These Butter Tart Bars are a delicious twist on the traditional butter tart. What a fantastic way to enjoy the deliciousness of butter tarts without all the fuss.

An easy shortbread-like base is covered with a gooey topping made with butter, brown sugar, eggs and raisins then baked until perfectly golden to create a dessert bar that tastes just like a butter tart!

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Butter Tart Bars

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I was very lucky growing up because, every Christmas, my mom would make homemade butter tarts. There were no pre-made tart shells to buy so everything was made from scratch. Mmmm…so delicious, but a ton of work!

That’s what makes these Butter Tart Bars so great! You get all the fantastic flavor of classic butter tarts without the fuss!

This easy Butter Tart Bars recipe has been passed to me from my Aunt Norma. We did not spend Christmas away from home very often, but when we did it usually was to her house. And you could always count on her having these delicious butter tarts on her festive dessert tray!

How to Make Butter Tart Bars

• Whenever I can, I like to use as few dishes as possible so I mix the bottom layer right in the pan! Crumble the icing sugar, flour and 1/2 cup butter together using a pastry blender or your fingers. It should look crumbly, as shown in the picture below.
• Press the ‘dough’ evenly into the baking pan and bake in a 350˚F oven for about 5 minutes. Remove and cool on a baking rack.

• In the meantime, prepare the top layer.
• You can beat the brown sugar with the butter first, then add the remaining ingredients. Or alternately melt the butter first, then add the remaining ingredients.
• I have always had success simply mixing everything together at once. Whisk until incorporated.

• Pour the topping onto the prepared and cooled bottom layer.
• Bake in a 350˚F previously heated oven for 30 minutes.
• Be aware that some ovens cook a touch hotter than others, so set a timer at 25 minutes to check for doneness.

• Slice into 16 or 20 pieces depending on how large a piece you like. I cut mine into 16, but then found them quite large, so I cut them in half again. It was the perfect morsel to satisfy that sweet butter tart craving!

Can you freeze Butter Tart Bars?

Yes, butter tart bars freeze amazingly well. If, of course, they will last that long!

I hope you are successful baking these butter tart bars! They will make a great addition to your holiday treats tray!

5 from 1 vote

Butter Tart Bars

Servings 0 servings

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These Butter Tart Bars are a delicious twist on the traditional butter tart. What a fantastic way to enjoy the deliciousness of butter tarts without all the fuss.

Ingredients

  

• ½ cup butter or margarine
• 1 cup flour
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup butter or margarine
• 1 cup raisins
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350˚F
• In an 8x8" baking dish, combine 1/2 cup butter, the flour and powdered sugar together. Mix with a pastry blender or your fingers until crumbly. 
• Press evenly into the pan and bake for 5 minutes. Allow to cool on a cooling rack while preparing the topping.
• In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, 1/4 cup butter, raisins, eggs, vinegar and vanilla. Mix together well.
• Pour over prepared base and bake for 30 minutes.
• Cool completely. Cut into 16 squares or 20 rectangular pieces.