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The BEST Whole Wheat Butter Tart Bars

AuthorBronwyn Case
These whole wheat butter tart bars are butter tarts but without the hassle of making tiny little individual crusts - doesn't get any better than that. These bars are on the richer, sweeter side but they're definitely worth the indulgence for special occasions. They're easy, delicious, made with simple ingredients!
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Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Chill 2 hours
Total Time3 hours
Servings12 Bars

Equipment

  • 8"x 8" Glass Baking Dish
  • Medium bowl
  • Large Glass Measuring Cup
  • Whisk or Immersion Blender
  • Small Saucepan

Ingredients  

Base

  • 1/2 Cup Butter 115g softened
  • 2 tbsp Sugar 25g
  • 1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour 160g
  • 1 tsp Salt

Filling

  • 1/2 Cup Butter 115g melted
  • 3/4 Cup Sugar 150g
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/4 Cup Heavy Cream or milk
  • 1.5 tbsp Whole Wheat Flour
  • 1.5 tsp Vanilla
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tbsp Maple Syrup
  • Pinch Coffee Grounds

Instructions 

  1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare an 8"x 8" baking dish by greasing it with butter and dusting with flour, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
  2. Prepare The Crumble Base: In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and the softened butter. Mix until the ingredients form a crumbly texture.
  3. Assemble The Crust: Transfer the crumble mixture to your prepared baking dish and press it down evenly to form a solid base.
  4. Bake the Base: Bake the crust for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden.
  5. Make the Filling: While the crust is baking, prepare the filling. In a large glass measuring bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, maple syrup, eggs, cream, flour, and coffee grounds. Use a whisk or immersion blender to mix until smooth and syrupy.
  6. Bake the Bars: Once the crust is done, pour the filling over the baked base and return the dish to the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the filling is set and slightly golden around the edges.
  7. Add the Finishing Touch: As soon as the bars are out of the oven, sprinkle flaky Maldon sea salt over the top while the filling is still soft and sticky.
  8. Cool and Slice: Let the bars cool for 1 hour on the counter, then place them in the fridge for another hour or more to fully set.
  9. Once chilled, slice into squares and enjoy!