Butter Tarts Recipe: Classic Canadian Sweet Treat 2026

Butter tarts are a beloved Canadian specialty: crisp pastry shells cradling a gooey, sweet filling that makes them completely irresistible. This version uses a simple homemade dough and a maple-kissed custard that bakes to a golden, sticky finish.

The filling comes together in minutes by whisking salted butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup with an egg and a touch of vanilla. In Canada, people debate whether raisins belong inside; this recipe leaves them out, but you can experiment if you like the combination.

These tarts are ideal alongside tea or coffee for an afternoon gathering. Leftovers keep in an airtight container for a couple of days, and they freeze well for up to 3 months.

Ingredients for Butter Tarts

Makes 9 tarts

• 60 g cold butter
• 110 g all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 80 ml cold water
• 90 g brown sugar
• 80 ml maple syrup
• 60 g salted butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

How to Make Butter Tarts Step by Step

1. Make the Dough

Cut 60 g of cold butter into small cubes and rub or pulse it with 110 g flour, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, and 1 pinch salt. Add the 80 ml cold water a little at a time until the mixture comes together, as you may not need all the water.

2. Chill the Dough

Shape the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

3. Roll Out the Dough

Roll the dough between a sheet of parchment paper and plastic wrap until it is 2 mm thick.

4. Cut Out Circles

Cut out circles of dough about 9 cm in diameter using a cookie cutter.

5. Line the Muffin Tin

Place the dough circles in a muffin tin and freeze for 10 minutes while you prepare the filling. Use this time to preheat the oven to 175 °C (350 °F).

6. Make the Filling

For the filling, whisk 90 g brown sugar with 80 ml maple syrup, 60 g melted salted butter, 1 large egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth.

7. Fill the Pastry Shells

Pour the filling into the chilled pastry shells.

8. Bake the Tarts

Bake the butter tarts for 20–25 minutes at 175 °C (350 °F) until golden. Remove from the oven and let them cool in the tin for 10 minutes.

9. Cool and Serve

Unmold the butter tarts, let them cool on a wire rack, and they are ready to serve.

Tips for the Best Butter Tarts

Keep the Dough Cold

Cold butter and cold water are key to a flaky crust. Work quickly, and if the dough softens, pop it back in the fridge before rolling.

Watch the Bake Time

The filling should be set but still slightly jiggly in the center. Start checking at 20 minutes to avoid overbaking.

Storing and Freezing

Keep leftovers in an airtight container for a couple of days, or freeze them for up to 3 months.

30 Home-Cooked Recipes I Keep Coming Back To

If you're anything like me, your kitchen rotation probably includes a little bit of everything — cozy comfort plates, tried-and-true dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

When a rich, indulgent treat is calling my name, I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luxurious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only something fruity and soothing will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

Tapas and Mediterranean flavors are a constant craving, so I switch between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. And when the occasion begs for something a touch fancier, this elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is what I serve.

Come lunch or dinnertime, these are the dishes I hand out to friends most often: a soul-warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. For something more substantial, out comes this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, boldly seasoned Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also make an effortless appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and mixing drinks alongside a full menu, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for the Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on three things: simplicity, techniques you can trust, and flavor that really pops.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over — whether it's a fast solo meal or a spread I'm putting together for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a favorite of mine when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled after the celebrated Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture pays off, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and unfussy sounds right, I tend to go with the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for cozier, heartier fare, I'm quick to suggest the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine — among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, golden Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it delivers great texture while saving time. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for anyone steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and completely gratifying without any gluten.

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