These gluten-free Canadian Butter Tart Squares have all the flavours of traditional butter tarts, without the fuss of pastry! Slightly gooey, butterscotch-flavoured butter tart bars with raisins and optional nuts are a classic Canadian dessert bar! A great choice for a holiday cookie exchange.
Plump raisins, crunchy pecans, and optional sweet coconut fill these slightly gooey, butterscotch-flavoured Gluten-free Canadian Butter Tart Squares, a classic Canadian dessert bar!
Butter tart squares are similar to butter tarts, but in bar form. All the flavour, but no pastry to fuss with!
If you're a Butter Tart fan from way back like I am, you need to make these! 😊 You might also love these gluten-free Maple Walnut Squares.
And if you're from the U.S. and you're not sure what I'm talking about, Butter Tarts and Butter Tart Squares are as popular in Canada as Pecan Tarts or Pecan Pie is in America. You should definitely make these, too. 😊
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❤️ Why this recipe works
- Nana's Butter Tarts, and the Best of Bridge Butter Tart Slice have been two of my all-time favourite things to bake for the holidays. Following a gluten-free diet, however, means that I have to adapt my favourite recipes which are usually made with wheat flour.
- I was determined to create a gluten-free butter tart square recipe with raisins that would rival the original.
- While a traditional butter tart square recipe calls for a shortbread crust made with all-purpose flour, I use almond flour as a gluten-free substitute. A combination of finely ground almond flour and oat flour works best to replace wheat flour, as a shortbread crust does not need gluten for structure.
- These squares are full of slightly syrupy butterscotch flavour. They have chewy edges and a delightfully gooey caramel filling.
🛒 Ingredients
Let's get started! Here's what you'll need to make a 9 x 13-inch pan of delicious, gluten-free butter tart squares.
- almond flour: finely ground. I use Bob's Red Mill or the Kirkland Brand.
- oat flour: helps to give the almond flour shortbread crust a firmer structure.
- butter: butter tart squares need "real" butter!
- sugar: I used white granulated sugar in the crust, and brown sugar in the filling to give it that irresistible butterscotch flavour.
- sea salt: just a pinch
- eggs: at room temperature.
- coconut: unsweetened, shredded. Adding coconut to the filling is entirely optional, but it does make them a little more firm.
- vanilla extract: pure is best
- raisins: organic sultanas are delicious and the perfect choice for these squares.
- coconut flour: just a teaspoon to help thicken the filling. Substitute cornstarch if you don't have coconut flour.
- chopped nuts: pecan or walnuts. Nuts are optional but good!
🔪 Instructions
Here are step-by-step directions to make these easy butter tart bars. You'll find complete directions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Combine the shortbread crust ingredients.
- Press firmly into a 9 " x 13" pan.
- Mix the filling ingredients.
- Spread the filling over the crust, then bake.
- Here's the hard part. You have to wait until they have cooled to cut them.
- Cool in the pan completely, refrigerate until firm and you'll find cutting them into tidy squares is a breeze.
Butter tart bars with or without nuts?
Some people like butter tarts with nuts, some are vehemently opposed! I like them with sultana raisins and either finely chopped pecans or walnuts. I sometimes add coconut to this recipe, as well. You do you!
Storage instructions
To store: These bars will last for up to a week in an airtight container in the fridge. Cut them into squares or bars first, then store them in layers with a piece of parchment paper in between.
This butter tart square recipe is a good choice for a holiday cookie exchange, as they're easy to cut and store.
To freeze: Stored as directed above, you can freeze these squares for up to 3 months. Thaw for 20 minutes at room temperature and enjoy!
Love Butter Tarts? Here's what I think is the best recipe ever, Nana's Butter Tarts from my mother-in-law.
In a baking mood? Find more gluten-free recipes for cookies and squares in Gluten-Free Holiday Cookies and Bars
When you make this butter tart square recipe, please leave a comment and a rating below. I love hearing how they turned out for you! Subscribe to my weekly newsletter and have new recipes delivered straight to your inbox.
More recipes for cookies and bars
📖 Recipe
Canadian Butter Tart Squares
Equipment
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1.5 cups almond flour, blanched, finely ground
- ½ cup oat flour
- ½ cup butter
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 pinch sea salt
Filling
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
- 2 cups brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 pinch sea salt
- ¾ cup coconut (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 teaspoon coconut flour, or 2 teaspoons cornstarch.
- 1 cup pecans or walnuts, finely chopped
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Put the crust ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and pulse just until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Alternatively, put ingredients in a large bowl and cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives.
- Press the crust mixture evenly into the prepared pan. It will be thin. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and add the remaining ingredients, stirring until blended.
- Spread the filling over the crust.
- Bake at 350°F. for 30 - 35 minutes or until the middle is set.
