Walnut Maple Bars With Shortbread Crust Recipe 55

MAPLE WALNUT SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Cut a piece of foil 8 by 16-inches. Butter the corners and sides of an 8-by-8-inch baking pan. Line the pan with the foil, leaving an overhang on two sides.
• Beat the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium and add the egg yolk, syrup, vanilla extract and vanilla bean seeds if using. Reduce the speed to low, add the flours and salt, all at once, and beat until just combined. Add the walnuts and continue to mix until fully combined.
• Using your hands, drop the dough in pieces evenly into the prepared pan. Flour your hands lightly and press the dough together and into the corners of the pan. Put a piece of waxed paper on top of the dough and use something square and heavy-another pan, a pound of cold butter-to press the dough into the pan and make a smooth, even top. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
• When it is firm, use a fork to score the dough all over. Bake until deep golden brown and starting to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 45 minutes. Cool completely on a rack, about 2 hours, then wrap with plastic wrap, and let sit at room temperature overnight.
• Place a lightweight cutting board or a baking rack over the top of the pan. Flip and set on the counter. Gently pull the pan from the foil and the foil from the pan to lift off the pan. Gently peel the foil off the bar. Place another lightweight cutting board on top, and flip the bar right-side-up.
• Using a sharp, serrated knife, slice the square in half. Then slice each half into 8 bars.

WALNUT MAPLE BARS WITH SHORTBREAD CRUST RECIPE - (5/5)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9×9-inch square pan with aluminum foil. In the bowl of a food processor, combine all of the crust ingredients. Pulse several times until a coarse, sandy mixture forms. Pour into prepared baking dish and press into an even layer. Bake for 13-15 minutes, until crust is very lightly browned around the edges. Spread walnuts in an even layer over the still-warm crust (crust does not need to cool before filling). In a medium bowl, make the rest of the topping. Whisk together sugar, maple syrup, eggs and melted butter until very smooth. Add in flour vanilla and whisk until well combined. Pour over walnuts and put the baking pan back in the oven. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until tart is set and topping is golden brown. Cool bars completely in the pan, then use the aluminum foil to easily lift them out before slicing. Makes 20 bars. Serves 10-12

MAPLE-WALNUT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Beat the butter, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, 1/3 cup maple syrup, 1/4 teaspoon salt and the maple extract in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour in 2 batches and beat until just combined.
• Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and dust with flour. Gently knead a few times until soft but not sticky, lightly dusting the surface with more flour as needed. Pat into an 8-inch square (about 1/2 inch thick). Cut into 1-by-2-inch rectangles, flouring the knife if needed.
• Spread the walnuts on a plate. Gently press each rectangle in the walnuts to coat. Arrange about 1 1/2 inches apart on 2 baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 325 degrees F. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are firm and lightly browned on the bottom, about 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Make the glaze: Mix the remaining 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, 3 tablespoons maple syrup and a pinch of salt in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle on the cookies. Let set, about 15 minutes.

WALNUT SHORTBREAD SQUARES

Steps:

• For crust, preheat oven to 275F; crumble ingredients together until well mixed; Press into a greased 9x13 pan and bake in a slow oven (275F) for 8 minutes; increase temp to 375F and top with second mixture and continue baking.
• For topping: Mix all ingredients well; spread mixture over the partially baked crust and continue baking in a moderate oven (375F) until well set and slightly browned, about 30 minutes; cool and cut into squares.

MAPLE SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. For crust, combine flour, sugar and salt in a bowl. Cut butter into slices, and cut in with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture is crumbly. Press into bottom and half an inch up the sides of a 9- by 13-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes, or until edges begin to brown. Cool on rack.
• For filling, combine all ingredients except pecans, and mix until smooth. Pour into cooled crust. Distribute nuts evenly over top. Bake 30 minutes, or until filling is set. Cool on a rack before cutting.

WALNUT COOKIE BARS (WITH SHORTBREAD CRUST)

Steps:

• Set oven to 350° (oven rack to second-lowest position).
• Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
• In a processor (I use my small processor for this) place the flour and sugar, process for a couple of seconds.
• Add in cold butter and vanilla; process until fine crumbs form (about 10 seconds or just until the mixture holds together).
• Press the mixture into bottom of the baking pan.
• Bake 350° (second-lowest oven rack) for about 12-15 minutes or until the edges are just golden brown.
• Meanwhile in a bowl whisk together brown sugar, corn syrup, 2 teaspoons vanilla, pinch salt and eggs until well blended.
• Mix in chopped walnuts.
• Pour over the crust.
• Bake for about 20 minutes or until set (these bars do not bake out high so watch closely they bake quickly!).
• Cool for about 1 hour or more before slicing.
• At this point you can drizzle with melted chocolate if desired.
• Slice into bar shapes.

WALNUT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Pulse walnuts in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer to a bowl, and whisk in flour and salt.
• Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla until pale and fluffy. Slowly add walnut mixture, and beat until just combined.
• Butter an 8-inch round cake pan. Transfer dough to pan. Place a piece of plastic wrap on dough, and use it to press the dough evenly into pan (this will prevent the dough from sticking to your fingers). Cut dough into 8 wedges using a paring knife. Prick all over with a wooden skewer or fork.
• Bake until golden brown and firm in center, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack. Recut into wedges and prick again. Let cool slightly. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

MAPLE WALNUT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease an 8 x 8 inch pan.
• In a medium bowl combine flour and baking soda. Mix well and set aside.
• In a large bowl with an electric mixer, blend brown sugar and 1/2 cup margarine to form a grainy paste. Scrape down sides of bowl, then add 1 cup syrup, egg and vanilla. Beat at medium speed until smooth.
• Add the flour mixture and walnuts and blend at low speed just until combined. Pour batter into baking pan and smooth top with a spatula. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool in pan.
• To Make Maple Frosting: In a medium bowl, cream 1/2 cup margarine and cream cheese with an electric mixer at high speed. Add 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 3 tablespoons maple syrup, and beat until smooth. Slowly add confectioners sugar and reduce mixer speed to low. Once sugar is added mix until smooth. If frosting appears thin gradually add confectioners sugar until frosting thickens. Spread frosting on top of bars in pan and cut into squares.

MAPLE PECAN SHORTBREAD SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine the flour and 1/3 cup brown sugar in a mixer. Mix in the softened butter until a dough has formed. Press into an ungreased 8x8-inch baking dish, and prick with a fork.
• Bake the shortbread in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. While the shortbread is baking, beat the egg in a mixing bowl along with 1/3 cup brown sugar, maple syrup, and pecans. Pour the pecan mixture over the hot crust, and return to the oven. Continue baking until firmed, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, and immediately run a knife around the edges to prevent sticking. Cool completely, then cut into 1-inch squares to serve.

MAPLE WALNUT BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 9-inch square pan with cooking spray.
• In medium bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter, the granulated sugar and egg yolk with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl occasionally. Add flour and salt; beat until moist clumps form. Press dough in bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of pan. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes.
• In 2-quart saucepan, heat syrup, brown sugar, whipping cream and 3 tablespoons butter to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly, until butter is melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and walnuts. Pour hot filling over partially baked crust.
• Bake 15 minutes or until filling is bubbling in center. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Refrigerate 1 hour. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.