As the warm weather starts many of us begin thinking of day trips to ensure we get out and enjoy the features and attractions around us. There are museums, farmers markets, arts and craft shows…the list is almost endless.
But have you ever been on the Butter Tart Tour? Yes, you can take The Kawartha’s Northumberland Butter Tart Tour where you will have the opportunity to stop at dozens of locations, all offering the best butter tarts in Ontario. And what is even better, if you don’t get to take the tour this summer, you can visit the vendors 365 days a year!
The idea for the tour started in 2011 and has grown to include over 50 locations.
If you are counting calories, you can skip this paragraph. But if you are due for some sweet treats, then you will accept that a butter tart is pretty basic: butter, sugar, syrup and eggs. And then the additional ingredients are added to appeal to every sweet tooth. Consider raisins, pecans, walnuts, currants… and even cream fillings. Of course, times have changed, and you can even find gluten free versions.
Source: http://buttertarttour.ca/
Not sure where to start? Then pick one of the suggested mini tours – with over 50 locations, you have to focus your driving and eating efforts!
Tour #1: “It Gets Butter” is the Sturgeon & Balsam Lake Route, taking you through Lindsay, Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls and Kirkfield.
Tour #2: “We’ll Butter You Up” is the Kawartha Route and will take you through Rice Lake to Peterborough and Stoney Lake.
Tour #3: “A Tart of Gold” is the 401 Route and will take you along Highway 401 to Port Hope, Cobourg, Grafton and Warkworth.
Tour #4: “A Change of Tart” is the Northumberland East route and will take you along country roads in Port Hope, Cobourg, Grafton, Warkworth and Campbellford.
The following map shows the complete picture of the locations of the bakers and vendors.
Source: http://buttertarttour.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-010-Buttertart-Tour-Map-WEB.pdf
We are waiting for the 2018 results of the Butter Tart Taste-Off but in 2017 there were winners in the following categories:
- Best Plain Butter Tart
- Best Canadian Collection Butter Tart
- Best Gluten Free Butter Tart
- Best Emerging Baker
- Best of the Best
You can see the 2017 winners at http://buttertarttour.ca/
The first recorded recipe for a butter tart appeared in the early 1900’s in the Royal Victoria Cookbook by the Women’s Auxiliary to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie Ontario. Now it is a staple of Canadian Cuisine.
You can follow all the fun on…
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/buttertarttour/?hl=en
Twitter at https://twitter.com/buttertarttour
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ButterTartTour/
Enjoy your own tour!
Bethany Ontario 