- Cool completely in pan. Chill or freeze before cutting to insure clean cuts. Cut into squares and then into bars to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
I adapted this recipe from Butter Tart Slice in the Best of Bridge cookbook, The Best of the Best and More.
This recipe was originally published in 2019. I've updated and republished it.
Meg
This recipe is awesome!
I used erythritol and Splenda brown sugar to make a (mostly, except raisins) sugar free variation!
This is one of my favourite dessert recipes and I will continue to make it, thanks so much.
The only tip I have for anybody else is don’t overcook it if it still looks jiggly out of the oven let it cool completely and it will set -Leaving the middle still gooey, yet solid!
Elaine
Thanks for your kind words, Meg, and for your helpful tip!
Laura
These turn out perfectly! Thanks for the note to fully chill prior to cutting. Love that these freeze! I think I like them even better than in tart form!
Elaine
Thanks Laura! Yes, chilling before slicing makes perfect little squares! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Reta r
Can you use regular gf flour. Unable to use almond
Elaine
Hi Rita, I haven’t tested this recipe with gf flour yet, so I can’t say for sure that it would work. If you do try it, let me know! Thanks for your question.
Paula
These are the BEST! No one ever suspected they were gluten-free. A reliable recipe. Thank you!
Flavour & Savour
They're a favourite in our home, too!
Sean
These look delightful - though I must say I'm particularly interested in the superfine almond flour component! You've really got me thinking there. I love almond cookies, and now I'm kind of wondering about an almond shortbread... I might have to do some experimenting! Oh, and I have to say - I love the way you photographed the squares in that white square dish. Dessert squares can be so hard to photograph in an interesting way, but you really made them look both tasty and unique. Cheers.
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Sean! Yes--I find photographing food that is brown is so hard! I'm loving this superfine almond flour. It really works well in a shortbread crust and opens up possibilities for those on a gluten-free diet.
Teresa
I'm so impressed with how beautifully your gluten-free version of these turned out! I know what a challenge that can be. They sound (and look) really good.
Flavour & Savour
Thanks, Teresa! You're so right. Gluten-free baking can be challenging. It's great to have some "old favourites" at Christmas time, so I was excited to find how well these turned out.
The FoodOlic
Love, love, love the mix of almond and coconut! I'll try those gluten free pretty bites of yours! Thanks for sharing.
Flavour & Savour
Thanks! They'll add a little Canadian touch to your European Christmas 🙂
Colleen Milne
Elaine, I make my own version of these squares every holiday season. Your gluten free version looks so good, I just might give it a try, too. Delicious!
Flavour & Savour
Hi Colleen,
I was surprised at just how much these taste like the originals!
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices
I am not familiar with butter tarts but I love yours and especially the use of almond flour and coconut flour (that together with brown rice are my absolute favorite gluten-free flours). They look great and I'd love to taste one. Now I have to make them 😉 !
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Nicoletta,
Agreed--almond flour, and especially the superfine almond flour, has made gluten-free baking much easier for me.
Sarah
Gluten free butter tart squares! That's amazing. I need to make these
Flavour & Savour
Thanks, Sarah! I hope you get a chance to make them this holiday season!
Amie Uzzell
These look yummy Elaine. My sister has had to give up gluten, so I am looking for recipes I can make for us all to share at Xmas. Do you know if these freeze well?
Flavour & Savour
Hi Amie,
Yes, they freeze well. Just wrap and store in an airtight container and they'll be good when you need them!
cathy pengelly
I'm gluten free and so i appreciated the recipe for the GF Butter Tarts, however my grandson has a nut allergy. What other flour do you think i could substitute for the almond flour??
Many thanks
Cathy
Flavour & Savour
Hi Cathy,
How frustrating for you! You might try substituting a gluten-free flour blend like Bob's Red Mill 1 - 1 Gluten-free Baking Flour. As far as I know, it doesn't contain nuts. Some people don't like the taste, but you might not mind it. I haven't tried it with this recipe, so I can't guarantee results. If you do try it, I'd love to hear how it turned out. Thanks for your question!
kathi @ laughingspatula
Wow, pretty impressive recipe developing skills! These look fabulous! I' am happy to say I will be in Maui (along with 12 other friends and family) for Christmas! We are doing a small gift exchange and nothing else. I am so excited to not buy gifts this year :). My friend is gluten free, she would love these! Sharing!
Flavour & Savour
Hi Kathi,
Thanks. I'm so envious!! We didn't book a Hawaii trip this fall as we have a trip to Asia planned later in the year, but I'm finding the incessant rain and gray skies here in the PNW pretty depressing and I'm kicking myself for not planning a getaway. Bring on the butter tarts 🙂 Thanks for sharing!