Is there anything more Canadian than maple butter tart squares? Brown sugar shortbread topped with dairy-free butter tart filling and baked to perfection. Irresistible. These mouthwatering maple delights are great for Canada Day celebrations, Canadian Thanksgiving and those who adore maple syrup.
Gather all of your ingredients and equipment. The butter should be cold and the eggs need to be at room temperature.
Grease and line an 8 x 8 baking pan with parchment paper, Use clips on the side of the pan to hold the overhanging paper in place (see main post).
To Make the Shortbread Base
Combine 50 grams Brown Sugar and 150 grams All Purpose Flour in a bowl.
Cut in the cubed 100 grams Plant Based Butter (unsalted) until a crumbly mixture forms.
Add to the prepared baking pan and flatten with a wooden spoon.
Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350F / 175°C until lightly golden.
To Make the Filling:
While the base is finishing baking, make the filling. Add the 160 grams Brown Sugar, 60 ml Maple Syrup, 2 tbsp Melted Plant Based Butter, 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 tsp Vanilla Bean Paste to a jug or mixing bowl and stir to combine until the sugar has dissolved.
Add in 2 Eggs and 2 tbsp All Purpose Flour and stir until fully combined.
Pour over the shortbread base and carefully place back in the oven. Bake for 22-25 minutes, depending on how jiggly you prefer the filling (see main post).
Allow to cool for 30 minutes then remove from the pan and cut into squares.
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Notes
Yield: This recipe makes 16 butter tart squares (2-inch sized).
Flavours: For additional filling suggestions, check out the main recipe post.
Butter: for US measurements, use just under 1/2 cup, 7 tbsp or 7/8 of a stick of butter.
Gluten-Free: To make this gluten-free friendly, replace the all-purpose flour with gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour. No other changes are required.
Vegan: To veganise this recipe, replace the 2 eggs in the filling with 2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flax with 6 tbsp water - see main post for instructions). No other changes are required.
Storage: To store, pop the slices in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Bring back to room temperature before serving.
Freezing: If you need to freeze them, wrap the individual squares before placing them in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost at room temperature before unwrapping.