Betty Tarts Recipes

OLD FASHIONED BUTTER TARTS

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
• If making your own pastry, roll and cut your pastry into rounds with a 3.5 inch cutter, or the lid of a wide mouth mason jar. Lightly spray 2 12-cup muffin tins with non-stick spray and gently press the shells into the muffin tins
• In a medium size bowl, beat the butter and sugar together, then beat in the eggs, milk and vanilla until smooth.
• Stir in the raisins
• Spoon filling into each of the shells, filling to 2/3 full
• Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Allow to cool in the muffin tin, then remove and store in an airtight container.

CANADIAN BUTTER TARTS

Steps:

• Fill a cup with ice and water. Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Cut in the shortening to make pea-size pieces. Add the tablespoons of ice water from the cup until dough holds together. Form the dough into a ball. The dough is now complete. Put it into a plastic bag or wrap it up and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
• Roll the dough between two sheets of waxed paper. Cut the shells using a large glass or your smallest pot. You should have about 12 shells when finished. Put these shells into a greased muffin or tart pan.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
• Put walnuts and coconut on baking pan and roast for 5-10 minutes, until brown. Remove from oven and set temperature to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Fill the bottom of each tart shell with about 10 raisins each.
• Whisk together sugar, egg, butter, vanilla and hot water. Add coconut and walnuts. Pour mixture into tart shells, filling 2/3 full and no more.
• Bake in 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool before attempting to remove. Makes 12 tarts.

EASY APPLE TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F. Make pastry as directed-except roll into 13-inch round. Place on ungreased large cookie sheet. Cover with plastic wrap while making filling.
• In large bowl, mix brown sugar and flour. Stir in apples. Remove plastic wrap from pastry. Mound apple mixture in center of pastry to within 3 inches of edge. Cut butter into small pieces; sprinkle over apples. Fold edge of pastry over apples, making pleats so it lays flat on apples (pastry will not cover apples in center). Sprinkle pastry with sugar.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until crust is light golden brown. Cover center of pie with 5-inch square of foil during last 10 to 15 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning. Cool on cookie sheet on cooling rack 1 hour, or serve warm if desired.

BUTTER TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C).
• Cream the butter, sugar and eggs well. Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
• Pour batter into tart shells, no more than half full. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes. Watch carefully!!--they'll burn quickly. Filling will keep in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or so. Liquid coffee creamer can be used for cream. Use any good pie pastry for shells.

AWARD-WINNING BUTTER TARTS

Steps:

• Prepare muffin pans by rolling out pie dough and cutting 4-inch (approx) circles; fit dough circles into muffin cups; set aside in fridge until ready to fill.
• In a small bowl, place raisins and cover with hot tap water; let stand on the counter for 30 minutes.
• In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, mix together the soft butter, brown sugar, salt and corn syrup; stir well until sugar is dissolved and butter is creamed.
• Add egg and vanilla and mix well.
• Drain raisins.
• Retrieve tart shells and divide raisins equally into all shells; then divide butter mixture into all tarts.
• Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes; filling will be lightly browned but still bubbling.
• Canadians fall into two camps about butter tarts and are quite loyal to their favourite type: runny or firm.
• I like runny-- the type that dribbles when you bite into one; if you like firm, bake them for the full 20 minutes, even adding another minute or two if you wish.
• Let cooked butter tarts cool in pans for 10 minutes after removing from oven; then remove and place on racks until completely cool.

CARAMEL PECAN TARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, mix flour, 1/2 cup butter and the powdered sugar. Divide dough into 24 equal pieces. Press each piece in bottom and up side of small muffin cup, 1 3/4x1 inch, ungreased or lined with foil or paper baking cups.
• In medium bowl, mix remaining Tart ingredients. Spoon slightly less than 1 tablespoon mixture into each cup.
• Bake about 20 minutes or until filling is set and crust is light brown. Cool slightly; loosen from cups with tip of knife. Remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat caramels and milk over low heat, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth. Spoon topping onto cooled tarts.

LEMON CURD TARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, mix flour, pecans and 1/4 cup sugar. Stir in 1/4 cup butter and 1 egg until crumbly. Press in bottom and up sides of 24 ungreased mini muffin cups. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool tart shells in pan.
• In 2-quart saucepan, sprinkle gelatin on cold water to soften. In medium bowl, beat 1/2 cup sugar and 2 eggs with electric mixer on high speed until thick and lemon colored; stir into gelatin mixture. Cook about 15 minutes or just until boiling over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon peel, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons butter.
• Pour lemon mixture into tart shells. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until set. Store in refrigerator.