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Mom's (Emily's) Butter Tarts

Contributed by : Jill Kanwischer
jill-kanwischer-20220608231807
Canadian Recipes : Desserts

Butter tarts have always been a sweet tradition in our family, though their exact origins are a bit of a mystery. One thing is for sure—Mom earned the bragging rights. She made them most often, perfecting every flaky crust and gooey filling. These tarts became a staple at our annual cousins' party, lovingly dubbed Shop Til You Drop.

One year, we decided to pass on the torch, teaching some of the cousins how to make them during the party. It was filled with laughter, flour, and sticky fingers, all captured in a step-by-step video. If you want to recreate Mom’s butter tart magic, be sure to check out the attached video for all her tips and tricks!

Total Time

55 minutes

Prepare Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

40 minutes

Recipe Servings

24 tarts

Ingredients for
Mom's (Emily's) Butter Tarts

  • 3/4 cup of raisins
  • 1 cup of pecans (roughly chopped)
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup corn syrup
  • 2 slightly beaten eggs
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. vanilla

How to Make
Mom's (Emily's) Butter Tarts

  1. Pour boiling water over 3/4 cup raisins; Soak until edges begin to turn white
  2. Cream butter and brown sugar.
  3. Add syrup, eggs, salt and vanilla just until combined.
  4. Add a few raisins and chopped pecans to the tart shell.
  5. Pour syrup mixture over raisins and nuts until the tarts are 2/3 full.
  6. Bake at 375° for 18-20 minutes.

Notes

For a great homemade pastry recipe see Aunt Pearl's Pastry on OurRecipeTree.com and make the small quantity for a single batch and the large batch if you double this recipe.