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The Best Butter Tarts in Toronto

Christine Peddie

Written By

Christine Peddie

The Best Butter Tarts in Toronto

The best butter tarts in Toronto are perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth, from purists to those with progressive tastes. Whether you like your butter tarts runny or firm, made with corn syrup or redolent of maple, uncluttered or chock-full of add-ins, Toronto has the tart for you.

A quintessentially Canadian dessert, butter tarts are a national favourite. Though their exact origin is unknown, these sugary treats are thought to have originated in Quebec in the 1600s. In 1900, the first recipe for butter tarts was published and the tarts' popularity took off.

So what makes a perfect butter tart? The pastry foundation should be light, crisp, golden and buttery. The ideal filling is smooth and sweet, with a hint of ooze. From there, it's up to you whether you want to keep things classic or dive into novel takes.

Whichever appeals, you'll want to keep this list handy and start your research today. With plenty of time to find your favourite, you won't have any trouble finding the best butter tarts in Toronto.

Larry's Folly

A neighbourhood fave, these butter tarts are inspired by owner Stephen Schweighardt's family tradition of having the delectable treat on the table at Christmas.

Larry's Folly

A neighbourhood fave, these butter tarts are inspired by owner Stephen Schweighardt's family tradition of having the delectable treat on the table at Christmas.

Bloorcourt Village

806 Bloor St W

Ba Noi

A butter tart from this popular micro-bakery comes sprinkled with Maldon salt, giving the perfect salty and sweet combination.

Ba Noi

Bloorcourt Village

806 Bloor St W

A butter tart from this popular micro-bakery comes sprinkled with Maldon salt, giving the perfect salty and sweet combination.

The Beaches

1911 Queen St E

The Sweet Oven Toronto

Said by some to have the best butter tarts in Canada, The Sweet Oven has garnered plenty of fans with a variety of modern and classic takes on this national treat.

The Sweet Oven Toronto

The Beaches

1911 Queen St E

Said by some to have the best butter tarts in Canada, The Sweet Oven has garnered plenty of fans with a variety of modern and classic takes on this national treat.

The Pie Commission

Everyone knows that The Pie Commission makes stellar savoury pies. Then, it should come as no surprise that the shop's classic Canadian and pecan butter tarts are also first class.

The Pie Commission

Everyone knows that The Pie Commission makes stellar savoury pies. Then, it should come as no surprise that the shop's classic Canadian and pecan butter tarts are also first class.

The Maids' Cottage

A destination spot for famous butter tarts, Newmarket's The Maid's Cottage has a variety of classic and inventive flavours on offer.

The Maids' Cottage

A destination spot for famous butter tarts, Newmarket's The Maid's Cottage has a variety of classic and inventive flavours on offer.

Mount Pleasant

711 Mt Pleasant Rd

Flaky Tart

At The Flaky Tart on Mount Pleasant Rd., classic butter tarts are nut-free and embellished with raisins.

Flaky Tart

Mount Pleasant

711 Mt Pleasant Rd

At The Flaky Tart on Mount Pleasant Rd., classic butter tarts are nut-free and embellished with raisins.

Tartistry

Among their array of gluten-free tarts, from fruit-filled to savoury, Tartistry offers "legendary" plain butter tarts, raisin butter tarts, pecan and walnut versions.

Tartistry

Among their array of gluten-free tarts, from fruit-filled to savoury, Tartistry offers "legendary" plain butter tarts, raisin butter tarts, pecan and walnut versions.

Sweet Bliss Baking Company

Leslieville's Sweet Bliss Bakery is a must-stop spot with a host of delectable sweets on offer, including golden butter tarts and butter tart squares.

Sweet Bliss Baking Company

Leslieville's Sweet Bliss Bakery is a must-stop spot with a host of delectable sweets on offer, including golden butter tarts and butter tart squares.

North York

1945 Avenue Rd

Short and Sweet Bakeshop - North York

There are no wrong steps at Short & Sweet. Every item delivers on looks, satisfaction, and flavour, from buttercream-topped cupcakes and cheesecake bars to twice-baked cookies. Made seasonally, the shop's classic butter tarts are no exception to the rule.

