Description
Sweet Canadian Classic Butter Tarts bring maple-infused nostalgia to your dessert table with their rich, golden filling and flaky pastry shell. Delicate yet indulgent, you’ll savor each bite of this beloved Canadian treat that promises pure culinary comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter (½ cup cold, cubed + ¼ cup melted)
- 1 egg
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose or pastry flour
Sweeteners and Syrups:
- 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar (1 tablespoon + ½ cup lightly packed)
- ½ cup corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Additional Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon salt (½ teaspoon in flour + ¼ teaspoon in filling)
- 6 tablespoons ice water (or as needed)
- ½ cup cold shortening, cubed
- ½ cup raisins (or substitute with pecans, walnuts, or chocolate chips)
Instructions
- Prepare the pastry foundation by combining flour, brown sugar, and salt in a food processor, creating a uniform dry mixture.
- Introduce cold butter and shortening to the dry ingredients, pulsing until the texture resembles coarse, pebble-like crumbs.
- Gradually incorporate ice water, gently mixing until the dough barely coheres, being careful to avoid excessive manipulation.
- Separate the dough into two distinct portions, encase each in plastic wrap, and allow to rest in the refrigerator for half an hour.
- On a lightly dusted surface, roll out the chilled dough and delicately cut into circular shapes sized approximately 4 inches in diameter.
- Carefully position the dough circles into a muffin tin, pressing gently to form shells, then return to the refrigerator while preparing the filling.
- Craft the filling by whisking together brown sugar, corn syrup, melted butter, egg, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until smooth and well-integrated.
- Distribute raisins or preferred mix-ins across the bottom of each pastry shell, creating a delicate foundation.
- Pour the syrup mixture into the shells, filling each approximately two-thirds full to prevent overflow during baking.
- Position the muffin tin on the bottom rack of a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C), allowing the tarts to bake for 12-15 minutes until golden and slightly bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and permit the tarts to cool completely within the tin, then transfer to a wire rack for serving.
- Serve and savor these delectable butter tarts at room temperature, enjoying their rich, caramelized flavor.
Notes
- Keep ingredients cold for the flakiest, most tender pastry crust, especially the butter and water.
- Use unsalted butter to control the salt content and prevent over-salting the delicate tart shells.
- Don’t overwork the dough when mixing, as this develops gluten and makes the crust tough instead of delicate.
- Experiment with mix-ins like chopped pecans, chocolate chips, or coconut to add interesting texture
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Canadian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg