Apple Walnut Canadian Butter Tarts

Apple Walnut Canadian Butter Tarts ? Sorry, Raisin Canadians, But I Went Big Apple

I've had many people request Canadian butter tarts over the years, and while they all wanted the same thing, they didn't all want it the same way. Some would end their "food wish" with the plea, "don't forget the raisins," or the warning, "you better not add nuts," and it didn't take long to realize that our friends to the north had some very passionate beliefs regarding what is, or is not, a proper butter tart.

The basic recipe is extremely simple, and involves little more than brown sugar, butter, and eggs. Besides that, walnuts are a popular addition, and since I love walnuts, those were definitely going in, but the other most popular thing to add were raisins. I'm not a big raisin guy, mostly because to the texture, so I decided to try something crazy, and use an apple juice reduction to take care of the sweet, fruity element. It worked amazing well.

This was not only the best Canadian butter tart I've ever had, but also one of the best nut tarts, and apple tarts I've ever had. Plus, the recipe couldn't be simpler. Just mix everything in a bowl, pour into the pastry, and bake until bubbling and golden brown. If you like raisins, and/or you don't want to deal with an apple reduction, you can skip that step, and just toss in a handful of dried grapes instead, but either way, I really hope you give these a try soon. Enjoy!