Recipe: Vermont Maple Walnut Bars with Maple Cream Frosting for Ruth

VERMONT MAPLE WALNUT BARS
Adapted from: Mrs Field's Best Cookie Book Ever by Debbi Fields

FOR THE BARS:
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened (use salted butter)
1 cup pure maple syrup
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
4 oz walnuts, chopped (about 1 cup)
FOR THE FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 oz cream cheese, softened
1 tbsp packed brown sugar
3 tbsp pure maple syrup
3/8 cup powdered sugar

TO PREPARE THE BARS:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease an 8x8-inch pan.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt, and soda. Mix with whisk and set aside.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer, blend sugar and butter to form a grainy paste. Scrape down sides of bowl and add syrup, egg, and vanilla. Beat on medium until smooth.

Add flour mixture and walnuts and blend on low until JUST combined. Pour into pan and smooth with a spatula.

Bake 40-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan 15 minutes, then invert onto cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting.

TO PREPARE THE FROSTING:
Cream butter and cream cheese with mixer on high speed. Add brown sugar and maple syrup and beat until smooth. Reduce speed to medium and slowly add powdered sugar. Once sugar is incorporated, increase speed to high. If frosting appears thin, gradually add more powdered sugar until it thickens.

Spread frosting on cooled bars.