Best Butter Pecan Pastry Recipes

BEST CANADIAN BUTTER TARTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss together the flour, baking powder and salt.
• Cut in the lard and butter using a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse oatmeal.
• In a measuring cup, combine the egg and vinegar. Add enough cold water to make one cup.
• Gradually stir in the liquid, adding just enough to make the dough cling together.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gather into a ball and divide into two equal portions. Tightly saran wrap both portions. Place one in the freezer for later use. Place the other in the fridge to chill for one hour.
• Roll the dough on a floured surface to about 1/8″ thick. Cut as many 4″ circles as you can. Re-roll the scraps and cut out more circles to make 12.
• Fit the pastry circles into a muffin pan and place back in the fridge until ready to fill.
• Preheat oven to 375F and position a rack in lower third of oven.
• In a small saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar. Remove from heat and stir in the cream and vanilla. Let cool to touch (about 5 minutes) before whisking in the egg.
• Divide the pecans (if using) among the pastry shells and pour in the filling until half full.
• Bake for 13-15 minutes or until crust is lightly golden around the edges and filling is bubbling.
• Let cool completely in the pan. Best way to remove the tarts from the pan is to place a cooling rack (upside down) on top and flip the pan over. Then individually flip each butter tart right side up.

BUTTER PECAN PASTRY

Steps:

• 1. Prepare pastry dough 3 hours before using. You may prepare it the night before and let it sit overnight if you prefer. Mix 1 1/2 cups butter, 4 cups flour, and 1 cup ground pecans. Blend well and store, covered in refrigerator for 3-12 hours. This helps make crust flaky.
• 2. When ready to start baking pastry preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a cookie sheet or pizza pan. In a large bowl beat 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup sugar together until well blended. Add 1/4 cup flour and 1 cup ground pecans. Blend well.
• 3. Divide pastry dough in 2 equal portions. Roll one half out to a 10 inch circle. Place on buttered cookie sheet. Spread filling on pastry to within 1 inch of edge. Roll out second half of pastry dough to another 10 inch circle. Brush the outside 1 inch of the pastry edge with water. Place on top of pastry with filling with water edge down. Water helps seal pastry edges. Press the edge and crimp with a fork or your fingers to seal. Combine 2/3 cup water and beaten egg from pastry recipe above and mix well. Brush top of pastry with this mixture. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cut in small wedges to serve. Dust with powdered sugar if desired and serve with rum sauce.
• 4. SAUCE: Combine all ingredient in a small bowl. Mix well. Serve on top of pastry or on the side.

PECAN BUTTER TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Line 12 muffin cups with foil liners. (Do not use paper-lined foil liners.), On a work surface, unroll crust. Cut 12 circles with a floured 4-in. round cookie cutter (save remaining crust for another use). Gently press crust circles onto bottoms and up sides of foil liners. Refrigerate while preparing filling., In a microwave-safe bowl, combine raisins and water; microwave on high 2 minutes. Drain; cool slightly., In a small bowl, mix egg, brown sugars, melted butter, vanilla and salt until blended; stir in pecans and raisins. Spoon into crust cups, dividing evenly., Bake on a lower oven rack until filling just begins to bubble up and crusts are light golden brown, 7-9 minutes (do not overbake). Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. If desired, serve with ice cream.

BUTTER PECAN LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Place pecans and 1/4 cup butter in a baking pan. Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes or until toasted, stirring frequently; set aside., In a large bowl, cream sugar and remaining butter until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Stir in 1-1/3 cups of toasted pecans. , Pour into 3 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , For frosting, cream butter and confectioners' sugar in a large bowl. Add milk and vanilla; beat until smooth. Stir in remaining toasted pecans. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake.