Maple Walnut Bars

Maple Walnut Bars 

Crust:                                                                             

• 1 cup all-purpose flour                                                  
• ¼ cup white sugar                                                         
• ¼ teaspoon salt                                                             
• ½ cup cold cubed unsalted butter                                
• ¼ cup finely chopped walnuts                                      

Filling:

• 2 eggs
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup Tucker Maple Syrup
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla 
• ¾ cup chopped walnuts 

Instructions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Then line an 8-inch square baking pan with straight side with parchment paper. Leave an overhang on at least two sides for removing it easily after baking. 
2. In a mixing bowl, use a pastry cutter or two knives, whisk together the flour, sugar and salt. Add butter and cut in until mixture starts to come together. Stir in 1/4 cup of finely chopped walnuts. Pat evenly into prepared 8-inch pan. 
3. Bake crust in center of the preheated oven until golden and set, about 18-20 minutes. Remove from oven but leave oven on. While crust is baking, whisk together the filling ingredients and set aside. Then, scatter nuts evenly over a baking sheet and set aside. 
4. Once base is out of the oven, place baking sheet with the nuts in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until nuts are lightly toasted and fragrant. Remove nuts from oven and scatter over cooked crust. Re-whisk filling, then pour over-top. Use a fork to evenly distribute the nuts floating on top, if necessary. 
5. Place in oven and bake until filling is set, about 35 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a cooling rack, then carefully lift out of pan using the parchment paper edges. Cut in to squares. Eat as is or serve on a dessert plate with a dollop of whipped cream.