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Butter Tart Bars Recipe

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4 from 7 reviews

These Butter Tart Bars combine a rich, buttery shortbread crust with a gooey, sweet filling made from brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Perfectly baked to achieve a lightly golden crust and a soft, luscious filling, these bars make a delightful dessert or snack with a balance of chewy and crisp textures.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes plus chilling time
  • Yield: 12-16 bars

Ingredients

For the Shortbread Crust

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • ½ cup icing sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup melted butter, (melted and slightly cooled)

For the Filling

  • 6 large eggs
  • 3 cups brown sugar
  • 3 teaspoon all purpose flour
  • 1½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup melted butter, (melted and slightly cooled)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and line it with parchment paper, allowing the paper to extend over the edges for easy removal later.
  2. Make the Crust: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, icing sugar, vanilla bean paste, and salt until well combined. Add the melted butter and stir until the dough comes together evenly.
  3. Press the Crust: Press the crust mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan in an even layer. Lightly press the edges up the sides of the pan to form a slight lip. Use a fork to poke holes in the crust at various points to prevent air bubbles during baking.
  4. Bake the Crust: Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until it turns a light golden color. Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven.
  5. Prepare the Filling: While the crust is baking, in a large mixing bowl whisk together the brown sugar and eggs until fully combined. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla bean paste, and melted butter. Whisk well to blend all ingredients smoothly. Set aside and give it a good whisk again just before pouring over the crust.
  6. Assemble and Bake: Pour the filling evenly over the warm, baked crust. Return the pan carefully to the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes until the top is golden brown and the filling is set around the edges but still a bit jiggly in the center. Start checking doneness around 25 minutes as ovens vary.
  7. Cool and Chill: Transfer the bars to a wire rack and cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate for 1-2 hours or overnight to let the bars fully set before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Use parchment paper to make it easier to lift the bars from the pan for cutting.
  • Do not overbake the filling; it should still have a slight jiggle in the center when done.
  • Vanilla bean paste enhances the flavor but vanilla extract can be substituted if unavailable.
  • Chilling the bars significantly improves slicing and texture.
  • Ensure the melted butter is slightly cooled to avoid cooking the eggs prematurely when mixing.
  • Author: Olivia
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Canadian

Find it online: https://iamstarved.com/butter-tart-bars-recipe/