Find the Perfect Butter Tart
Name an iconic Canadian food, not from Quebec. That excludes tourtière and poutine!
The answer lays in a small, crusty, pastry shell, filled with a magical combination of butter, sugar, eggs, and, for many, raisins. From its humble beginnings in Upper Canada back in the early 1900s, the butter tart has become a proud part of our national heritage. Step aside Mr. Beaver! But, the topic of what makes the perfect tart is not without hot debate among the many self-proclaimed aficionados among us.
Should they be runny or firm? With raisins or plain? Dense or crumbly? Served warm or from the fridge? These questions have raged for years, but the best answer to what makes a great butter tart is personal: “Did you wipe your hands after eating one or lick your fingers clean?”
It is quite possible that the butter tart was hatched at a farmhouse in The Kawarthas or Northumberland. For that reason alone, plot your next getaway to the land of 1000 perfect getaways, and embark on a tour of the region’s best butter tarts. We've started the tour in Port Hope and ended in Woodville, but with so many places to choose from, we welcome you to explore to your tart's content:
- Betty’s Pies and Tarts – Port Hope
- The Pastry Peddler – Millbrook
- Doo Doo’s – Bailieboro
- The Buttertart Factory – Campbellford
- Doohers Bakery – Campbellford
- Swiss Bear Restaurant and Bakery - Apsley
- Country Mart – Buckhorn
- Kawartha Bakery – Lakefield
- Nuttshell Next Door – Lakefield
- Black Honey Desserts – Peterborough
- Pantry Shelf Fine Foods – Lindsay
- Buttertarts ‘N More - Little Britain
- Zehr Farm Fresh Produce and Bakery – Woodville
- The Argyle General Store – Woodville
If unsure about sampling them all, remember those many women from the ‘Titanic’ that waived off the dessert cart.
Map this tour on Trip-Click, your GPS journey through Peterborough, The Kawarthas and Northumberland.
19 Comments
Another great place for butter tarts is The Maid's Cottage in Newmarket – heaven in a tart
We live in the City of Kawartha Lakes and have tried and searched for the best tasting butter tarts from Toronto to Campbellford for many years, including all those listed on your site. Our new favourite spot in in Lindsay at Kent St. W and Cambridge St. a small breakfast and lunch spot called The Pantry Shelf Fine Foods. My parents love butter tarts as well, and I shared them last weekend for Thanksgiving and they agree they are the best they have tasted in a long time.Get out there and try them people you will be gastronomically satisfied with the taste.
By far the best buttetarts.
I've sampled many different places but this is the best. Ask all the cyclists who make the journey from Toronto.
I've tried many of your recommended butter tart spots — but the best I've found is a bit further north — up in North Kawartha. Yes, the Swiss Bear restaurant in Apsley bakes their own butter tarts, and they are truly to die for.
Hi there – I too have been searching the world for the best butter tart. I decided to make it myself. We just opened our shop Tartistry in Etobicoke and if you don't have time to travel to the other destinations mentioned in your article, please come and taste our butter tarts. We have plain, raisin, pecan, walnut, and raspberry as well as other goodies to make your mouth water such as Chelsea Buns and Scones. We'd love to see you here!
What about Rachaels Buttertarts in Trenton??? The best! Especially the pecan ones.
Anna Mae's Truck Stop & Bakery in Millbank, Ontario, just West of Waterloo. Nothing but the best Mennonite baking.
I have a bakery/cafe in Stirling, called "A Little Taste of Paradise". People keep telling me that my butter tarts are the best in the world!!!!!. I've been told that people are coming from as far west as Toronto, and as far east as Brockville, just to get my tarts! AWESOME. I use 100% Stirling Creamery Butter – there is nothing better!!!!! I have anywhere from 7 -13 different types.
Nuttshell Next Door Cafe in Lakefield makes delicious butter tarts – with raisins and plain. They make their own pastry from scratch, too
Betty's Pies & Tarts is at 7380 Hwy 2 Cobourg – between Cobourg and Port Hope. Mapquest can find the address, but unfortunately Google does not. Best darned buttertarts for miles!!! And don't forget to try the strawberry rhubarb pie.
I cannot read this without adding that the butter tarts from The Pastry Peddler in Millbrook are UNBELIEVABLE! You can find them at their shop in Millbrook or year-round at the Peterborough Farmers' Market (on Saturdays). And if you have the space left after sampling the butter tarts, I dare you to find something that they make that you DON"T like… Curses – now I want a butter tart for breakfast…
Need to add The Pantry Shelf in Lindsay (& Port Perry). 200 local food lovers at the Kawartha Lakes 100 Mile Dinner can't be wrong. Not a crumb left to be found after 20 dozen consumed!
The best better tarts are not within the city of kawartha lakes..sorry everyone! You must go to Cambridge Ontario and try Dee's Buttertart's. It is the best buttertart in the world! The pastry is flakey, buttery and sweet. The pastry is just the right thickness for the tart also. The filling is not watery or thick. It allows enough time to savour the first bite before you need to take another-before it drips….AMAZING!
For great butter tarts you can also check out your local farmers markets……..Our Lindsay Saturday Market has 3 butter tart bakers that all have avid regular buttertart customers
I have had the pleasure of trying many butter tarts and all I have to say is thumbs up to Anninas bakeshop in Goodwood Ontario, they are the best.
You're missing out on Enticing Cakes Inc in East City.
Sweet Bottoms Coffee, in the village of Fenelon Falls has developed a wonderful reputation for treats. The cafe is founded on great tasting Fair Trade Organic coffees combined with our amazing buttertarts and squares, including some that are gluten free and diabetic friendly.
Our location is on the main street if coming by land, beside Lock 34 on the Trent Severn Waterway if coming by sea and on the Victoria Rail Trail if coming by "snowmobile". Fenelon Falls is 20 km North of Lindsay on highway 35 to the Fenelon exit on Hwy 121.
The best butter tarts I've ever had are at Elliots Garden and Bakery in Wiarton Ontario. The crust is flaky and the tart is not too gooey or watery, sooooo good!
Buttertart Factory Campbellford enough said !!