Grand & Gorgeous Cambridge
Dee’s Bakery: butter tarts to die for
Often overshadowed by its bigger siblings like Toronto, Guelph, and Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge is a hidden gem of a city that is just waiting to be discovered. What can you do in Cambridge, you ask? The better question might be – what can’t you do in Cambridge? There’s something for every taste, age, and ability. History and architecture fans will fawn over the gorgeous 19th-century Dickensian buildings and the mill ruins perched along the picturesque Grand River. Thrill-seekers can immerse themselves in virtual reality, axe-throwing, and escape rooms, while nature lovers have stunning forest trails and limestone cliffs to explore. Exceptional dining and world-class theatre await those looking for a great night out. The gorgeous and historic city of Cambridge also makes a beautiful backdrop for filming locations for movies and tv shows, including the critically acclaimed The Handmaid’s Tale.
So, what are you waiting for? Discover Cambridge for yourself today!
Butter Tarts to Die For
In the heart of the historic district of Cambridge, just blocks away from the Grand River, is a delightful bakery that caught our attention. With images of giant butter tarts adorning the side of the building, it was clear we needed to drop by Dee’s Bakery to check them out for our butter tart quest.
For over 20 years, Dee’s has been making their hand-made butter tarts using only quality ingredients, earning them a well-deserved reputation for “butter tarts to die for”. In addition to their famous tarts, Dee’s Bakery offers a variety of sweet and savoury treats, as well. Be sure to try their prebaked items like fruit pies, cookies, squares, brownies and other delicious sweets. In their freezer, you can find heat and serve meals, as well as bake-at-home items like meat pies, shepherd’s pie, quiche, and more.
Dee’s Bakery flavours:
In the regular rotation of butter tarts at Dee’s Bakery, you will find flavours like plain, raisin, pecan, coconut, chocolate chip, maple walnut, and many other delicious tasty options.
The Flavour of the Month
Every month, Dee’s Bakery offers one distinctive flavour that they create specifically for their “flavour of the month” feature. Past features have included flavours like salted caramel, café mocha, candy cane, pumpkin spice, and many others.
Special tarts
In addition to regular butter tarts and the flavour of the month, Dee’s Bakery has a selection of other ‘special flavours’ of tarts. These include (but are not limited to) chocolate-covered, apple pie, lemon meringue, mincemeat, and different fruit flavours. For a truly Canadian taste sensation – pick up the Nanaimo bar butter tart. It combines the two most iconic desserts in one bite – and it is spectacular.
Crust:
The pastry on these butter tarts is very light and flaky. I suspect they are made with lard, but unlike many tarts with a lard-based crust, these are not greasy or oily tasting. The crust is a decent thickness. It is solid enough to hold up to the filling without any of it seeping out.
Filling
The consistency of the sauce is very smooth and creamy, with a delicious buttery taste. The mixture has an excellent ooze factor. It is thick enough to prevent from becoming a sticky mess but thin enough for decadent pleasure.
Crust to filling ratio
The ratio between crust to filling is pretty good. The crust is thick, but not too thick to overpower. The mixture is plentiful and flavourful. Usually, I would suggest more filling to match the crust. However, the filling is so decadently sweet – any more, and it would have been a bit too much.
Overall Experience
These butter tarts are quite delicious. With so many flavour options to choose from, there is something for everyone. Coming in at 85g, they are a good-sized tart, made lovingly by hand. Crust and filling combined, you have an enjoyable butter tart taste in every bite.
If you want to feel like you have died and gone to heaven, make a trip to Cambridge, and get some of the decadent butter tarts from Dee’s Bakery. They are open 7 days a week, making it easy to get your fix.
Update: Dee’s Bakery permanently closed in 2022.
Include a stop at Dee’s Bakery in our mini Butter Tart Tour
UPDATE: Effective November 2021, Dee’s Bakery has permanently closed. They will be sadly missed.
