BEST Butter Tarts Recipe - EASY Canadian Butter Tarts Recipe (2024)

A rich dessert with rich roots that has stood the test of time, these Canadian Butter Tarts are a total classic! A maple syrup custard filling in buttery tart shells makes for a tasty handheld treat.

BEST Butter Tarts Recipe - EASY Canadian Butter Tarts Recipe (1)

What's In This Article

What are Butter Tarts?

Butter tarts are small pastries filled with a caramel-like custard made with butter, sugar, syrup, and egg. This pastry is baked until the filling is semi-solid with a crunchy top. But where did they come from?

History of Butter Tarts

It is said that the first written recipe for these tarts appeared in 1900 in the Royal Victoria Cookbook with the name, Filling for Tarts. But historians agree that this recipe existed for hundreds of years before, and that this was the first time it was formalized into a cookbook.

This recipe would’ve been passed around through families or passed around at churches.

After that first publication, where the tart recipe was vague (just a list of ingredients and then says mix), it seems to have changed a little. I used the recipe published in 1979 in the Purity cookbook, which is very different to their recipe published in 1944.

As with any recipe, the ingredients vary from family to family. Some make the filling with brown sugar; others add maple syrup or dark syrup. There is a big group of people who like it with dried fruit and others with nuts, and some with both.

The recipe for today is an adaptation from the Purity cookbook published in 1979. This recipe uses brown sugar and dark syrup, and I substituted it for maple syrup.

Now they are a Canadian tradition and sometimes referred to as Maple Butter Tarts. There is still a great debate about this quintessential Canadian dessert – whether or not they should contain raisins.

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Butter Tart Crust Tools & Ingredients

These little butter tarts start with a flaky crust. You can use your favorite pie crust or use the one in the recipe below. You can also buy premade tart shells, pastry shells or pie crusts and just cut out the circles you need.

I used a muffin tin, but if you happen to have mini tart pans, those will work too.

  • Flour- all-purpose works for this one. Bread flour can also be used. Cake flour does not work. Make sure to measure your flour correctly.
  • Sugar– just plain, white sugar.
  • Fine sea salt– omit if using salted butter.
  • Unsalted butter– to make the pastry, the butter needs to be super cold, keep it in the fridge until you are ready to use it. Cutting it into small chunks helps it to evenly incorporate.
  • Cold water- from the tap is fine, just make sure it is as cold as it can get! You can use ice water, but make sure the total volume is correct, don’t add ice to the correct cup of water.

Tips for making Butter Tart Crust

To make this crust, make sure all your ingredients are chilled, and working with a food processor ensures that the dough keeps the right temperature. Alternately, you can use a pastry cutter (pastry blender), but this takes longer and the butter will warm, making it hard to work with.

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How to make Canadian Butter Tart Crust

  1. In the food processor, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt.
  2. Add the cold butter in chunks to the flour mixture, just pulsing (don’t turn it on full blast).
  3. Add the cold water and pulse until the dough starts coming together.
  4. Turn the dough onto 2 plastic wrap pieces, form into a disc and chill well, at least one hour.
  5. Work in two batches. Lightly flour a work surface and then roll out one dough disc to about 1/8 of an inch. Use a round cookie cutter or lid (4 inches) and cut 15 pieces.
  6. Grease muffin pans with shortening or cooking spray. Press each dough circle into the muffin cups (or tart tin). If you still need to make the filling, refrigerate the dough in the muffin tins until ready to pour.
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Butter Tart Filling ingredients

The ingredient list for the sugary filling is fairly simple using kitchen basics, at least basics for my kitchen. Many fillings use corn syrup, but I prefer my sugary concoction being a blend of maple syrup and molassesy brown sugar.

