Festive Maple Chewy Bars (Printable Version)

Chewy bars featuring rich maple syrup, toasted nuts, and a buttery shortbread base.

# What You'll Need:

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar

03 - 2 cups all-purpose flour

04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

05 - 1 cup pure maple syrup

06 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed

07 - 2 large eggs

08 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

09 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

10 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

12 - 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.

02 - Cream together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt; mix until a soft dough forms.

03 - Press dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes, until set but not browned.

04 - Whisk together maple syrup, brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, flour, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Stir in toasted nuts.

05 - Pour maple nut mixture over the hot base. Return to oven and bake for 20 to 22 minutes, until topping is set and golden.

06 - Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Lift out using parchment, slice into bars, and serve.

01 -

The buttery shortbread base melts on your tongue while the maple topping adds just enough chew to keep you reaching for another piece.
It looks impressive on a holiday table but comes together in under an hour with ingredients you probably already have.

02 -

Don't skip toasting the nuts, raw ones taste flat and won't give you that deep, roasted flavor.
Pour the topping over the base while it's still hot from the oven, this helps the layers bond instead of sliding apart.

03 -

Use a bench scraper or offset spatula to press the shortbread dough evenly, your hands warm it up too much and make it sticky.
Let the bars cool completely before slicing, cutting them warm makes the topping smear and the edges crumble.