Cape Breton Date Tarts Recipes

CAPE BRETON OATCAKES

Steps:

• Stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.
• Rub in shortening with fingertips until crumbly.
• mix in water with a fork until a ball forms, divide in half.
• On a floured surface roll out to 1/2" to 1/4" thickness.
• Traditionally they are cut into 2 1/2 inch squares, then triangles but some people like circles. your choice.
• bake on a greased baking sheet at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cheers!

CAPE BRETON DATE TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Sift together flour and 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar in a bowl. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut in 1 cup butter; knead until well blended. Form dough into 3/4 inch balls. Press evenly into 1 1/2 inch tart molds, pressing up the sides to form a shell. Bake in preheated oven until pale gold, about 16 minutes. Let shells cool in the pan. Gently loosen and remove them from pan using a knife.
• Combine dates, orange juice, water, brown sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Mash dates with a fork as they cook. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Allow mixture to cool before spooning into tart shells.
• Cream 1/4 cup butter in a small bowl with an electric mixer. Gradually add 1 cup of the sugar while continuing to mix. Add the milk, remaining 1 1/4 cups sugar, and maple extract. Beat at high speed until smooth. Icing should be thick enough to pipe. Spoon mixture into pastry bag with a small round or star-shaped tip. Pipe a swirl of icing on each tart.

CAPE BRETON 'PORK' PIES

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Tart shells: Sift together flour and 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar in a bowl. Cut in 1 cup butter; knead until well blended. Form dough into 3/4 inch balls. Press evenly into 1 1/2 inch tart cups on the bottom and up the sides to form a shell.
• Bake in preheated oven until pale gold, about 16 minutes. Let shells cool in the pan. Gently loosen and remove them from pan using a knife.
• Filling: Combine dates, water, brown sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; boil gently for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Mash dates with a fork as they cook. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Allow mixture to cool before spooning into tart shells.
• Icing: Cream 1/4 cup butter in a small bowl with an electric mixer. Gradually add 1 cup of the sugar while continuing to mix. Add the milk, remaining 1 1/4 cups sugar, and maple extract. Beat at high speed until smooth. Icing should be thick enough to pipe. Spoon mixture into pastry bag with a small round or star-shaped tip. Pipe a swirl of icing on each tart.

MAIDS OF HONOR TARTS II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Generously grease 12 2-inch tart tins.
• Roll out pastry. Cut 12 3-inch circles. Reserve pastry scraps. Fit pastry circles into greased tart tins. Spread 1 teaspoon of jam into bottom of each tart shell.
• In a small mixing bowl, beat together egg, sugar, and salt until light in color. Mix in milk and almonds. Spoon an equal amount of filling into each tart shell. Cut pastry scraps into small strips and form a cross on top of each tart.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, until tops are golden brown.