  • Unsalted butter- if you use salted, omit the additional salt. Make sure butter is adequately softened, but not melted. Melting the butter will have a negative impact on the filling rising.
  • Brown sugar– light or dark brown sugar works.
  • Eggs– it’s a custard– it needs eggs!
  • Maple syrup- this is probably the most important part, use real maple syrup, not maple flavored sugar water. To get the right texture, a thick syrup is ideal.
  • Fine sea salt- if using coarse, double the amount. This balance the sugar and emphasizes natural maple flavors.
  • Vanilla Extract- Almond works well too. Vanilla bean paste can be used as well.
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How to make Butter Tarts Filling

  1. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Most folks shortened this step, it should cream for 2-3 minutes to get air incorporated in and butter will start to pale.
  2. Add the eggs one at the time, incorporating fully between each addition. Adding them at once will make it hard to fully incorporate and they will just slop around in the bowl and seperate from the butter. This is like tempering the batter.
  3. Add the maple syrup, salt, and vanilla extract. The filling will be a little chunky and loose, this is normal. If you make this ahead and set aside, you’ll need to whisk before pouring into muffin tins.
  4. The easiest way to pour the filling is to use a large measuring cup with a pouring spout.
  5. From here you bake them until they are golden brown and let them cool. Although I like sneaking one while still warm.
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Variations of Canadian Butter Tarts

As I mentioned before, you can add dried fruit or nuts to the individual butter tarts. If adding any of those ingredients, here is the amount you’ll need:

  • 1/2 cup raisins soaked in hot water until they plump and then drain
  • 1 and 1/3 cup currants, dates, or figs
  • 1/2 cup walnuts (chopped) and 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
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Making Butter Tarts Ahead & Storing Them

Butter tarts keep well at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. Place them in an airtight container.

Can you freeze Butter Tarts?

Yes, you can freeze Canadian Butter Tarts for up to 2 months.

With these tarts you get a bunch of flavor and texture. Flaky, buttery crust. Rich and gooey filling with a crunchy crust on top. The recipe is easily adaptable to every palate.

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Canadian Butter Tarts FAQs

Do they have butter tarts in America?

Butter tarts are not as common or widely recognized in the United States as they are in Canada. They are more of a Canadian specialty and are not typically found as a mainstream dessert in American cuisine.

What’s the difference between a pecan pie and a butter tart?

The main difference is that butter tarts do not typically contain pecans. They also commonly have raisins which are not used in pecan pie.

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Canadian Butter Tarts

4.47 from 264 votes

A Canadian treat that everyone should try, these EASY Canadian Butter Tarts consist of a flaky crust filled with a buttery, caramel-like, gooey center!

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 40 minutes mins

Servings: 15 tarts

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Ingredients

Crust

  • 2-1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter , cold
  • 3/4 cup water , cold

Filling

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter , at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs , at room temperature
  • 1 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Crust

  • Using a food processor, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the cold butter in chunks, pulse 5 to 8 times, or until butter is in small pieces. Add the cold water and pulse until the dough starts coming together.

  • Turn the dough onto 2 plastic wrap pieces lying flat. Cover over and pat into a disc. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Dough will be super sticky, this is normal.

  • Sprinkle a small amount of flour on a flat surface and roll out one portion at the time, about 1/8 of an inch thick. Use a round cutter or lid (4 inches) and cut 15 pieces.

  • Grease 1 muffin pan completely and 3 muffin cups from a second pan. Press each dough circle into the bottom of a muffin pan cup. Refrigerate while making the filling.

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Filling

  • Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs one at the time. Add the maple syrup, salt, and vanilla extract. The filling is a chunky custard and very loose. If you make this ahead and set aside, you'll need to whisk before pouring into muffin tins.

  • Pour the filling into pie crust and bake for 25 minutes. It is easiest to use a glass measuring cup with a pour spout.

  • Let the tarts cool for 5 minutes in the pan and remove to a cooling rack.

  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comment or ratings!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 264 kcal, Carbohydrates: 29 g, Protein: 2 g, Fat: 16 g, Saturated Fat: 10 g, Cholesterol: 62 mg, Sodium: 342 mg, Potassium: 79 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 21 g, Vitamin A: 504 IU, Calcium: 39 mg, Iron: 1 mg

Author: Lizet Flores de Bowen

Calories: 264

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Canadian

Keyword: butter tart recipe, butter tarts without raisins, canadian butter tarts

Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!

BEST Butter Tarts Recipe - EASY Canadian Butter Tarts Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are Canadian butter tarts made of? ›

Butter tarts are a quintessential Canadian dessert—and, oh, how I love them! These buttery mini pies, typically baked in a muffin tin, have a flaky crust filled with a gooey mixture of butter, sugar, syrup, egg, and sometimes raisins or nuts.

