Butter Tarts
Flaky pastry shells filled with a gooey butter, brown sugar and maple filling. The pastry Canadians argue about: runny or set, raisins or none.
Method
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Whisk the flour, sugar and salt, rub in the butter until it looks like coarse crumbs, then stir in the water until the dough holds together. Flatten into a disc, wrap and chill 30 minutes.
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Heat the oven to 200°C / 400°F and grease a 12-hole muffin tin.
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Roll the dough 3 mm thick, cut twelve 10 cm rounds and press them into the tin.
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Stir the melted butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, egg, vanilla, vinegar and salt together gently until smooth. Do not whisk in air.
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Divide the raisins between the shells and spoon over the filling to two thirds full.
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Bake 15 to 18 minutes, until the pastry is golden and the filling bubbles but still wobbles in the middle.
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Cool in the tin 10 minutes, run a knife around each tart, lift out and cool on a rack so the filling sets.
Chef’s Tips
- Stir the filling. Whisking in air makes it puff up and crack.
- Take them out while the middle still wobbles. It sets as it cools.
- Run a knife around each tart while it is warm, or the sugar glues it to the tin.
Pairing Suggestions
- A cup of tea
- Black coffee
- Vanilla ice cream
Storage & Reheating
Keep in an airtight container 3 days, or refrigerate up to 1 week. Freeze baked tarts for 2 months.
Common questions
How long does Butter Tarts take to make?
About 58 minutes in total — 40 minutes of preparation and 18 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 12.
What are the key tips for making Butter Tarts?
Stir the filling. Whisking in air makes it puff up and crack. Take them out while the middle still wobbles. It sets as it cools. Run a knife around each tart while it is warm, or the sugar glues it to the tin.
What should I serve with Butter Tarts?
A cup of tea; Black coffee; Vanilla ice cream.
Can Butter Tarts be made ahead or frozen?
Keep in an airtight container 3 days, or refrigerate up to 1 week. Freeze baked tarts for 2 months.
Is Butter Tarts 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 Tarts?
About 327 kcal per serving, with 3 g protein, 36 g carbohydrate and 19 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
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