Every year, the scent of rich, buttery pastry and sweet maple fills the air at the Essex Region Conservation’s Maple Syrup Festival at John R Park Homestead, drawing dessert lovers from near and far. One of the festival’s most anticipated events is the Butter Tart Competition, where local amateur and professional bakers have the chance to showcase their skills and compete for the title of the best butter tart.
A Celebration of a Canadian Classic
The butter tart is an iconic Canadian treat, known for its flaky crust and gooey, caramel-like filling. Whether you prefer yours with or without raisins, with a firmer or runnier center, the Butter Tart Competition is the perfect opportunity to put your best recipe forward and gain recognition for your baking talent.
Call for Entries
Bakers—both amateur and professional—are invited to submit their best butter tart creations for a chance to win prizes and festival-wide recognition. Entries will be judged based on taste, texture, and overall presentation, with bonus points for creativity. Some may choose to stick to tradition, while others may experiment with unique flavor twists, such as maple bacon, pecan praline, or even chocolate-infused tarts.
2025 Best Maple Butter Tart Contest Rules and Details
The competition will take place on Saturday, March 15th, with judging at 1:30 PM and the winners announced at 3:00 PM.
Prizes in Each Category:
- 1st Place: Best Maple Butter Tart ‘Crown’, Award Certificate, and a $50 Maple Market Gift Certificate
- 2nd Place: Award Certificate and a $25 Maple Market Gift Certificate
- 3rd Place: Award Certificate and a $10 Maple Market Gift Certificate
Categories:
- Best Maple Butter Tart Traditional – Amateur
- Best Maple Butter Tart Traditional – Professional
- Most Creative Combination Butter Tart – Amateur
- Most Creative Combination Butter Tart – Professional
2025 Esteemed Panel of Judges:
- Essex County Warden – Hilda MacDonald
- Town of Essex Mayor – Sherry Bondy
- WindsorEats Culinary Experience Expert – Pina Ciotoli
Be Part of the Tradition
The Butter Tart Competition is more than just a contest; it’s a celebration of community, heritage, and culinary talent. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or trying your hand at competition for the first time, this is your chance to shine.
Submit Your Entry
Don’t miss this chance to compete in one of the sweetest events of the season! To enter, butter tarts must be delivered to the contest site, at the John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area, 915 County Road 50 East, Harrow between 9am and 5pm on Friday, March 14th, 2025. Vsit the Maple Syrup Festival website for contest rules.
Mark your calendars, prepare your best butter tart recipe, and join us for an exciting and delicious competition!
2025 Maple Syrup Festival
The 2025 Maple Syrup Festival dates takes place over two weekends in March:
- Weekend One: Lumberjack Weekend – March 8 and 9th, 11 AM – 4 PM
- Weekend Two: Tasters’ Weekend – March 15 and 16th, 11 AM – 4 PM
Tickets to the event can be purchased in advanced by visiting https://www.essexregionconservation.ca/maple