Why are my butter tarts so runny? ›

Butter tarts that are runny may be underbaked or may not contain enough egg. Eggs help thicken and stabilize butter tart filling while it bakes, which is why I've included two whole eggs in my recipe to ensure the filling is thick and fully set once baked.

Who makes the best butter tarts in Toronto? ›

With plenty of time to find your favourite, you won't have any trouble finding the best butter tarts in Toronto.
  • Larry's Folly. Parkdale. ...
  • Ba Noi. Bloorcourt Village. ...
  • The Sweet Oven Toronto. The Beaches. ...
  • The Pie Commission. 927 The Queensway. ...
  • The Maids' Cottage. 223 Main St S. ...
  • Flaky Tart. ...
  • Tartistry. ...
  • Sweet Bliss Baking Company.

How to keep butter tarts from crystallizing? ›

Butter Tart Filling

Golden Corn Syrup and White Vinegar: react with the sugar to prevent it from crystallizing. Butter tarts can be made without corn syrup and vinegar, but they will have a slightly crispy, crystal-y top. Butter: I use salted butter in the filling so I don't have to add salt myself.

Why are butter tarts considered Canadian? ›

' Butter tarts were common in Canadian pioneer cooking. The earliest published recipe for a butter tart is from Barrie, Ontario dating back to 1900 in the Women's Auxiliary of the Royal Victoria Hospital Cookbook. Another early published recipe was found in a 1915 pie cookbook.

How to stop butter tarts from running over? ›

Bake at 200F for 15 min, then without taking the tarts out, turn the oven to 350°F Bake another 10-15 min, until they start to brown. This method will prevent them from boiling over.

Should butter tarts have raisins? ›

Purists say true butter tarts should not contain raisins or nuts. For Currie and March of Wasaga Beach, Ont., they have to have raisins. Some like runny fillings, some firm. Some like thick pastry shells while others like thin so the filling stars.

Can you buy butter tart filling? ›

Get this item with your grocery order. Our Butter Tart mix strikes all the right notes of sticky and buttery sweetness while remaining convenient to prepare. With no artificial flavours or colours, simply add water and butter to the mix, cook and stir on your stove top for 10 minutes.

Can you buy butter tarts in the States? ›

Does America have butter tarts? Yes, any decent bakery will typically carry butter tarts, that quintessential Canadian pastry.

Are butter tarts a Canadian thing? ›

The Origin of the Butter Tart

The Collins English Dictionary describes it as one of the few pastries with a genuinely Canadian origin. A butter tart is a small pastry tart, which generally consists of butter, sugar, syrup, and egg, filled into a flaky pastry and baked until the filling is semi-solid with a crunchy top.

Why are butter tarts so good? ›

You could be forgiven if you've never eaten a butter tart. There is no flashy frosting or elaborate lattice to entice you. It's easy to pass by. But Canadians will tell you that these diminutive treats hold an expanse of flavor and textures: flaky pastry, caramelized crust and a bracingly sweet filling.

Can I use oil instead of butter in tarts? ›

The pastry of a tart made by using oil instead of butter will be richer and more flavoursome and will have that home-made taste that is so special, with aromas reminiscent of one's granny's comforting recipes.

Do butter tarts expire? ›

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.

What's the difference between a pecan pie and a butter tart? ›

What is the difference between a butter tart and a pecan pie? While these desserts are similar, there are a few key differences between the two. First, pecans are the star of pecan pie but are optional in butter tarts. Second, a butter tart has a runnier filling than the firmer pecan pie filling.

Are butter tarts good for you? ›

You see butter tarts are not healthy. Not in the slightest. Not even if you used your imagination. For those of you who aren't Canadian, a butter tart is a white-flour-and butter (or lard!)

What are the ingredients in Costco butter tarts? ›

Ingredients: Unbleached wheat flour, brown sugar, lard, water, whole egg, corn syrup, soya margarine, vinegar, sweetened condensed milk (evaporated milk, sugar, lactose), butter, pecans, baking powder, artificial vanilla extract, salt.

References

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