Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (2024)

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Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (1)

Submitted by Lennie

"Butter tarts are a Canadian tradition. Waaaay back in the 1970s, a national contest here in Canada concluded that these butter tarts, originating from Wilkie's Bakery in Orillia, Ontario, were the best. I certainly think so and it's the only recipe I use. Add a sprinkle of toasted walnuts when you add the raisins, if you wish, or use only walnuts if you don't like raisins."

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Ready In:
1hr 5mins

Ingredients:
8
Serves:

16

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ingredients

  • pie pastry (enough to fill 16 muffin cups, your own or from a mix)
  • 12 cup raisins
  • 14 cup soft butter
  • 14 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 12 cup corn syrup
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 12 teaspoon vanilla

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directions

  • Prepare muffin pans by rolling out pie dough and cutting 4-inch (approx) circles; fit dough circles into muffin cups; set aside in fridge until ready to fill.
  • In a small bowl, place raisins and cover with hot tap water; let stand on the counter for 30 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, mix together the soft butter, brown sugar, salt and corn syrup; stir well until sugar is dissolved and butter is creamed.
  • Add egg and vanilla and mix well.
  • Drain raisins.
  • Retrieve tart shells and divide raisins equally into all shells; then divide butter mixture into all tarts.
  • Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes; filling will be lightly browned but still bubbling.
  • Canadians fall into two camps about butter tarts and are quite loyal to their favourite type: runny or firm.
  • I like runny-- the type that dribbles when you bite into one; if you like firm, bake them for the full 20 minutes, even adding another minute or two if you wish.
  • Let cooked butter tarts cool in pans for 10 minutes after removing from oven; then remove and place on racks until completely cool.

Questions & Replies

Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (13)

  1. Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (14)

    Are these regular-size muffin pans or the small muffin pans that you use?

  2. Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (15)

    Re: Lennie's Award Winning Butter Tarts. Pastry also looks delicious. Do you have recipe for it.

  3. Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (17)

    Can I use honey in place of the corn syrup? I've seen several people say they used maple syrup instead. My bees have been extra generous this year.

  4. Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (18)

    Can you refrigerate the filling and use it the next day?

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Reviews

  1. Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (19)

    Yummmmmmm! This is the second time I've made butter tarts, but the first with this recipe. I baked them for 15 minutes, and the result was a sweet, buttery, gooey tart that was so rich, I had stuff dribblin' off my chin as I ate one. (That's half the fun!) Lennie, thanks for sharing these Canadian treats with us poor deprived Americans! We missed soooo much when we were youngsters! :o)

  2. Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (20)

    Im from Orillia Ont. and Yes these are the best Butter Tarts evr made!!! I go to the Bakery on Mississauga street about once a month to buy them for my father in law and Chiropractor.Dad rateseveryones butter tarts onascale of 1- 10 and Wilkies gets a 10! EVERY TIME!!!! I, his favorite daughter-in- law USED to get only a 7-1/2, for mine but now that I see the "secret" recipe here I will soon be getting a '#10' for mine...........I dare him to tell me different!!Bonnie Lacey

  3. Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (21)

    These are so very tasty! I cooked mine for 15 minutes - I too like them runny! I also used Golden Raisins for mine and added some toasted pecans to half of the tarts. As a side note - I used pre-made butter tart shells (Tenderflake) and they turned out great!! A little tip to help some of you save time. Thanks for posting this Lennie!

  4. Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (22)

    I made these just for fun today--I bought these really cute little tart pans and I was looking for a way to use them! Lennie, these were great! I just ate a hot one right from the oven. I'd never even heard of butter tarts before, but this was certainly an auspicious introduction!! Thanks!! (I made these with PetitFour's Tart Dough (Sweet) #27695--also heavenly!)Just an update--I made these again (actually two more times) but last time I didn't have any raisins, so I just left them out. They were wonderful that way, too...although I don't know if they would still be very "Canadian" then? Anyway, just wanted to post that variation!

  5. Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (23)

    Thank you Lennie for this great recipe. My hubby loves butter tarts, but all the recipes I've used have been more firm tarts, and he likes them runny! I made these today, and I added a few broken walnuts to the raisins! They were awesome! Just the way he likes them. This will be my butter tart recipe from now on

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Tweaks

  1. Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (24)

    I omitted the raisins and added pecans instead. I also doubled my recipe and used half Coconut oil instead of the butter. They are DELICIOUS!! YUMMY Good and so easy to make. Thanks again for round two of my Christmas baking...???????????????

    • Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (25)

  2. Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (26)

    These are SO buttery and delicious! I used a couple store bought pie shells that I rolled out and then cut into 4" circles. It was super easy to do! Next time I think I'll add some pecans to the mix like others mentioned. Definitely a great recipe when you need a treat!!

  3. Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (27)

    Added Pecans

  4. Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (28)

    My husband who is very picky loved these. I used currants instead of raisins (they don't plump) and Lyle's Golden Syrup for its caramel flavour.

