Walnut Maple Bars with Shortbread Crust

By Texaschef11

Ingredients

• Cinnamon Shortbread Crust
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 6 tbsp butter, chilled and cut into 4-6 pieces
• Walnut Maple Topping
• 2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tbsp butter, melted and cooled
• 1 tbsp all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Preparation

Step 1

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