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Butter Tart Squares – East Coast Style

Butter Tart Squares – East Coast Style

All the sticky-sweet goodness of classic Canadian butter tarts baked into rich, chewy, crowd-pleasing squares.
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Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Servings:16 Squares
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

For the Base:
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup cold unsalted butter cubed
For the Filling:
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1½ cups brown sugar
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup raisins or chopped walnuts optional

Method
 

Prepare the Base
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, mix the flour and sugar. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  2. Press evenly into a greased 9x9-inch baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden.
Make the Filling
  1. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, brown sugar, melted butter, vinegar, and vanilla until smooth. Stir in raisins or walnuts if using.
Assemble and Bake
  1. Pour the filling over the hot crust. Return to the oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the filling is set but still slightly wobbly in the center.
Cool and Slice
  1. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. This step helps the filling firm up and ensures clean, neat slices.