Bourbon And Maple Bars

Recipe By : Marie Simmons' Bar Cookies A to Z

BATTER:
1 Cup Unbleached all-purpose flour
1 Teaspoon Baking powder
1 Cup Unsalted Butter -- Softened
1 Cup Light brown sugar -- packed
2 Large Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla extract
1 Cup Maple syrup
2 Tablespoons Bourbon
1 Cup Pecans or walnuts -- chopped
GLAZE:
1 Cup Confectioners' sugar
2 Tablespoons Maple sugar
2 Tablespoons Bourbon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter a 13 x 9 inch baking pan. 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 bourbon; add in a slow, steady stream, beating gently until blended. Stir in the flour mixture until blended. Add the pecans or walnuts; stir to blend. 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 glaze the bars while still warm. To make the Glaze: Shift the confectioners' sugar into a small bowl. In a separate bowl, stir together the maple syrup and bourbon. Add the liquids to the confectioners' sugar, stirring until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the warm bar cookies, spreading it into a thin, even layer. Cool thoroughly before cutting into bars Makes 24 bars