Canadian Butter Tarts

Ingredients

• 13 1/4 ozshortcrust pastry, store-bought; rolled slightly thinner than from the pack
• 2eggs, large; beaten
• 6 1/4 ozmuscovado sugar, dark muscovado for a deep toffee flavour
• 3 1/2 ozraisins
• 1 tspvanilla extract
• 1 3/4 ozbutter
• 1 1/4 tbsplight cream
• 1 3/4 ozwalnuts, roughly chopped; stirred in at the end

Method

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 375°F / 350°F fan / Gas 5. Roll out the shortcrust pastry on a lightly floured surface until slightly thinner than from the packet.

2. 2

   Cut out 18–20 rounds with a 7.5cm fluted cutter, re-rolling the trimmings. Use them to line two deep 12-hole tart tins — tart tins, not muffin tins.

3. 3

   Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Add the muscovado sugar, raisins, vanilla extract, butter and light cream, and combine well.

4. 4

   Tip the mixture into a pan over medium heat and stir continuously for 3–4 minutes until the butter melts and the mixture bubbles and thickens enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from the heat.

5. 5

   Stir in the walnuts, then spoon the filling into the unbaked pastry shells level with the top of the pastry.

6. 6

   Bake for 15–18 minutes until set and pale golden. Cool in the tins for a few minutes, then lift onto a wire rack. Serve warm or cold.