Description
Irresistible butter tart squares showcase Canadian prairie culinary heritage with a delightful twist on classic pastry. Flaky crust and sweet filling create a perfect balance of nostalgic comfort and pure indulgence you’ll savor with each bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240 ml) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup (200 g) light or dark brown sugar, firmly packed
- ¾ cup (180 ml) dark corn syrup
- 2 ¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (60 g) confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) white vinegar
- 2 tbsps (15 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tsps pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (150 g) optional ingredients (raisins, currants, or chopped walnuts)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking pan with parchment paper, allowing excess paper to hang over the sides for easy removal.
- In a large mixing bowl, blend softened butter with confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy.
- Gradually mix in flour until the dough becomes thick and uniform.
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan, creating a compact base layer.
- Bake the crust for 15-20 minutes until it turns pale golden and sets. Remove from oven but maintain the temperature.
- For the filling, whisk together softened butter, brown sugar, and flour until smooth and well-combined.
- Beat in eggs and vanilla extract thoroughly, ensuring complete integration.
- Mix in corn syrup and white vinegar. Fold in optional raisins, currants, or chopped walnuts if desired.
- Carefully pour the filling over the partially baked crust, distributing it evenly across the surface.
- Return to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the filling sets and no longer appears liquid when gently shaken.
- Allow the pan to cool completely at room temperature, which helps the squares firm up and makes cutting easier.
- Using the parchment paper, lift the baked dessert from the pan. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into squares, trimming edges if necessary for a clean presentation.
Notes
- Perfectly crisp crust requires butter at room temperature, ensuring smooth blending and uniform texture.
- Avoid overmixing the base dough to prevent tough, dense squares that lack delicate, crumbly consistency.
- Resting the base layer briefly before adding filling helps create distinct, clean layers with enhanced structural integrity.
- Customize flavor profiles by experimenting with alternative nuts like pecans or adding dark chocolate chips for sophisticated variations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Canadian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 212
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 27 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 38 mg