Butter Tarts
"Canada's most dangerously addictive pastry — flaky tart shells filled with an ooey-gooey mixture of butter, brown sugar, and egg that borders on liquid caramel. Costco Canada sells these in the bakery, and frankly, the rest of the world is missing out."
Costco Copycat — This is a homemade version of the Costco International Flavors item. See it in store →
The Game Plan
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Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Arrange tart shells on a baking sheet.
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Beat softened butter and brown sugar together until smooth and creamy. You're not whipping air in — just combining.
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Mix in the egg, corn syrup, vanilla, vinegar, and salt until evenly combined. The vinegar sounds weird but trust the process — it cuts the sweetness just enough.
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If using raisins, divide them among the tart shells. If using pecans, you can put them in now or press them into the tops after filling.
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Spoon filling into each tart shell, filling about two-thirds full. Do NOT overfill — this stuff bubbles up like a science experiment.
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Bake at 450°F for 5 minutes, then reduce heat to 375°F (190°C) and bake another 12-15 minutes, until the pastry is golden and the filling is puffed with a slightly jiggly center.
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Let cool on the baking sheet for at least 15 minutes. The filling will settle and turn into that gloriously gooey, sticky layer.
