea to soak the fruit before adding to the tarts. Don’t add too many extras or it will take over the filling. A good idea is 5-8 pieces for every tart.
How To Store Butter Tarts
Butter Tarts should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated, they will keep for up to five days in the fridge. If you keep them at room temperature remember they will only keep for about a day or 2 depending on how warm your home is.
Can Butter Tarts Be Frozen?
Yes they can be frozen, be sure to freeze in an airtight freezer container. Properly stored they will keep for up to two months. You could also make the dough in advance and freeze it, the dough will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Pie & Tart recipes you need to try
- Easy Caramel Apple Galette – the perfect fall dessert for any occasion.
- Ricotta Spinach Tarts – a classic Italian tart, it’s perfect as a main dish or appetizer.
- Chocolate Mousse Tarts – one of our favorite tarts filled with an easy creamy mousse filling.
- Butter Tart Pie – just like individual tarts, but bigger!
These Old Fashioned Butter Tarts are the perfect sweet treat that you could be looking for. If you try them let me know. Enjoy!
Old Fashioned Butter Tarts
Rosemary Molloy
Old Fashioned Butter Tarts, the best homemade Butter Tart Recipe and definitely better than store bought! A delicious Canadian tradition that can’t be missed.
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Chilling Time for Pastry 30 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine Canadian
Servings 12 tarts
Calories 292 kcal
Print Recipe Save
Ingredients
PIE PASTRY
- 1 Pie Pastry Recipe or 12 pre-made tart shells
BUTTER TART FILLING
PLAIN FILLING (without add ins)
- ¼ cup butter (melted / cooled)
- ½ cup brown sugar (lightly packed)
- ½ cup corn syrup*
- pinch of salt
- 1 large egg (lightly beaten)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
*You can substitute with Maple syrup but start with a ⅓ cup since it is thinner than corn syrup.
RAISIN FILLING (add in)
- ¾ cup raisins
- 2-3 cups boiling water
CHOCOLATE CHIP FILLING (add in)
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
PECAN FILLING (add in)
- ⅓ cup coarsely chopped pecans (or walnuts)
Instructions
PIE PASTRY
Prepare either the Simple Pie Dough or Brown Sugar Pie Dough. Or you can use prepared store bought tarts.
Remove the pastry from the fridge, roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/8″ thick, cut out with a round cookie cutter. Gently form the circles into the muffin tin. Use a small lightly floured shot glass to gently form the rounds into the tin.
Pre-heat oven to 400F (200C). Grease and flour a 12 size medium muffin tin.
BUTTER TART FILLING
If using raisins, place them in a medium bowl and cover with boiling water, let sit 10-15 minutes then drain well. Immediately add the hot raisins to the butter mixture and stir until butter has melted. Then add the lightly beaten egg, vanilla, brown sugar, salt and corn syrup, stir to combine, do not over mix.
If not using the raisins then melt the butter, let cool slightly, add the lightly beaten egg, vanilla, brown sugar, salt and corn syrup, stir to combine do not over mix. At this point you can either stir in the chopped pecans, chocolate chips or leave the filling plain.
Pour the filling into the prepared tart shells and bake for 15 minutes at 400F (200C), reduce heat to 350F (180C) and continue baking for approximately 10 – 15 minutes (until they start to brown). Once they are cool enough to touch move to a wire rack to cool completely before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
If you prefer you can add the add ins on top of pastry and then add the plain filling on top. Be sure you don’t add too many add ins a good amount would be 5-8 pieces.
Butter Tarts should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated, they will keep for up to five days in the fridge. If you keep them at room temperature remember they will only keep for about a day or 2 depending on how warm your home is.
To freeze, place them in an airtight freezer container. Properly stored they will keep for up to two months. You could also make the dough in advance and freeze it, the dough will last for up to 3 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Nutrition
Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 123mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 145IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 2.7mg
Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a comment below or pin it to your Pinterest account!
Updated from May 3, 2017.
Share
Share
Pin
Share
