Bourbon & Maple Bars

Let the Christmas baking begin!!

Are you a maple syrup lover?  If so then you will love these!!  They have a hint of bourbon and slightly chewy.  They keep well, that is if you hide them somewhere!!

*note* be sure to use pur maple syrup and not the maple flavoured pancake syrup variety.

Batter:

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup maple syruup
2 tablespoons bourbon
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Glaze:
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons bourbon

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.   Lightly butter a 1 x 9 inch baking pan.

2.  To make the batter: 
Sift together the flour and baking powder; set aside.  In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light.  Gradually beat in the eggs and vanilla until blended.  Combine the maple syrup and bourbonl add in a slow, steady stream, beating gently until blended.

3.  Stir in the flour mixture until blended.  Add the pecans or walnuts; stir to blend.

4.  Spread the batter in the prepared pan.  Bake for 35 minutes, or until the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pan.  Cool on a wire rack, and glae the bars while still warm.

5.  To make the glaze:
Sift the confectioner's sugar into a small bowl.  In a separate bowl, stir together the maple syrup and bourbon.  Add the liquids to the confectioner's sugar, stirring until smooth.  Drizzle the glaze over the warm bar cookies, spreading it into a thin, even layer.  Cool thoroughly before cutting into the bars.