posted by Andy 03-14-103 9:33 AM
Maple Walnut Bars
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup butter
2 cups walnuts
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup butter
3 Tbs cream
3 Tbs corn syrup
2 Tbs maple syrup
1 tsp maple extract
Combine flour and sugar; cut in butter with a pastry blender (or use a food processor) until crumbly. Press into a greased 9"x13" pan. Bake at 350° for 15 to 18 minutes, until just starting to turn golden. Cool.
Sprinkle walnuts evenly over base. In a saucepan combine brown sugar, butter, cream, corn syrup, and maple syrup. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, add maple extract, and stir in well. Pour carefully over walnuts in pan. Bake at 400° for about 10 minutes, or until filling is bubbly. Cool. Cut into squares.
Andy's notes: When I have maple sugar in the kitchen I like to use 1/2 cup maple sugar and 1/2 cup brown sugar in the filling for more maple flavour; a full cup may be even better. I have replaced the corn syrup with maple syrup but the change does not add much more maple flavour. Sometimes I may be more generous with the maple extract than the tsp called for. The surest way to increase the maple flavour is to use a darker grade of syrup, B-grade if you can get it - I have no trouble finding it locally, fortunately.