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Butter Tarts Recipe

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Powered by Mom shares a Butter Tart Recipe 

A Canadian Holiday Treat

BUTTER TARTS

One of my absolute favourite Christmas treats since I was a kid are butter tarts a sweet raisin/walnut combination in small bite size flaky pastry shells who wouldn’t like them?! I always thought butter tarts should be a year round treat but for some reason most of us only make them at Christmas or maybe that’s a good thing as I would probably eat too many of them year round instead of just at Christmas.

I was surprised to learn last year that butter tarts are very much a Canadian thing and I here I thought everyone in North America must love butter tarts like I do. I went online to look up some butter tarts recipes as my mom never wrote her recipes down so I had to do some testing to come up with a recipe as close to my mom's as I could.

During my search I saw post after post about “Canadian Butter Tarts” or Butter Tarts a Canadian tradition was I ever shocked to find out that it’s a Canadian thing.
Yield: 24

Butter Tarts Recipe

butter tarts

Butter tarts are a Canadian tradition for the Christmas holidays. They have a gooey filling and can have raisins, pecans or walnuts in them with a slight caramel flavour mixed in. Of course there are many variations of this Canadian treat, see which one/s you like!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Additional Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup melted butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar (we use Demerara)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. maple syrup or vanilla (I favour maple syrup but vanilla is always great)
  • 2 tbsp. heavy cream (whipping cream works)
  • ¾ cup raisins (use less if you don't want as many raisins but I like lots)
  • 15-18 frozen tart shells (don't defrost)

Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
    2. Melt your butter.
    3. In a bowl mix the melted butter, maple syrup (or vanilla), brown sugar, egg and whipping cream and mix well (by hand not in a mixer)
    4. Stir in the raisins
    5. Place the frozen tarts on a cookie sheet. Fill the tarts with the mixture about ¾ of the way and bake for 15 minutes or until crust is a golden colour.
    6. The filling mixture will rise/puff up but it will fall and settle during the cooling process.

    Notes

    Why frozen tart shells? I found when I defrosted them they would leak when baking. I saw a tip somewhere about using them frozen and what od you know that worked like a charm.

    Butter tarts are meant to be eaten at room temperature. You can eat them slightly warm, I know some people like it that way and it is tasty.

    These should be slightly gooey when cooled but not dripping everywhere.

    Enjoy!

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    For the shells I just use pre-made ones they taste fine for me and save me time but feel free of course to make your own pastry 🙂

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    My friends south of the border you don’t know what you’re missing or maybe for those who are lucky and have tried them maybe you do know what you’re missing. Like all recipes there’s always variations but the most common butter tart is made with raisins, brown sugar, pecans and/or walnuts , butter, vanilla, some with cream and depending on how runny you like them with or without corn syrup.
     
    Some people do without the walnuts and/or raisins, some people even just like it with just the butter/brown sugar, cream and vanilla for the thick syrupy mixture. All I can say is that the ones with the raisins but without the nuts that are gooey but don't drip every where are my favourites. I know not very technical but those are my favourites. I don't mind if they have the pecans or walnuts but I just prefer without. These are the closest I've come to re-creating my mom's butter tarts recipes.
     
    These have been a favourite of mine as far back as I can remember so I’m quite happy that this is a truly Canadian tradition (can’t say that a lot as we don’t have many). Noticed I used some Canadian spelling of certain words in here who can spot them? I love hearing about what other people do for their Christmas traditions, treats, quirks, please feel free to share or if you’re a butter tart lover feel free to say that too.
     
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    What's your favourite holiday recipe?

     

    By on December 23rd, 2013

    About Powered by Mom

    I’m Michelle aka Powered by Mom. I’m married with one daughter, my hubby was my high school sweetheart, our two dogs Nyx and Cleo and our cat Oliver. As you can see we’re a family of animal lovers. We love to travel when we can, try different food and activities all over the world and enjoy being together. My passions are writing, travelling, creating new recipes, encouraging people to adopt not shop and just to enjoy life while we can.

    More posts by this author.

    135 thoughts on “Butter Tarts Recipe”

    1. I don't have a fav holiday recipe, but use spices more generously. This is the first time I've heard of a butter tart - I was happy to see it doesn't have too much butter, you can enjoy it and not feel guilty! Sounds delish and looks so good!

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    2. Yes the filling is the best part,if it is done correctly.I have had some real bad ones.Some make it with TOO much sugar!

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    3. These do look good. I pinned them; think I'll try them with dates instead of raisins. (I have a nephew who won't eat raisins, lol.)

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    4. Thanks for the recipe for your Butter Tarts! I make almost the same thing, but they are called Pecan Tarts/Tassies! They basically have the same exact ingredients, however, they only contain the chopped pecans. They are my favorite! I love them! As soon as I saw this recipe, I thought "gee these are exactly like the pecan tarts that I make"! I don't put raisins or anything else in my recipe! I guess I could but I just love them with just the pecans! Thanks so much for sharing your recipe! I really do appreciate it! Have a Terrific Holiday! Thanks, Michele 🙂

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    5. I keep meaning to try these. They look delicious. The size is perfect. My husband and I rarely can eat a whole pie. These can be wrapped and taken for lunch.

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    6. I have never heard of butter tarts before reading about them here. I would love to try these, thank you for sharing this recipe. My favorite holiday recipe is apple pie.

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    7. OOooooo these look delicious and you laid out the recipe so well! My husband would absolutely flip if I made these with pecans. I'll be off to the store for the pastry shells though, what a great idea! I was also surprised to learn that these are a Canadian favorite, I lived next door to Canada and visited very often but didn't run into a recipe like this. Thank you!

