The Ultimate Butter Tart Squares: Easy Homemade Canadian Dessert Bars with Gooey Filling

Prepare to fall in love with these irresistible **Butter Tart Squares**, also affectionately known as Butter Tart Slices or Butter Tart Bars. Imagine the classic, beloved Canadian butter tart transformed into a convenient, delicious square—it’s everything you adore about the traditional pastry, but quicker and significantly easier to make! Featuring a delightful, buttery shortbread crust topped with an exquisitely gooey, sweet butter tart filling, these bars are a perfect addition to any baking platter. They serve as an exceptional dessert or a satisfying snack, embodying comfort and indulgence in every bite.

Butter tart squares hold a special place in Canadian culinary traditions, particularly gaining immense popularity during the Christmas holiday season. Their rich flavor and comforting texture make them an excellent choice for festive baking platters, potlucks, or simply to savor with a warm cup of coffee, tea, or a cold glass of milk. If you’re a devoted fan of butter tarts, you’ll be thrilled to explore more of my butter tart inspired creations, including my decadent Butter Tart Bundt Cake, adorable Butter Tart Thumbprint Cookies, charming Butter Tart Cupcakes, refreshing No-Churn Butter Tart Ice Cream, and the unique Butter Tart Waffles (Canadian Waffles). Each recipe offers a delightful twist on this iconic flavor, ensuring you can enjoy the essence of butter tarts in countless ways.

Beyond these Canadian delights, if you have a soft spot for easy-to-make dessert bars, don’t miss out on my Chocoholic Chocolate Squares for a rich, fudgy treat. And for those who appreciate traditional, comforting flavors, my classic Date Slice (Matrimonial Cake) is sure to become a new favorite. This specific butter tart bar recipe is a cherished family heirloom, passed down from my Auntie Sue. I grew up enjoying these exact bars, and I’m incredibly excited to finally share this treasured recipe with you. It truly is, in my humble opinion, THE BEST Butter Tart Slice you’ll ever taste!

Essential Ingredient Notes for Perfect Butter Tart Squares

Crafting the perfect Butter Tart Slice requires a few key ingredients. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and some helpful tips for selecting and using them:

• Brown Sugar: This is the secret to the butter tart’s signature rich, caramel-like flavor and its wonderfully gooey texture. You can choose between light or dark brown sugar. While both work beautifully, dark brown sugar, with its higher molasses content, will impart a deeper, more pronounced caramel note and a slightly darker color to your bars. Light brown sugar will result in a milder flavor and a lighter hue. For this particular batch, I opted for dark brown sugar to enhance that classic deep butter tart taste.
• Butter: For most of my baking, I prefer using unsalted butter. This allows me complete control over the salt content in the recipe, ensuring the flavors are perfectly balanced. While this particular recipe has no added salt beyond what might be in salted butter, using unsalted still offers a pure butter flavor that shines through. Ensure your butter is softened to room temperature for both the crust and the filling; this promotes better emulsification and a smoother consistency.
• Icing Sugar: In Canada, “icing sugar” is the common term for what is elsewhere known as “powdered sugar” or “confectioners’ sugar.” Its fine, powdery texture is essential for creating a smooth, tender shortbread crust that melts in your mouth. Using granulated sugar instead would significantly alter the crust’s texture, making it gritty.
• Eggs: Eggs act as a binder and contribute to the richness and structure of the gooey filling. Like butter, ensure your eggs are at room temperature. This helps them incorporate more smoothly into the other ingredients, creating a more uniform filling texture.
• All-Purpose Flour: This provides the necessary structure for both the shortbread crust and helps to thicken the filling slightly. Measure your flour correctly by spooning it into a measuring cup and leveling it off with a knife, rather than scooping directly from the bag, which can lead to over-measurement.
• Baking Powder: A small amount of baking powder in the filling helps to give it a slight lift and contributes to its characteristic light, airy yet gooey texture. It prevents the filling from becoming too dense.
• Vanilla Extract: A touch of pure vanilla extract enhances all the sweet, buttery flavors in the filling, adding a fragrant and comforting aroma that is essential for a truly authentic butter tart taste.
• Raisins (Optional, but traditional): Raisins are a classic addition to butter tarts, providing bursts of fruity sweetness and a chewy texture. If you’re not a fan, don’t worry—there are plenty of delicious alternatives!

Please refer to the complete recipe card below for a full list of all ingredients and precise quantities.

Versatile Variations & Easy Substitutions

While the classic Butter Tart Slice is divine, it’s also incredibly adaptable to your personal preferences. Here are some popular variations and substitutions to make these bars truly your own:

