Cooking Lesson #1177: Canadian Butter Tarts

…from the Perspectives’ Kitchen

How you doin’? Butter tarts are a Canadian staple. My English Butter Tarts are fantastic with a sweet, homemade crust, but are my favorite treat to whip up quickly when I have shells pre-made. A fantastic spring or Easter treat, they're delicious with a cup of tea.
 
Butter tarts are a quintessential Canadian dessert, with their roots traced back to Ontario. The earliest known recipe was published in 1900 in a cookbook from Barrie, Ontario, entitled "The Women's Auxiliary of the Royal Victoria Hospital Cookbook.” This recipe is often cited as the first printed version, but the creation of butter tarts likely predates this publication.
 
The development of butter tarts is believed to be influenced by the arrival of young women from France to Quebec between 1663 and 1673. These women brought traditional recipes that evolved over time, adapting to the ingredients available in Canada. The butter tart is thought to be a variation of the sugar pie, a simple dessert made with similar ingredients.
 
Today, butter tarts are celebrated as a symbol of Canadian cuisine, particularly in Ontario. They are enjoyed across the country and have become a staple at family gatherings and special occasions. Various festivals and tours, such as the Butter Tart Festival in Midland, Ontario, highlight their popularity and cultural importance.
 
Prep time:  10 minutes
Bake time:  25 minutes
Additional:  10 minutes
Yield:  24 2-inch tarts or 1 9-inch deep dish pie shell
 
Ingredients 
24 (2 inch) unbaked tart shells
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup (I prefer Karo corn syrup)
1/2 cup melted unsalted butter
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
 
Directions

1. Read the recipe all the way through before starting. Measure all ingredients and have at your side.
2. Preheat an oven to 400⁰ F.
3. Place the tart shells on a baking sheet.
4. Bake the tart shells in the preheated oven until the edges of the crust are golden, about 10 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Set aside.
5. Lower the oven temperature to 350⁰ F. Position a rack in the upper 1/3 of the oven.
6. Whisk the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, eggs, vanilla extract and salt together in a bowl until smooth.
7. Fill the pastry shells with the custard mixture about 2/3-full.
8. Bake in the preheated oven until the filling foams and is bubbly and golden, about 15 minutes.
9. Remove the pan and cool for a few minutes on a wire rack; serve warm or at room temperature.

-------------------------------------------
ChefSecrets:  They are called Butter Tarts for a good reason—Do not substitute anything  for the butter; this will affect the taste and consistency. Margarine will make them oily and wet.  Good Canadian Butter Tarts should have a light brown, bubbly, soft-crust, and should be gooey, with a bit of liquid (syrup) inside. They should not be jelly-like, or 'jammy'. The tarts will fall as they cool. Similar butter tarts are seen in other cultures—Dan Tat in Cantonese Dim Sum Restaurants and Pastéis de Nata in Portuguese specialty bakeries.
-------------------------------------------
Quip of the Day:  I threw a custard pie at my soon-to-be ex-wife after we had an argument. She took me to court over who should look after the kids after we divorced.
She got custard-y
-------------------------------------------
Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food
-------------------------------------------
To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, kind, thankful, and stay well and safe. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission, Samaritan’s Purse and/or American Red Cross.

#Dessert #CanadianButterTart #ButterTart #DanTat #EggCustardTart #EasterDessert #HappyEaster #Recipes2026 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #ThreeSquare #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 
 
                                                  ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2026

---