Canadian Butter Tarts
Shortcrust pastry, raisins and single cream come together in this Canadian dessert — 80 minutes, 11 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 11 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for oven and pan. At medium difficulty across 11 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (4)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Preheat the oven to fan 170C/ conventional 190C/gas 5.
- Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface so it’s slightly thinner than straight from the pack.
- Then cut out 18-20 rounds with a 7.5cm fluted cutter, re-rolling the trimmings.
- Use the rounds to line two deep 12-hole tart tins (not muffin tins).
- If you only have a regular-sized, 12-hole tart tin you will be able to make a few more slightly shallower tarts.
- Beat the eggs in a large bowl and combine with the rest of the ingredients except the walnuts.
- Tip this mixture into a pan and stir continuously for 3-4 minutes until the butter melts, and the mixture bubbles and starts to thicken.
- It should be thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.
- Don’t overcook, and be sure to stir all the time as the mixture can easily burn.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the nuts.
- Spoon the filling into the unbaked tart shells so it’s level with the pastry. Bake for 15-18 minutes until set and pale golden. Leave in the tin to cool for a few minutes before lifting out on to a wire rack. Serve warm or cold.
You'll use: Oven · Pan
Watch how it's made
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Ingredient substitutions
- Eggs
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (baking) · 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water per egg
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
What to serve with Canadian Butter Tarts
- Poutine Miscellaneous
- Split Pea Soup Side
- Tourtiere Pork
- Montreal Smoked Meat Beef
Tips & common questions
How long does Canadian Butter Tarts take to make?
About 80 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 11 steps and 8 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of eggs?
Try ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (baking). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Canadian Butter Tarts vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Recipe data for Canadian Butter Tarts via TheMealDB (open database). ▶ Video. Original source. Consomee adds the scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.