Dairy Free Butter Tart Filling

Does anyone else love butter tarts, especially in the fall and summer months? I know I do! While they're gooey, sweet filling is delicious, it's not the most nutritious! And while it's more than okay to indulge in these decadent sweets, I wanted to create a bit healthier of an alternative for myself, friends and family to enjoy. I chose to use a crust recipe that has worked for my family for years (I didn't create it, nor will I be bale to create a pastry recipe for a long, long time) but you are free to use whatever crust recipe your prefer. So without further ado, here it is!

Ingredients

• 1 cup pitted medjool dates

• 1 cup pure maple syrup

• 1 tsp vanilla

• juice + zest from 1/3 of a lemon

• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 3 eggs

• 1-2 tbsp corn starch (see notes)

• 1/2 cup water + extra

• 1 batch of your favourite crust (I used Marty Curtis' Century Old Nun's Crust)

Notes

Use 2 tbsp cornstarch for a very firm filling, use 1-1.5 tbsp cornstarch for a runnier filling

Procedure

1. Preheat oven to 375 F and line muffin tin with parchment paper squares.

2. In a food processor, blend 1/2 cup water with dates until they’re in a fine paste.

3. Add all other ingredients except cornstarch and blend.

4. Mix desired amount of cornstarch (2 tbsp for extremely firm filling, 1.5 or less for more runny filling) with equal amounts of water to dissolve the cornstarch.

5. Add cornstarch mixture to food processor and blend.

6. Roll our crust dough to be approximately a 1/2 cm thick (crust that is too thick will take away from the filling flavour).

7. Use a cup (approximately 4-6 inches wide) to cut circles in the dough.

8. Place dough into muffin tins, on top of parchment paper squares. Push down to ensure it is secure.

9. Place muffin tin tray on baking sheet to keep your oven clean incase of any spilling and fill the muffin tins until they are 3/4 of the way full with the filling (too much and they'll overflow).

10. Bake for 25-35 minutes, let cool and enjoy!

I hope this recipe delights you as it did me! If you decide to make these, feel free to tag me on instagram!

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