Are butter tarts only for Canadians? (2024)

They’re ooey goey Canuck goodness and part of Canada’s cultural heritage – some say our national identity. When you think of butter tarts they’re right up there with hockey, SCTV, the Stanley Cup and the word Eh! Debate rages on as to what makes the best butter tart and should it have a firm centre, or one that runs? With or without raisins? Flaky crust?

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Yes, the eponymous butter tart is certainly wrapped in the red and white – but would an American understand the emotional connection Canadians carry for this humble food? The Brooklyn, New York-based Btarts – Sweet Canadian Treats company is looking to make what is essentially our national uniqueness into part of the U.S. mainstream food biz, one tart at a time.

Btarts was actually founded by a couple of Canadian ex-pats now living in the States. Marilyn Short and her son, Asher Weiss are Canadian (Marilyn actually launched the famous Harbinger Communications Co., in Toronto more than 25 years ago.) Now living in the U.S. the family did miss some of their favourite eats – the butter tart being missed the most. So they started baking and adapting Short’s great-grandmother’s recipe to create the ultimate tart. Why keep such goodness to themselves?

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“We Canadians are so used to being able to find butter tarts at every bakery, cafe, specialty food stores and even grocery stores, or can bake them from our grandmothers’ recipes, or recipes in almost every Canadian cookbook,” says company founder Weiss, also known as Chief Tart Taster at Btarts.

“But Americans had never even heard of them before.”

So after a year of tasting and testing hundreds of award-winning tarts and recipes – with the help of Canadian food experts – Asher’s team came up with the ultimate tart made with all natural ingredients and pure maple syrup for the filling (but no shortening, lard or corn syrup.)

It sounds sacrilegious. Perhaps treasonous! Americans enjoying our butter tarts that are made in the U.S.? What if one ends up in the hands of President Trump? Plus, many years ago actor and Thigh Master promoter Suzanne Somers tried to introduce our tart to the Americans via a company called Maxwell Butter Tarts. Epic fail.

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Until now. A dozen Btarts butter tarts (they’re all small-batched baked) were sent to the office for testing – and the results were surprising: Those lucky enough to get a tart said they enjoyed them, several commenting how they “weren’t too sweet” with a lovely light crust. Big thumb’s up!

Here’s the thing….Canadians have to go to the U.S., to enjoy the Btarts. You can order online – but only to send to friends in the U.S. Btarts are not available in Canada. Oh my!

Our mission is to make butter tarts as popular in the U.S. as they are in Canada

“Our mission is to make butter tarts as popular in the U.S. as they are in Canada,” says Weiss. “We are proudly Canadian and share this in all of our efforts to promote Btarts. Since launching, thousands of Americans have tasted them at Smorgasburg in Brooklyn and are raving about them. They’ve been featured on national TV, and many American food publications. Now that we have launched online, we are shipping anywhere in the U.S., and will be building awareness and excitement for this sweet Canadian iconic treat across the country.

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“We are not trying to compete with Canadian producers of butter tarts – we are trying to expand the love beyond our borders (and) building Canadian/American relations one butter tart at a time – #butertartdiplomacy!” Just think – our Canadian butter tart as ambassador of good will to the U.S. Puts a tear in your eye, it does.

– Check out Eatbtarts.com for more details.

Canadian butter tart celebrations

Have a hankering for a Canadian butter tart? Canada is home to literally thousands of butter tarts companies, bakeries and festivals, tours and trails. From small batch to industrial, there’s a butter tart to suit your style. Ontario is home to several massive festivals including:

ONTARIO’S BEST BUTTER TART FESTIVAL: Considered the largest butter tart festival in Canada, it’s now now in its sixth year and is scheduled to take place in Midland on June 9- and word is there will be more than 180,000 butter tarts for sale! Last year, attendance at this free event was estimated at 50,000 (the Town of Midland’s population is 17,000).The day starts with the Official Piping of the Tart.

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– Check out Buttertartfestival.ca.

THE KAWARTHAS NORTHUMBERLAND BUTTER TART TOUR: Combines dozens of stops offering some of the best butter tarts in Ontario into one fun-filled, family-friendly tour. The Butter Tart Tour has grown to over 50 locations throughout Kawarthas Northumberland including Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, and Kawartha Lakes. Tour partners include stellar local bakeries, charming cafes, and elegant restaurants as well as welcoming resorts and inns across the region each serving up their take on this Canadian classic treat.

– Check out Buttertarttour.ca.

THE BUTTER TART A-LIST: A fabulous listing of some of the finest butter tart companies from British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia, P.E.I, Ontario and the Yukon.

– Check out ilovebuttertarts.com/the-butter-tart-list

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