Wednesday, March 1, 2023

March is For Maple

 

Let's get this month off to a sweet start with a delicious Maple Nut Bar! Amy Traverso with Yankee Magazine came by Tonia's Kitchen with a delicious recipe for those bars. Amy told Tonia these bars have a healthy dollop of maple syrup and a golden brown crust. The ingredients are simple and the recipe is very easy to follow. The end result is delicious! 

  • 1-1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided
  • 1/3 cup plus 1/2 cup granulated maple sugar, divided
  • 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature, plus extra for pan
  • 3/4 cup maple syrup (preferably Grade B)
  • 1 large egg, beaten, at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon table salt
  • 1 cup chopped almonds, pecans, or walnuts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Make the crust: Whisk together 1-1/2 cups flour and 1/3 cup maple sugar; then cut in softened butter. Using a standing mixer, or a fork if you're working by hand, blend until mixture resembles coarse meal, dry and crumbly. Press mixture into the bottom of a greased 8- or 9-inch square pan. Bake 15 minutes.

To make the topping, combine 3/4 cup maple syrup, 1/2 cup maple sugar, beaten egg, melted butter, cream, vanilla, 1 tablespoon flour, and salt. Beat well; then stir in nuts. Pour batter carefully over half-baked crust.

Return crust and topping to the oven. Bake until set, about 35 minutes. Cut into small bars and remove from pan to cool.