Ontario’s Best Butter Tarts and Where to Get Them
Are you hungry for some of Ontario’s best butter tarts?
Being the birthplace of butter tarts, it’s no surprise that Ontario is host to many proprietors of the simple, Canadian delicacy. What can be surprising is the range of quality and consistency of each tart depending on where you find them.
From gooey to great, this guide will leave you with no doubt that you are making smart dessert choices. If you’ve got butter tarts on your brain, get ready to hit some of the best bakeries in Ontario that bake up bites of Canadian glory.
Andrea’s Gerrard St. Bakery
With a family history as rich in baking as some of the fillings in her tarts, there’s no doubt you’re taste buds will be tantalized after a stop at Andrea’s Gerrard St. Bakery.
Where is Andrea’s Gerrard St. Bakery? Andrea’s Gerrard St. Bakery is located at 635 Gerrard St. East in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It’s right near Hubbard Park and a wide variety of Asian cuisine.
Following in the footsteps of her two grandmothers and mother, this third-generation foodsmith has a penchant for pleasuring people’s palates.
Soft, buttery crusts and slightly caramelized edges have these hefty butter tarts at the top of the charts. They score big for beauty and taste!
This simple bakery is an East Chinatown standout! You may come for the butter tarts but the many pies, cakes, and cookies will surely beg for you to gobble them up, too!
Betty’s Pies and Tarts
A choice pick from Northumberland, Betty’s Pies and Tarts serves up freshly baked foods from a super homey bungalow bakery.
Where is Betty’s Pies and Tarts? Betty’s Pies and Tarts is located at 7380 County Rd. 2 in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada. You can travel to Cobourg from Toronto in an hour and a half.
Deep and gooey, these rustic tarts live up to the hype. The sweet-but-not-too-sweet filling runs like an escaped convict after being freed by your chompers. Tilt your butter tart back a bit to hold in the flood of flavour!
The plain butter tarts are some of Ontario’s best, for sure, though Betty’s also offers pecan, raisin, and even a peanut butter and jelly tart!
Dee’s Bakery
With over two million butter tarts sold, there’s no doubt that Dee’s Bakery brings joy to the hearts of many and adds inches to their waistlines, as well.
Where is Dee’s Bakery? Dee’s Bakery is located at 118 St. Andrews St. in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. From Toronto, it’s about an hour and a half, heading southwest or 45 minutes from Hamilton.
Delicious pastry coupled with a smooth, buttery inside is what you get with Dee’s tarts. The balance of pastry and filling is nearly perfect in every bite.
If Cambridge is a bit out of your way, don’t worry. Dee’s Bakery ships these beauties out fresh to all areas of North America!
Doo Doo’s Bakery
No list of Ontario’s best butter tarts is complete without a mention of Doo Doo’s Bakery in Bailieboro.
Where is Doo Doo’s Bakery? Doo Doo’s Bakery is located at 187 County Rd. 28 in Bailieboro, Ontario, Canada. It’s nearly a two hour drive northeast from Toronto or 20 minutes south of Peterborough.
Awards have been won by this bakery by the dozens, in recognition of their finely crafted, all-Canadian pastries. A lengthy list of their achievements is posted on their website, and a display space in their bakery showcases many ribbons and plaques.
With a friendly staff and a warm, cozy atmosphere, each visit has you eager to return. When it’s time for sweets, Doo Doo’s is hard to beat.
Erika’s
Homegrown talent and handmade goods is what you’ll find at Erika’s. Born and raised in Dwight Ontario, owner Erika Grainger bakes up all sorts of sweet treats to please the many regulars and passersby patrons that pop on in.
Where is Erika’s? Erika’s is located at 2382 Highway 60 in Lake of Bays, Ontario, Canada. It’s roughly a three hour drive north of Toronto or 15 minutes from Huntsville.
Backed up by sister Tanya and mother Simone, these ladies pump out thousands of butter tarts yearly.
Choose from a classic filling or venture off the beaten path with options of Maple Bacon or Raspberry Delight. No matter the fillings, the flaky pastry that surrounds them are a real delight!
Frank’s Catering and Baked Goods
Hailing from Frank’s Catering and Baked Goods, weighing in at an average of 120 grams; the reigning champions of the Ottawa region are these bountiful butter tarts!
Where is Frank’s Catering and Baked Goods? Frank’s Catering and Baked Goods has two locations in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The original location is situated at 23 Greenbank Rd. and the second is located at 22 Antares Dr.
Not just big, Frank’s pastries are as pleasing to the palate as they are to the eyes. For those that like their butter tarts on the less runny side, these will be the cream of the crop!
Accidentally famous, the tarts were the lovechild of an unavailable recipe and a misfired memory. The story goes that Frank created these gems from what he could remember of a recipe that wasn’t on hand. He got it all wrong but the butter tarts born that day bested those of the original recipe.
Bottom line, Ontario’s definitely the hotspot for some of the best butter tarts in existence. Make a weekend out of sampling some of these flaky morsels of Canadiana or try one if you find yourself in one of these areas. Enjoy!
