Butter Tarts

Butter Tarts are a classic Canadian dessert loved for their sweet, gooey filling encased in a flaky pastry shell. This recipe yields delicious tarts with a perfect balance of buttery richness and sweetness, making them a favorite for special occasions or everyday treats.

Ingredients

• For the Pastry:
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
• 2-3 tablespoons ice water
• For the Filling:
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup corn syrup or maple syrup
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup raisins or chopped nuts (optional)

Directions

1. Prepare the Pastry:
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the cold cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Gradually add the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to overwork the dough. Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
4. Preheat the Oven:
5. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin or line it with paper liners.
6. Make the Filling:
7. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, corn syrup or maple syrup, beaten egg, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and well combined. Stir in the raisins or chopped nuts if using.
8. Roll out the Pastry:
9. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled pastry dough to about 1/8-inch thickness. Use a round cutter or a glass slightly larger than the muffin tin cups to cut out circles of dough.
10. Assemble the Tarts:
11. Gently press each pastry circle into the prepared muffin tin cups, shaping them to form shallow pastry shells.
12. Spoon about 1-2 tablespoons of the filling into each pastry shell, filling them about three-quarters full.
13. Bake the Tarts:
14. Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the filling is set and slightly bubbly.
15. Cool and Serve:
16. Allow the Butter Tarts to cool in the muffin tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
17. Once cooled, serve the tarts at room temperature and enjoy the delicious, gooey filling with every bite!