Name: Butter Tart Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter (softened); 2 tbsp brown sugar; 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp whole wheat flour; 2 tbsp butter; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1 large egg; 1/2 tsp vanilla; 1/8 tsp fine sea salt; up to 1 cup add ins (optional) (such as raisins, chopped dates, pecan or walnuts)

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Do raisins belong in dessert? Fortunately these Butter Tart Bars are delicious with and without!

These bars have all of the best flavours of Butter Tarts but only dirty one bowl and are very quick and easy to whip up. This recipe yields a small batch so you can have fresh butter tarts any time you have the craving without having 2 dozen around tempting you, but you can easily multiply the recipe if needed. My favorite part about the small batch, though, is that each bar has at least one caramelized edge- yum!

The Ingredients

Butter- You can use salted or unsalted butter. It needs to be softened to room temperature for the base.
Brown Sugar
Flour- I have successfully made this recipe with whole wheat flour, all purpose flour and oat flour. If you want to make your own oat flour, you will need about ¾ cup of large flake rolled oats. Pulse in a high powered blender or food processor until it is the texture of flour. I did find that the base needed to cook for an additional 1-2 minutes as compared to with regular flour. It was also a bit stickier, but I found a fork worked well for spreading it into the loaf pan.
Egg
Vanilla
Sea Salt
Add Ins- These bars are delicious whether you choose to include add ins or not! Some ideas for add ins are raisins, chopped dates, chopped walnuts, chopped pecans or a mixture.

The Method

Combine base ingredients, press into a pan and bake.
Melt butter.
Cream together butter and sugar and mix in remaining ingredients.
Pour add ins, if using, and filling mixture over cooked base.
Bake until filling is set.
Cool and cut into bars.

Leftover Storage

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.

Dietary Notes

If you have dietary restrictions, check the packaging of specific ingredients that you use to ensure they are compliant. This recipe is:

Gluten Free- If you use oat flour.
Vegetarian

Multiplying the Butter Tart Bars Recipe

To make a larger batch:

For 16 bars- double the recipe and bake in a 8x8 or 9x9 inch pan. Or you can make them in a 9 inch cake pan, pie dish or tart pan.
For 24 bars- triple the recipe and bake in a 9x13 inch pan.

And if you liked these Butter Tart Squares...

...you might also like these other sweet treats!

Butter Tart Bars

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Servings: 8 bars

Calories: 222kcal

Ingredients

For the Base:

¼ cup butter softened
2 tablespoon brown sugar
½ cup + 2 tbsp whole wheat flour

For the Filling:

2 tablespoon butter
½ cup brown sugar
1 large egg
½ teaspoon vanilla
⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
up to 1 cup add ins (optional) such as raisins, chopped dates, pecan or walnuts

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Make the Base:

In a microwave safe, medium size bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add flour and continue to mix until combined. Press into an ungreased loaf pan (8x4 or 9x5 will work). Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, until lightly browned on the edges.

Make the Filling:

While the base is baking, in the same bowl, melt the butter. Using a fork cream together the butter and sugar. Add the egg and continue to stir until well combined. Finally, stir in the vanilla, and salt.
Remove the base from the oven. If using add ins, sprinkle them evenly over the base. Pour the filling evenly over the base and fillings and return the pan to the oven for 19-20 minutes, until filling is nearly set.
Remove to a wire rack and gently run a butter knife around the edges of the pan. Allow to cool completely in the pan before cutting into bars.
Enjoy at room temperature or cold.

Notes

Leftovers