Butter Tart Bars
A shortbread base topped with the gooey brown sugar, butter and egg filling of a Canadian butter tart, baked in a tin and cut into bars. No pastry to roll.
Method
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Heat the oven to 175°C / 350°F. Line a 20 cm square tin with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides.
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Mix the flour, sugar and salt for the base. Rub in the butter until the mixture looks like damp sand and holds together when pressed. Press it firmly and evenly into the tin.
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Bake the base for 18 minutes, until pale golden. Take it out and leave the oven on.
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Whisk the eggs in a bowl, then whisk in the brown sugar, melted butter, syrup, vanilla, flour and vinegar until smooth. Stir in the raisins and pecans, if using.
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Pour the filling over the warm base. Bake for 25 minutes, until the top is golden and set at the edges with a slight wobble in the centre.
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Cool completely in the tin, at least 1 hour, then lift out by the paper and cut into 16 bars.
Chef’s Tips
- Press the base firmly and bake it before the filling goes on. It keeps the base crisp under the wet filling.
- Take the bars out while the centre still wobbles a little. They set as they cool, and overbaked ones are stiff and dry.
- Cool the bars completely before cutting. A warm filling is runny and squeezes out of the sides.
Pairing Suggestions
- A cup of tea
- A glass of milk
- Vanilla ice cream
Storage & Reheating
Keep in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days, layered between parchment paper. Freeze for 2 months.
Common questions
How long does Butter Tart Bars take to make?
About 1 hour 5 minutes of hands-on work — 20 minutes of preparation and 45 minutes of cooking — plus 1 hour of Cooling, so allow 2 hours 5 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 16.
What are the key tips for making Butter Tart Bars?
Press the base firmly and bake it before the filling goes on. It keeps the base crisp under the wet filling. Take the bars out while the centre still wobbles a little. They set as they cool, and overbaked ones are stiff and dry. Cool the bars completely before cutting. A warm filling is runny and squeezes out of the sides.
What should I serve with Butter Tart Bars?
A cup of tea; A glass of milk; Vanilla ice cream.
Can Butter Tart Bars be made ahead or frozen?
Keep in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days, layered between parchment paper. Freeze for 2 months.
Is Butter Tart Bars suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Butter Tart Bars?
About 239 kcal per serving, with 2 g protein, 33 g carbohydrate and 11 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.