Maple Walnut Apple Butter Bars

(12 Servings)

As with most women I know, I love everything about fall.  The cooler days, the boots, the sweaters, the leaves, the home décor, and of course the food!  The flavors we associate with the season just make me happy – especially maple, apple, and walnut.  My friend Donna makes her own apple butter and gives it as gifts; I wanted to make something special with it instead of just spreading it on toast.  These bars turned out great and are perfect as a snack, dessert, or even breakfast.  I found my regular grocery store didn’t have maple sugar or extract, but I was able to find them at Sprouts Farmers Market. 

You Will Need:

• ¾ Cup Butter – Softened
• 1 ¼ Cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup maple sugar, plus more for sprinkling on top
• ½ cup rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon maple extract
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¾ cup apple butter
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts
• Powdered sugar – for topping

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• Place butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, maple sugar, baking powder, salt, extract in bowl of a stand mixer.  Using the paddle attachment, mix until a semi-crumbly dough forms. 
• Spray an 8×8” baking pan with baking spray and press two thirds of the dough into the bottom of the pan to form the crust. 
• Spread the apple butter out leaving a border about ½” from edge. 
• Crumble the remaining dough into small pieces all over the top, placing some pieces of dough on the border. 
• Put the walnuts on top and sprinkle with a small amount of maple sugar. 
• Bake for about 40 minutes, until the edges just barely brown. 
• Let cool in pan on wire rack before cutting into bars. 
• Top with powdered sugar -if desired- and serve.