Butter Tart Squares

If you like butter tarts but don't like rolling out pastry dough, try these recipes

Marilyn's Butter Tart Squares (small pan)

Use a greased and floured 8 x 8 " square pan

Base Layer:

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 2 Tbsp. icing sugar
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Topping:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup melted butter or margarine
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup raisins OR walnuts and raisins mixed together.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cream butter, icing sugar and flour.

Press into a greased and floured 8" square pan.

Bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F. then remove from oven.

Stir melted butter into brown sugar, add beaten eggs, vanilla, lemon juice, raisins (or walnuts and raisins.)

Pour this mixture over the partially baked bottom layer.

Bake at 350 degrees F 30 minutes.

Amy Rose's Butter Tart Squares (large pan)

A recipe from House and Home magazine, Dec. 2011.

Use a 9 x 13" non-stick pan.

Note: Delicious! But I think to make the base a little firmer, next time I'll try my Mom's method as in the recipe above: Bake the base alone for 5 minutes, remove from oven, top with the filling, then continue baking 30 minutes more.

Base:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Filling:

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 Tbsp flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

To make base, cut butter into dry ingredients with a pastry blender.

Add vanilla and stir until combined. Press into an ungreased 9 x 13 inch non-stick pan.

For filling, mix all ingredients together and pour over base.

Bake for 35 minutes.

Let cool, cut into squares.

Butter Tart Squares (Large Pan) Version 2

Makes about 24 squares in a 9 x 13 " pan.

Base:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup raisins

Combine sugar and flour. Cut in butter until in tiny bits.

Press mixture into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes in preheated 325 degree F. oven.

Meanwhile make...

Filling:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 Tbsp flour

Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well.

Beat in vanilla.

Combine baking powder and flour, stir in.

Take base crust out of oven and let cool a bit.

Sprinkle slightly cooled crust with raisins.

Spread filling mixture over base.

Bake in preheated 325 degree F oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until just set.

Cool before cutting into squares.