Description
A kid-friendly twist on the classic Canadian butter tart, featuring a sturdy shortbread crust and a gooey maple-pecan filling with chocolate chips. These squares are easy to make, make-ahead friendly, and perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened (for crust)
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar (for crust)
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour (for crust)
- ½ teaspoon salt (for crust)
- 1 cup (240ml) 100% pure maple syrup (for filling)
- ½ cup (100g) light brown sugar, packed (for filling)
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted (for filling)
- 2 large eggs, room temperature (for filling)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for filling)
- 1 cup pecans, chopped (for filling)
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips (for filling)
- Sea salt flakes, optional for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the long sides, and grease lightly.
- In a large bowl, combine softened butter, granulated sugar, flour, and salt. Mix with hands until it resembles coarse sand.
- Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.
- Bake the crust for 15 minutes until lightly golden. Remove and let cool while making the filling.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together maple syrup, brown sugar, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and frothy.
- Stir in chopped pecans and chocolate chips.
- Pour the filling over the pre-baked crust and spread evenly.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until edges are bubbly and golden, and the center has a slight jiggle.
- Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack (at least 1 hour) to allow the filling to set.
- Lift out using parchment paper, cut into squares, and dust with sea salt if desired.
Notes
Do not skip pre-baking the crust to avoid a soggy bottom. Ensure eggs are at room temperature to prevent the filling from separating. Toast pecans for enhanced flavor. Cool completely before cutting to ensure clean slices. Can be stored in the fridge for 5 days or frozen for 3 months.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Canadian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 24
- Sodium: 120
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
Keywords: Canadian Thanksgiving, butter tart squares, kid-friendly dessert, maple pecan bars, shortbread crust, make-ahead dessert, holiday baking