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Homemade Butter Tarts with golden flaky pastry and glossy brown sugar filling, on a wooden surface with blurred tarts in the background.

Butter Tarts

5 from 1 vote
Classic Canadian butter tarts with a gooey brown sugar filling in a flaky pastry shell — simple to make, endlessly customizable, and perfect for impressing guests.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Chilling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 12 tarts
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Canadian
Calories: 280
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Pastry Shells
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour - or gluten-free blend
  • 1 cup cold butter - cubed
  • ¼ cup ice water - add gradually
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar - optional, for slight sweetness
Filling
  • 1 cup brown sugar - packed
  • ½ cup butter - melted (or browned for extra flavor)
  • 2 large - eggs
  • ½ cup white corn syrup - or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar - optional, for balance
Optional Add-ins
  • ½ cup raisins - or dried cranberries
  • ½ cup chopped pecans - or walnuts, almonds
  • ½ cup mini chocolate chips - kid-friendly

Equipment

  • 1 Standard Muffin Tin (For baking tarts)
  • 1 Large mixing bowl (For pastry and filling)
  • 1 Pastry Cutter or Food Processor (To cut butter into flour)
  • 1 Rolling pin (For rolling pastry)
  • 1 Round cookie cutter (Sized to muffin tin wells)
  • Measuring cups & spoons (Standard set)

Method
 

  1. Cut cold butter into flour, salt, and sugar until crumbly. Add ice water gradually until dough forms. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
  2. Roll dough to ⅛-inch thick, cut circles, and press into muffin tin cups. Trim edges, prick bottoms with fork, and chill 15 minutes.
  3. Whisk brown sugar and melted/browned butter. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in corn syrup (or maple), vanilla, salt, and vinegar if using.
  4. Add raisins or nuts to shells if desired. Fill each shell about ¾ full with filling.
  5. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15–20 minutes until filling is set but still slightly jiggly.
  6. Cool completely in the pan before removing. Store as desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tartCalories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 2gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 150mgPotassium: 60mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 400IUCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes

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