• Butter Choices: As mentioned, unsalted butter is preferred for precise flavor control. However, if you only have salted butter on hand, you can certainly use it. Just be aware that it will subtly cut down on the overall sweetness of the bars, which some people actually prefer for a more balanced profile. There’s no need to adjust other ingredients if you make this switch.
• Raisins or Pecans – Your Choice: The traditional butter tart often features raisins, which add a lovely chewy texture and fruity sweetness. But if you’re firmly in the “no raisins” camp, or simply prefer nuts, pecans are a fantastic alternative. Roughly chopped pecans add a delightful crunch and a rich, nutty flavor that complements the gooey filling perfectly. You can also experiment with other additions like chopped walnuts, chocolate chips for a chocolatey twist, or even shredded coconut for a tropical hint. Feel free to mix and match or use a combination of your favorites!
• Add a Splash of Alcohol: For an adult twist, a teaspoon of rum extract, brandy, or even a good quality bourbon can be added to the filling. These spirits enhance the caramel notes and add a sophisticated depth of flavor, making them even more indulgent for holiday gatherings.
• Maple Syrup Boost: While brown sugar provides the primary sweetness, a tablespoon or two of pure maple syrup in the filling can deepen its Canadian roots and add an extra layer of rich, nuanced sweetness.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Irresistible Butter Tart Slices

Making these Butter Tart Slices is a straightforward process, broken down into simple steps for both the crust and the filling. Follow along to create this delicious Canadian treat in your own kitchen:

PREP: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C). This ensures your oven is at the correct temperature when your pan is ready to go in. Generously spray a 9×9 inch (or 8×8 inch for thicker bars) baking pan with non-stick cooking spray, or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal later. This crucial step prevents the sticky filling from adhering to the pan.

1. Step 1: Prepare the Shortbread Base: Combine all the base ingredients (softened butter, icing sugar, and all-purpose flour) in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture comes together and forms a soft dough that clings to itself. If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs and then press it to form a dough.

2. Step 2: Press the Crust into the Pan: Carefully press the shortbread crust mixture evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan. You can use your fingers or the back of a flat spatula to ensure a compact and uniform layer. A smooth, even crust will bake more consistently.

3. Step 3: Pre-bake the Crust: Place the pan with the pressed crust into your preheated oven and bake for exactly 10 minutes. This pre-baking step helps to set the crust, creating a sturdy foundation for the gooey filling and preventing it from becoming soggy.

4. Step 4: Prepare the Gooey Topping/Filling: While the crust is baking, whisk together all the topping ingredients (eggs, brown sugar, baking powder, flour, melted butter, vanilla extract, and raisins or pecans) in a large mixing bowl. It’s important to only mix until just combined; overmixing can incorporate too much air, which can affect the final gooey texture. The mixture should be thick and syrupy.

5. Step 5: Add the Filling to the Base: Once the crust is lightly baked, carefully pour and spread the prepared butter tart filling evenly over the warm shortbread base. Use a spatula to gently spread it to all corners of the pan.

6. Step 6: Bake to Perfection: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the edges are set and slightly golden, but the middle is still slightly jiggly or “almost firm.” The filling will continue to set as it cools. For my oven, 28 minutes was the perfect baking time to achieve that ideal gooey consistency.

7. Step 7: Cool, Slice, and Serve: Allow the butter tart squares to cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes. This cooling period is crucial for the filling to fully set, making it easier to cut. Once cooled slightly, use a butter knife or a thin spatula to loosen the edges around the perimeter of the pan. Then, carefully slice the entire pan into 9 generous servings. For a super clean presentation, once you’ve removed the squares from the pan (a pie lifter is fantastic for this!), you might wish to trim the very edges of each individual piece to make them look extra neat and professional. Enjoy your homemade Canadian delicacy!

Storage Solutions for Your Butter Tart Bars

Proper storage ensures your delicious Butter Tart Bars remain fresh and enjoyable for as long as possible:

Once completely cooled, store these butter tart bars in an airtight container. They will keep beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The cool environment helps maintain the integrity of the gooey filling and prevents the shortbread crust from becoming stale.

For longer storage, these bars are excellent for freezing! Simply place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to flash freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply thaw them in the refrigerator or at room temperature, or gently warm them in the microwave for a few seconds for an extra gooey treat.

Adjusting the Serving Size to Fit Your Needs

This recipe is designed to yield 9 generous servings of delightful Butter Tart Squares. However, its versatility means you can easily adjust the yield to suit any occasion, whether you’re baking for a small family gathering or a larger crowd. You have the flexibility to half, double, or even triple the recipe. Simply click on the serving number in the recipe card below and select your desired quantity. The ingredient amounts will automatically adjust, making it effortless to scale the recipe up or down without manual calculations.

Perfect Pairings: What to Serve with Butter Tart Squares

These delightful Butter Tart Squares are incredibly versatile and pair wonderfully with a variety of beverages and other desserts, making them perfect for any occasion. For a simple indulgence, enjoy them with a comforting cup of freshly brewed coffee, a soothing mug of hot tea, a festive glass of eggnog during the holidays, or simply a tall, cold glass of milk for a classic combination.

If you’re aiming to create the ultimate holiday baking tray to impress your guests, these butter tart squares are a must-have centerpiece. Arrange them alongside an assortment of other festive treats for a truly spectacular spread. Consider pairing them with my incredibly tender Whipped Shortbread Cookies (made with cornstarch), the chewy and colorful Christmas Nougat (as shown in the image below, a perfect textural contrast), delightful Almond Pinwheel Cookies, sweet and spiced Eggnog Cookies (complete with frosting), and rich Chocolate Gingerbread Bark. This curated selection will offer a variety of flavors and textures, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy on your festive dessert platter!

Frequently Asked Questions About Butter Tart Squares

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