Easy butter tarts are just that, a super simple recipe that is always a favorite! Sweet, gooey, and caramelly! If you don’t like raisins in your butter tarts, just leave them out.

Butter Tarts Recipe is truly one of the easiest Christmas desserts to make. They are also popular year round for any occasion. I always use store bought unsweetened tart shells just to make this tart recipe even easier. I do love homemade crust, but just find that using store bought is so much easier and there’s way less mess 🤗. To make this simple butter tart recipe, you basically mix all of the ingredients except the raisins. Then, place some raisins in each tart shell, scoop some butter tart filling over them, and bake! It really takes only 30 minutes from start to finish for this butter tart recipe!

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Butter tarts are always well-received, whether you’re Canadian or not. They are the ultimate, treat sized dessert for anyone with a sweet tooth!

This butter tart filling recipe is the one that I have used for years and years. I’m not even sure when I started making butter tarts. All I know is that they are one of the first items to disappear from any Christmas cookie tray!

Canadian Eh!!

There aren’t very many genuine originated in Canada recipes! But, the ones that have begun here are truly yum! Recipes like Puffed Wheat Squares, Nanaimo Bars, Butter Tarts, Poutine, and Tourtiere, are truly Canadian and totally worth trying!

Raisins or No Raisins? That is The Question!

There is a centuries old debate about whether raisins belong in the best Butter Tarts. True purists argue that butter tarts should not have either raisins or nuts. For many though, raisins are a definite necessity in the best butter tart recipe! There is also debates about how runny or firm the filling should be, or how flaky the crust should be. For myself, I am not a butter tart snob, but do prefer raisins in them.😋

History of Butter Tarts

Apparently, around 800 young women were brought from France over to Quebec between 1663 and 1673 to become wives of the men that were there as settlers and fur trappers etc. Okay, they were helping to “colonize” Quebec…🤔(this whole story is very interesting in itself) These young ladies brought their favorite recipes with them, one of which was a sugar pie. They had to adapt their recipes to use what ingredients were available in Canada at that time. So, this sugar pie included four, butter, salt, vanilla, and cream and most likely was the forerunner of butter tarts. The first published recipe for butter tarts was found in a cookbook from 1900.

What Makes the Best Butter Tarts?

The best Butter tart recipe should be easy and no-fail! Plus, butter tarts should have a sticky, gooey, sweet, and syrupy filling in a flaky tart crust! The filling should be not too runny and not too solid.

Ingredients for Butter Tarts Recipe

• Tart shells, store bought or homemade. I use unsweetened store bought to save time and mess.
• Brown sugar, of course for the caramel flavor.
• Corn syrup, which is necessary to keep the sugar from crystalizing in your butter tart caramel filling.
• Butter, softened to room temperature. I use salted as usual.
• Egg, this helps the caramel filling set up just the right amount.
• Vanilla extract
• Salt
• Raisins, yes I do love raisins in my butter tart recipe. Of course, they are optional if you prefer.

How to Make Butter Tarts Recipe

1.Place all of the ingredients except the raisins in a medium sized bowl.

2. Cream well with an electric mixer.

3. Arrange the tart shells on a parchment lined baking sheet with sides. Divide the raisins evenly among the tart shells.

4. Fill the tart shells 2/3 of the way full with the filling.

5. Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown. Do not let the filling boil over…

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Other Recipes You May Like to Try

Butter Tarts Recipe

Easy butter tarts are just that, a super simple recipe that is always a favorite! Sweet, gooey, and caramelly! If you don't like raisins in your butter tarts, just leave them out.

Author:RebekahCooking Method:BakedCuisine:CanadianCourses:Dessert, SnackRecipe Keys:HomemadeSweets

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe Baked

Prep Time13 minsCook Time13 minsTotal Time26 minsDifficulty:BeginnerServings:36Calories:143Best Season:Suitable throughout the year

Ingredients

Servings

• 36 tart shells (unsweetened)
• 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1 cup corn syrup
• ¹⁄₂ cup salted butter (softened)
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ¹⁄₂ tsp salt
• 1 cup raisins

Instructions

Video

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How to Make Butter Tarts

1. Place all of the ingredients except the raisins in a medium sized bowl.

   

2. Cream well with an electric mixer.

   

3. Arrange the tart shells on a parchment lined baking sheet with sides. Divide the raisins evenly among the tart shells.

   

4. Fill the tart shells 2/3 of the way full with the filling.

   

5. Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown. Do not let the filling boil over...if possible.

   

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 tart

Servings 36

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Amount Per Serving

Calories 143kcal

Calories from Fat 72kcal

% Daily Value *

Sodium 150mg7%

Potassium 23mg1%

Total Carbohydrate 17g6%

Dietary Fiber 0.6g3%

Sugars 10g

Protein 1.5g3%

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Vitamin A 5 IU

Thiamin 6 mg

Riboflavin 5 mg

Folate 6 mcg

Vitamin B12 9 mcg

Selenium 9 mg

Manganese 4 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

• Bake in the bottom third of the oven. This will ensure the bottom of the butter tart being fully baked.
• Don't be afraid to use store bought tart shells to save time!
• Don't thaw the tart shells before putting the filling in and baking them.
• I put parchment on the baking sheet for easy clean up, in case I accidentally overfill any of the tart shells.