The Early Risers Enjoy the Butter Tarts

The phrase “the early bird catches the worm” perfectly illustrates the excitement surrounding Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival in Midland. By 9 AM, this charming town in the Heart of Georgian Bay is already alive with activity. While butter tart vendors are setting up their stalls, eager visitors stand in line, ready to grab their favorite tarts. This annual festival, dedicated to celebrating Canada’s beloved treat, continues to attract thousands of visitors each year.

Before you hit the road, be sure to explore 400Eleven.com. This fantastic resource offers comprehensive information about attractions, accommodations, travel tips, and recommendations for exploring areas north of Toronto.

If you’re not already drooling, you definitely will be after watching the video we made for our YouTube channel.

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Getting There

Midland is situated just 1.5 hours north of Toronto.

Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival

This is a delightful one-day festival (we wish it were longer) that unites local residents and visitors in a lively street party celebrating this iconic Canadian dessert. Bakery vendors from across Ontario participate, competing for the best butter tart title. We encountered visitors from Toronto, Hamilton, and even some who traveled from the U.S.!

For those who haven’t tasted a butter tart, imagine a freshly baked, flaky pie crust filled with a smooth, caramel-colored sweet filling. We’ve tried our best to describe it, but trust us, nothing can compare to experiencing it firsthand.

It’s essential to note that butter tart aficionados are divided on whether raisins should be included in the recipe. Tony spoke with numerous people at the event, leading to some hilarious discussions. Check out the video here for all the fun!

What’s your stance on the great debate? Do you prefer raisins OR no raisins in your butter tart? Leave a comment below to participate in our highly unscientific poll.

Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Contest

In addition to visiting the festival, we had the privilege of serving as judges in the Butter Tart Contest (what a sweet gig!). The contest featured two categories: Traditional and Dessert Fusion, with both professional and amateur subcategories.

We were assigned to judge the Traditional category, alongside fellow judges Jean and Elizabeth, known as The Baker Sisters, four-time curling champion Glenn Howard, and butter tart expert Mark Nassis, among others. Our contest hosts were Matt & Tara, a hilarious duo from 93.1 Fresh FM in Barrie. We had a fantastic time judging, but Tony and Glenn’s antics were reminiscent of mischievous kids in school needing to be separated for being disruptive.

As judges, our task was to rate each butter tart on a scale of 1 to 10 based on specific criteria outlined on our scoring sheet. This was a blind taste test, meaning we didn’t know the identity of the baker or their professional status. The evaluation criteria included flavor, crust quality, size, and shape. Each judge received a tart, and we had a few minutes to taste and score before moving on to the next one. Each tart represented a round.

The final taste-testing round featured the top 8 tarts, based on previous scores. The winners across categories were announced at the day’s end during the awards ceremony. Congratulations to Doo Doo’s Bakery, which took home first prize in both the Traditional and Dessert Fusion categories.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Diane Rogers from Doo Doo’s Bakery about what it takes to craft a ‘champion butter tart’ and her views on the Raisin/No Raisin debate.

A Tart for Every Tastebud

If you think you can’t enjoy a butter tart due to gluten, sugar, or dairy restrictions, think again! There were several vendors featuring gluten-free, sugar-free, and vegan-friendly options. Butter tart wings were even on offer at a local pub, along with a nearby artisan selling butter tart scented candles!

One thing is certain: if you haven’t tasted a freshly baked butter tart, you’re missing out on a significant life experience. Everything about a butter tart is heavenly—the taste, the aroma, and most importantly, the joy they bring. So go ahead, indulge yourself!

Many thanks to 400Eleven.com for inviting us to the festival and introducing us to the stunning Midland area. We are eagerly planning our next visit, with hopes of enjoying another butter tart or two. 😉

Our visit to Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival was partially sponsored by 400Eleven.com; however, all opinions, recommendations, and reviews are our own.

Have photos or videos from your visit that you’d like to share? Send them to us at @LetsDiscoverON.

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