A quintessential Canadian dessert, the butter tart is a small pastry tart filled with a semi-solid, gooey filling of butter, sugar, syrup, and egg. This recipe walks you through making both a flaky pastry and the classic rich filling. The great Canadian debate is whether to include raisins or not—this version leaves them as an optional addition, so you can decide for yourself! They are a sweet, rich, and incredibly satisfying treat.

A Slice of History

The butter tart is one of Canada's most famous culinary creations. The earliest published recipe dates back to 1900 in Barrie, Ontario. Its origins are likely tied to earlier "border tarts" from the English-Scottish border or similar sugar pies from Quebec. It's a dessert that evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and patriotism for many Canadians.

Curated by the RecipeNest Team

Prep Time

30 minutes

Cook Time

20 minutes

Total Time

50 minutes

Difficulty

Medium

Skills

Pastry

Kitchen

Average

Ingredients & Nutrition

New Feature: We're excited to introduce our nutrition calculator! Please treat these values as an estimate, as they are auto-calculated. For specific dietary needs, consulting a professional is always recommended.

Instructions

0 of 8 steps completed

Instruction visual for Butter Tarts
Instruction visual for Butter Tarts

Reviews & Photos

Login to leave a review and share your experience!

You Might Also Like