Canadian Cuisine – Butter Tarts

by Rosamaria Kubny
12/14/2025

Butter tarts are a classic Canadian dessert known for their rich, buttery filling. These small pastries offer the perfect balance between sweet and savory, with a crisp crust and a sticky, caramelized filling. They are ideal for any occasion, whether it’s a festive dinner or a cozy afternoon tea.

Preparation time: 30 min  Resting time: 30 min  Baking time: 20 min


Difficulty: easy

Ingredients for 12 tarts

Dough
250 g           flour
125 g           cold butter, cubed
½ tsp           salt
4 tbsp          ice-cold water

Filling
50 g             raisins
150 g           brown sugar
2 tbsp          maple syrup
60 g             butter, melted
2                  eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp           vanilla extract

Preparation

  1. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the cold butter cubes and work them in with your fingertips or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  2. Add the ice-cold water one tablespoon at a time, mixing with a fork until the dough comes together. Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and cut out circles that fit into a muffin tin. Place the dough circles into the muffin cups and press them in gently.
  4. For the filling, combine the brown sugar, melted butter, beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and maple syrup in a bowl. Stir in the raisins.
  5. Pour the filling evenly into the prepared dough cups, ensuring the raisins are evenly distributed.
  6. Bake the butter tarts in the preheated oven for about 15–20 minutes, until the filling is bubbling and the edges are golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool in the tin before taking them out.

We wish you lots of fun trying out this recipe and would be happy to receive your feedback.

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