Recipe: Maple Syrup Bars (Fannie Farmer Baking Book)

MAPLE SYRUP BARS

1 1/2 cups sugar, divided use
16 tbsp. (1 cup) butter, softened
2 cups flour
1 egg yolk plus 2 whole eggs, divided use
1/2 cup real maple syrup
1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped coarsely

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a (13x9-inch) baking pan.

Put 1 cup of the sugar and the butter in a mixing bowl. Stir briskly to blend. Add the flour and mix with a spoon until combined. Stir in the yolk and mix to blend. Turn the cookie dough into the prepared pan and pat evenly over the pan. Set aside.

Put the 2 eggs in a bowl and beat until a little foamy. Add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and the maple syrup, and beat (a rotary beater is handy for this) for about 1 minute. Pour the syrup mixture over the dough and sprinkle the pecans evenly over the top.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. The bars should look caramel-colored, and to make sure they are not soggy in the center, press with your fingers. They won't be hard, but they shouldn't be sticky. These become firm when cool. Remove from the oven and cut into 1 (1/2-inch) squares while warm. Let cool completely in the pan.

Makes 60 (1 1/2-inch bars)
Source: The Fannie Farmer Baking Book by Marion Cunningham