1664
(Photo: Erik Putz)
This Canadian classic butter tart recipe wraps a gooey, sweet filling in perfectly flaky pastry. Plus, variations for chocolate, pecan and boozy versions.
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
1/4 cup cold lard, cubed
1 egg yolk
1 tsp white vinegar
1/4 cup ice water
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup white corn syrup
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 eggs
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp white vinegar
1/8 tsp salt
WHIRL flour and salt in a food processor. Add butter and lard. Pulse until coarse crumbs form. Whisk yolk, vinegar and ice water in a small bowl. With motor running, pour through feed tube while pulsing until just combined. Wrap with plastic wrap and press into a disc. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
POSITION rack in bottom of oven. Preheat oven to 450F.
WHISK sugar, corn syrup, maple syrup, eggs, butter, vanilla, vinegar and salt in a bowl until smooth.
ROLL out dough on a lightly floured surface to ⅛-in. thickness. Cut into 12 rounds using a 4 ½-in. round cookie cutter, re-rolling scraps. Gently press rounds into a 12-cup muffin pan. Press sides to adhere. Refrigerate for 20 min. Spoon 2 tbsp filling into each pastry.
BAKE for 8 min. Reduce heat to 400F and open oven slightly for 10 sec. Bake until filling is puffed and pastry is golden, about 7 more min. Let stand on rack for 3 min. Run a small knife around the edges of tarts and transfer to rack to cool completely.
Top each tart with 2 tsp coarsely chopped dark chocolate just before baking.
Stir 1 tbsp whisky or bourbon into filling just before pouring into pastry. Top each tart with 1 tsp chopped dried cranberries.
Top each tart with 1 tsp chopped pecans before baking.
Want to call it a day and just make squares? Our Maple Syrup Butter Tart Squares have all the flavour of classic butter tarts, but are way easier to make.
Calories 276, Protein 3g, Carbohydrates 35g, Fat 15g, Sodium 142mg.
Chatelaine celebrates, inspires, informs and empowers. We know that Canadian women contain multitudes, and we cover all of the issues—big and small—that matter to them, from climate change to caregiving, Canadian fashion and what to cook now.