  5. Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe - Food.com (29)

    I used premade pie crust from Trader Joe's for the shells. Really tasty crust - buttery and flaky.

see 7 more tweaks

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

I have been sharing recipes here at Recipezaar since October 2001. You won't see me around anymore, although if you're an old-school Zaarite you'll remember that in the past, you couldn't shut me up!

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Award-Winning Butter Tarts Recipe  - Food.com (2024)

FAQs

Why are my butter tarts so runny? ›

Butter tarts that are runny may be underbaked or may not contain enough egg. Eggs help thicken and stabilize butter tart filling while it bakes, which is why I've included two whole eggs in my recipe to ensure the filling is thick and fully set once baked.

How do you keep butter tarts from overflowing? ›

Next time you make butter tarts, mix the filling by hand, as overmixing incorporates air into the eggs, which causes the filling to rise and overflow, and then collapse when removed from the oven.

What are the six tart baking tips? ›

Here are 6 of Kirsten's best quick tips in tart making:
  1. Don't over mix your pastry dough.
  2. Chill your dough before you start rolling it out.
  3. Make sure your pastry goes into the corners of your tart shell.
  4. Don't grease your shells.
  5. Chill again and refrigerate!
  6. Choose Silikomart.

Should butter tarts have raisins? ›

Some people hate raisins and therefore don't like them in their tarts. Others find raisins too sweet with the sugary filling so prefer using currants for a more tart edge or chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts. I personally don't love raisins but we always had raisins in butter tarts growing up in my household.

How to keep butter tarts from crystallizing? ›

Sucrose naturally wants to crystalize, which is how granulated sugar is made from simple sugars like fructose and glucose. To reduce the amount of crystallization in the butter tart filling when baking, try adding some acidity (i.e. lemon juice or 1 spoon of corn syrup).

What is butter tart filling made of? ›

These buttery mini pies, typically baked in a muffin tin, have a flaky crust filled with a gooey mixture of butter, sugar, syrup, egg, and sometimes raisins or nuts. They bear some resemblance to the American pecan pie and British treacle tart, but their uniquely rich flavor sets them apart.

Why does my tart filling crack? ›

The most common reasons why your tart has cracked is because the oven was too hot or the tart baked too long and overbaked. We recommend pulling your lemon tart from the oven when it's still a little jiggly in the middle when the pan is gently shaken. Love all things lemon?

How long can butter tarts sit out? ›

Butter Tarts should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated, they will keep for up to five days in the fridge. If you keep them at room temperature remember they will only keep for about a day or 2 depending on how warm your home is.

What is the golden rule of pastry? ›

The first golden rule of making pastry; keep the ingredients, the bowl and the hands as cool as possible. Sieve the flour to add extra air and lightness to the pastry.

How to tell when a tart is done? ›

Once you've successfully got it in there, you can relax and let it bake for 20-30 minutes. You will know the tart is done when you can gently nudge the tin and the mix wobbles like set jelly.

How do you know when a tart is ready? ›

If you see the centre of the tart jiggle as you shake the pan slightly, then your tart is done. If the centre still looks watery, pop your tart back into the oven for another 3-5 minutes.

Can you buy butter tart filling? ›

Get this item with your grocery order. Our Butter Tart mix strikes all the right notes of sticky and buttery sweetness while remaining convenient to prepare. With no artificial flavours or colours, simply add water and butter to the mix, cook and stir on your stove top for 10 minutes.

What are the flavors of butter tarts? ›

From classic favourites like traditional butter, pecan, and raisin to unique variations like chocolate hazelnut, salted caramel, and coconut, there's a butter tart for every palate.

What culture is butter tarts from? ›

The History Of The Butter Tart

' Butter tarts were common in Canadian pioneer cooking. The earliest published recipe for a butter tart is from Barrie, Ontario dating back to 1900 in the Women's Auxiliary of the Royal Victoria Hospital Cookbook. Another early published recipe was found in a 1915 pie cookbook.

How do you thicken jam for tarts? ›

Fine jam tarts

If your jam was somewhat runny to begin with, the addition of a little liquid pectin, such as Certo, and sugar to taste will help it set.

What happens if you put too much butter in pastry? ›

Too much butter in your baked goods would give them different texture (flat, greasy..).

Why is my tart dough so soft? ›

Very soft, difficult-to-mould pastry: Either too little flour or too much water or fat was used, the pastry was not kneaded together until smooth or the pastry was still too hot and soft to roll out (to remedy this, allow to stand or knead gently for 1–2 minutes).

Why is my butter and sugar watery? ›

It is possible to overmix the butter and sugar. If you overmix, the butter will separate out of the mixture and it will be grainy and soupy. Be sure to stop once your butter becomes light and fluffy.

References

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