Apple Walnut Canadian Butter Tarts

Ingredients and Weight:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 large apple, peeled and diced (about 1 cup)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg, beaten

Preparation Time:

15 minutes

Cooking Time:

20-25 minutes

Difficulty Level:

2 out of 5 (Easy)

Preparation Method Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or line with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Use your fingers to work in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Press half of the dough into the prepared muffin tins, forming a thin crust.
4. In a separate bowl, combine diced apple, walnuts, brown sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Fill the pastry shells with the apple mixture.
5. Mound the remaining dough on top of the apple filling and brush with beaten egg.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
7. Let cool slightly before serving.

Nutritional Information:

Per tart (1/8 of recipe):

• Calories: 300
• Fat: 20g (12g saturated)
• Cholesterol: 55mg
• Sodium: 120mg
• Carbohydrates: 35g (2g fiber, 25g sugar)
• Protein: 2g

Dish Characteristics:

• Sweet and flaky pastry shell
• Tender and juicy apple filling
• Crunchy walnuts
• Buttery and flavorful filling

User Comments:

• "These are the best butter tarts I've ever had! The crust is so flaky and the filling is perfectly sweet and tart." - Sarah
• "I love the addition of walnuts. It gives these tarts a nice crunch and nutty flavor." - Mike
• "I made these for Thanksgiving and they were a huge hit. Everyone raved about how delicious they were." - Lisa

Special Precautions and Tips:

• Be sure to use cold butter for the pastry to ensure flakiness.
• Don't overwork the pastry dough, as this will make it tough.
• You can substitute chopped pecans or almonds for the walnuts if desired.
• If you don't have a muffin tin, you can bake these tarts in a 9-inch round baking pan. Simply press the dough into the pan and trim the edges.