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How to Make Cape Breton "Pork" Pies - A Step-by-Step Guide

When you think of traditional Canadian cuisine, Cape Breton "Pork" Pies might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, this delightful dish is a beloved staple in the Cape Breton region of Nova Scotia, where it has been enjoyed for generations. While the name suggests that these pies are made with pork, they actually contain no meat at all, making them a perfect option for vegetarians and vegans.

Cape Breton "Pork" Pies are a savory and satisfying pastry filled with a heart...

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces and softened
  • 2 ¼ cups chopped pitted dates
  • 1 cup water
  • ¾ cup packed brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 ¼ cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon maple extract

Information

  • Prep Time: 45 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
  • Servings: 48
  • Yield: 48 tarts

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Make the tart shells: Sift flour and confectioners' sugar into a bowl. Cut in butter, then knead until well blended. Form dough into forty-eight 3/4-inch balls. Place one ball into each cavity of two 24-cup mini muffin tins. Press balls into the bottom and up the sides of each cup to form a shell.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until pale gold, about 16 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans. Use a knife to gently loosen and remove cooled tarts from the pan.
  • While the tarts are baking, make the filling: Combine dates, water, brown sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; boil gently for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly and mashing dates with a fork as they cook. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla. Allow filling to cool.
  • While the filling is cooling, make the icing: Cream butter in a small bowl with an electric mixer. Gradually add 1 cup confectioners' sugar while continuing to mix. Add remaining sugar, milk, and maple extract; beat on high speed until smooth and thick enough to pipe. Spoon icing into a pastry bag fitted with a small round or star-shaped tip.
  • Spoon filling into tart shells. Pipe a swirl of icing onto each tart.

    • Nutrition

    119 cal.

    • Total Fat: 5g
    • Saturated Fat: 3g
    • Cholesterol: 13mg
    • Sodium: 48mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 19g
    • Dietary Fiber: 1g
    • Total Sugars: 14g
    • Protein: 1g
    • Calcium: 9mg
    • Iron: 0mg
    • Potassium: 58mg

    Categories

    Pie recipes
    Canadian recipes
    Pork recipes
    Savory recipes
    Baking recipes