"This is a recipe my mother had in Scotland. I have saved it since I was a teenager because the tarts are so good."
Traditionally, the English Canadian tart consists of butter, sugar, and eggs in a pastry shell, similar to the French-Canadian sugar pie, or the base of the U.S. pecan pie without the nut topping. The butter tart is different from the sugar pie given the lack of flour in the filling. The butter tart is different from pecan pie in that it has a "runnier" filling due to the omission of corn starch. Often raisins, walnuts, or pecans are added to the traditional butter tart, although the acceptability of such additions is a matter of national debate. As an iconic Canadian food and one of the most popular desserts in the country, the raisin-or-no-raisin question can provoke polarizing debate.
Method for English Butter Tarts
- 1Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- 2Arrange tart shells on a baking sheet. Distribute raisins evenly into shells. In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, corn syrup, shortening, egg, vanilla and salt. Mix until smooth, and pour over raisins in shells.
- 3Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until done. Be careful not to over bake.
Ingredients
- 12 (2 inch) unbaked tart shells
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 cup shortening
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup raisins
March 22, 2017
