by Marlis Ziegler
Columnist

Maple Pecan Bars

As I was looking through my recipe collection I found this one with maple syrup as one of the ingredients. I thought of my mother when I made this as her birthday was this past week and anything made with maple flavoring was a favorite of hers. She passed away 20 years ago and anytime I see maple cookies or candy I think of her and still miss her. She did not care for chocolate and that was always puzzling to me. My birthday request was chocolate cake with an icing made with beaten egg whites and boiled brown sugar syrup with maple flavoring and sprinkled with walnuts.

Maple Pecan Bars

Crust

3 Cups flour

1 1/2 Cups cold butter

3/4 Cups powdered sugar

Topping

1 1/2 Cups brown sugar

1 Cup butter,cubed

1/2 Cup maple syrup

2 Teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 Teaspoon salt

4 Cups chopped pecans

2 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon heavy whipping cream

3/4 Teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Combine flour and powdered sugar in bowl, cut in butter until crumbly. Press in greased 10 x 15 pan and bake 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until edges are slightly browned.

2. While this is baking, combine brown sugar, butter, syrup, cinnamon and salt. Bring to boil and cook over low heat until butter is melted. Stir in pecans, cream and vanilla; remove from heat and spread over baked crust. Bake another 20-25 minutes or until bubbly. Cool and cut into bars. Yield 5 dozen.

Questions or comments:

marlisz@aol.com