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Photo: Butter tarts
Today I’d like to introduce 3 of the most well-known Canadian desserts, and then I’ll tell you which one is my favourite!
First up, we have butter tarts, which were invented over 100 years ago and remain very popular throughout Canada today. A butter tart consists of “a flaky, tender pastry shell filled with a rich, sweet mixture of butter, brown sugar, and eggs, baked until the filling forms a gooey, semi-solid consistency beneath a slightly crunchy top.” Some butter tarts also contain raisins or nuts, such as walnuts or pecans. In fact, a butter tart is kind of like a miniature pecan pie!
Next, we have Nanaimo bars, which are named after the city of Nanaimo (in British Columbia) and started to gain popularity in the 1950s. Nanaimo bars consist of a base, a filling, and a topping. The base is “a crunchy, chewy mixture of graham cracker crumbs, shredded coconut, chopped nuts (like almonds or pecans), and cocoa powder, held together with butter and a lightly cooked egg.” The filling is “sweet, creamy, custard-flavored buttercream made with icing sugar, butter, and custard powder.” The topping is “a smooth layer of melted chocolate (or chocolate ganache).” Nanaimo bars require no baking, so they’re easy to make in the summer without heating up your kitchen!
Finally, we have BeaverTails, which were invented in the late 1970s. BeaverTails are kind of like big donuts - “a fried-dough pastry hand-stretched to resemble the flat tail of a beaver. Served piping hot, they are typically crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, and topped with a variety of sweet or savory ingredients.” The classic toppings are cinnamon and sugar, but there are many topping options available these days. BeaverTails are especially popular in the winter, during festivals and outdoor events such as skating.
While all of these treats are good if you’re in the mood for something sweet, my personal favourite is the classic butter tart (especially with nuts for some added texture!), which goes very well with a cup of coffee or tea. Some people like “runny” butter tarts and some people like them “firm,” but I’m a fan of the runny ones - just watch out for drips!
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