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    8. Love butter tarts. A true butter tart has no raisins or nuts or replace the raisins with dried currants. Also, substitute the corn syrup with maple syrup for a unique taste.

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    9. OMG I tried these babies last night and they were great, everyone must try this recipe, thank you very much for all your hard work and effort to keep us informed with all kinds of goodies

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    10. These tarts looks so delicious my family would just love them to munch on and the kids would have baking them too thanks for sharing this recipe.

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    11. I make small pecan tarts/cookies which are very similar to these, but my recipe calls for making the dough and carefully pressing it in the bottom & around the sides of each muffin tin. This takes sooo long! Your recipe would be much easier since the crust is already made. Thanks for sharing!

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    12. Wow, these are so easy to make and they look yummy!!! And it would be great for my diet because they are individual ones!! That is my kind of dessert!!!

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    13. They sound and look really good. Wish I had one now. It's nice that it comes in a personal size, less temptation to eat more. Thanks for the recipe.

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    14. The recipe seems pretty easy and they look really good. I pinned it so we can make some and give them a try. Thanks for sharing a Canadian treat.

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    15. Thanks for sharing this "Canadian" delicacy - which I'm ashamed to say I'd never even heard of. (I've been cooking for many many years, traveled extensively and had my own catering business for many years. I must admit the NAME kind of threw me as I tried to imagine what a "Butter Tart" could possibly be (Surely NOT like the Iowan specialty: Deep Fried Butter which I could never bring myself to try.

      But one glance at the list of ingredients reassured me that this recipe was going to be a keeper. Since I have all of the ingredients on hand (we are snowed in here - for an indefinite duration... and I think I will definitely toss in a few raisins and/or chopped nuts. Thanks for the recipe. I can't wait to try it (and them!)

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    16. These look just like the pecan pies my grandma used to make. I love their tiny-ness! Thank you for the recipe!

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    17. Tarts are one of my favorite desserts! I can make all kinds of different tarts, and this recipe is a good one to make Pecan tarts which is my favorite! These butter tarts look yummy!

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    18. Oh yum! Those look really good. Since I'm seeing this after Christmas I'm pinning this recipe so I can try it. Thank you for sharing 🙂
      Happy New Year!

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    19. Oooh this looks tasty, I will have to try them at some point and maybe even add a dash of rum in it... because i love anything rum and raisin flavored. hahaha

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    20. Well, I am not Canadien, but these little bad boys still look amazing! I am def gonna try them! And I saw your Canadien spelling lol

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    21. I have never heard of butter tarts before reading about it here. My favorite holiday recipes are apple pie, pumpkin pie, and my grandmother's macaroni salad. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

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    22. These look really good. My daughter would absolutely love them so I may have to try making them soon! Thanks for sharing the recipe. 🙂

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    23. I love butter tarts they are my favorite, but till now I didn't know how to make them. Thank you so much for your blog, I will have to make some before New Years so I don't destroy my diet plan even before I start lol:)

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    24. Oh these sound so good-- and I could only imagine what they would taste like--I think maybe I will be making these very soon-- thank you for sharing

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    25. I love that you use the already done pie crusts, I have made cheesecake with the keebler ones and this looks pretty simple too. I am going to give it a try!

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    26. Yummy is right! These are so good. And, I love the portion size. Actually I can't eat much so one lasts all day. It's my breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

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    27. Ohhh these look very good I am going to have to try to make these one of these days.. Now by chance where did you come across those small pie tins cause I have been looking for some and haven't found any.. Thank you again for posting this recipe..

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    28. These Butter Tarts look & sound delicious! I pinned your recipe to my pinterest board so I can make them next time I bake. I love new baking recipes..Thankyou so much for sharing yours..

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    29. Hi, before reading your review, i assumed tarts originated in England. I have always thought they were so cute. This recipe sounds great, minus raisins 🙂 Thank you! Vicki.

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    30. I have never heard of Butter Tarts before. They look delicious and I can't believe how easy they are to make. At least they sound really easy to make. I'll have to give them a try.

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    31. I'm not Canadian,but these little treats looks so yummy.They look so easy to do too.I will be trying these soon.I think my family would like the walnuts and raisins in them.

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    32. These look amazing, and such a short ingredient list that I think I could do it!! I can get my kids to help with this one.
      Thank you

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    33. Omg these look so yummy and sound yummy too!! I will be going to the store this weekend to make these for my new years eve party! Thank you so much for sharing!

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    34. These look simply delicious, and certainly easy enough to make. Sweets are my downfall during the holidays, but this one may be well worth the calories. Thanks!

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    35. What lovely little tarts!! they look delicious and are so easy! thanks for sharing your recipe, going to pin it now...
      Happy Holidays!

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    36. OMG! These are on my to-do list for next week! I never even heard of them before. (I did spot some of your Canadian spellings. eh?) : )

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    37. I wish I had found this recipe, I would have made them for Christmas! My husband would absolutely love these with pecans, I'm sure I would have had to double the batch. Thank you...I am bookmarking this one for sure!

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    38. Thank you for the excellent butter tart recipe. I just pinned it to my favorite recipes. My grandmother used to make a similar recipe, but we had misplaced it. I plan on making these with my son tomorrow. Merry Christmas!

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    39. Oh this is so awesome!!!! I am pinning this recipe for next year! I love to make unique goodies for Christmas for neighbors, friends, and I want to make these litlte individual treats for them. 🙂 WAHOO!!!! 🙂 hope i remember!!

      Reply
    40. I live in Chicago but I am from Canada. No one here has ever heard of Butter Tarts and they are my favorite sweet! Thank you for this article!

      Reply

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