Short and Sweet Bakeshop - North York

North York

1945 Avenue Rd

There are no wrong steps at Short & Sweet. Every item delivers on looks, satisfaction, and flavour, from buttercream-topped cupcakes and cheesecake bars to twice-baked cookies. Made seasonally, the shop's classic butter tarts are no exception to the rule.

Yonge and Eglinton

420 Eglinton Ave W

Phipps Bakery Cafe

Phipps' caramel butter tarts are extra molten and perfect for satisfying sugar cravings, midday to midnight.

Phipps Bakery Cafe

Yonge and Eglinton

420 Eglinton Ave W

Phipps' caramel butter tarts are extra molten and perfect for satisfying sugar cravings, midday to midnight.

Brockton Village

1561 Dundas St W

OMG Baked Goodness

Aptly named, the Manitoulin maple tarts at OMG are loaded with maple syrup and come in three different sizes. Whether you opt for snack-sized or a whole pie, each bite is guaranteed to elicit moans of pleasure and lifelong cravings.

OMG Baked Goodness

Brockton Village

1561 Dundas St W

Aptly named, the Manitoulin maple tarts at OMG are loaded with maple syrup and come in three different sizes. Whether you opt for snack-sized or a whole pie, each bite is guaranteed to elicit moans of pleasure and lifelong cravings.

St. Clair West

621 St Clair Ave W

Leah's Bakery

Bakery

You'll find ooey-gooey classic along with luxurious chocolate pecan butter tarts at Leah's on St. Clair Avenue West.

Leah's Bakery

St. Clair West

621 St Clair Ave W

You'll find ooey-gooey classic along with luxurious chocolate pecan butter tarts at Leah's on St. Clair Avenue West.

Bakery

Goûter

Trust a team that makes some of the city's best viennoiseries, ice cream, cookies, cakes and more to make a delicate, flaky, textbook butter tart no sweet-toothed Canadian can resist.

Goûter

Trust a team that makes some of the city's best viennoiseries, ice cream, cookies, cakes and more to make a delicate, flaky, textbook butter tart no sweet-toothed Canadian can resist.

East Chinatown

635 Gerrard St E

Gerrard St. Bakery

Call in your order early to avoid missing out on Gerrard St.'s glorious butter tarts and one-of-a-kind butter tart cake.

Gerrard St. Bakery

East Chinatown

635 Gerrard St E

Call in your order early to avoid missing out on Gerrard St.'s glorious butter tarts and one-of-a-kind butter tart cake.

Eric’s Handcrafted Butter Tarts

Trust a bakery that specializes in butter tarts to make some of the best in the biz. Available in more than 24 flavours, Eric's butter tarts are a must-try.

Eric’s Handcrafted Butter Tarts

Trust a bakery that specializes in butter tarts to make some of the best in the biz. Available in more than 24 flavours, Eric's butter tarts are a must-try.

Danforth Village

173 Danforth Ave

Dough Bakeshop

If you're in the no-raisin camp, Dough Bakeshop has the butter tart for you. Made with the flakiest pie dough and a classic filling, these twee tarts are as delicious as they come.

Dough Bakeshop

Danforth Village

173 Danforth Ave

If you're in the no-raisin camp, Dough Bakeshop has the butter tart for you. Made with the flakiest pie dough and a classic filling, these twee tarts are as delicious as they come.

Charmaine Sweets

You'll find classic, flaky butter tarts as well as bourbon pecan tarts at this family-run bakery in Leaside.

Charmaine Sweets

You'll find classic, flaky butter tarts as well as bourbon pecan tarts at this family-run bakery in Leaside.

Carla's Cookie Box

If you're craving something novel, Carla's Cookie Box has butter tarts in a range of flavours -- from cherry cheesecake to lemon haze -- sure to impress. Then again, traditionalists will also find plain, raisin and pecan options on the menu at this award-winning bakery.

Carla's Cookie Box

If you're craving something novel, Carla's Cookie Box has butter tarts in a range of flavours -- from cherry cheesecake to lemon haze -- sure to impress. Then again, traditionalists will also find plain, raisin and pecan options on the menu at this award-winning bakery.

Cafe Belong

Like all the food at Cafe Belong, the gorgeously rustic butter tarts are the ultimate temptation.

Cafe Belong

Like all the food at Cafe Belong, the gorgeously rustic butter tarts are the ultimate temptation.