Gooey maple syrup bars feature a delicious maple filling over a simple brown sugar shortbread crust. They have warm and cozy flavors that come together in such a fabulous way. Add nuts if you want, or let the syrup be the star of the show.
These bars taste almost like a pecan pie (with or without the nuts.) Or if you are from Canada, they might remind you of butter tarts.
Either way, they feature rich maple flavor highlighted with the molasses from brown sugar. They are a little bit gooey and really delicious.
They are made in a very similar way to lemon bars.
You make a shortbread crust and pour an eggy mixture over the top. Then bake it until the filling reaches a curd consistency, and the crust is buttery and tender but sturdy enough to support it in a handheld treat.
But instead of bright citrus flavors, these obviously have a much deeper flavor. If you like pecan pie, or even better honey maple pecan pie, you are going to love these bars!
Carlee’s Tips and Tricks
In order to get a smooth filling, you want to boil the brown sugar and maple syrup together. Do that first so it has a chance to cool a bit before you add eggs or pour it over the crust.
If you are adding walnuts or pecans to the filling, you can boil them along with the syrup and sugar. Alternatively, you can toast them a bit and sprinkle them over the maple filling before you bake the bars.
The crust mixture will look crumbly when you mix it together. It should come together to form a dough when you press it into the pan.
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I like lining my pan with parchment paper to make removing the bars easy. As you can imagine, the maple filling can be a bit sticky.
If you don’t want to use parchment paper, grease the pan well.
Cool completely or even chill a bit before cutting and serving the bars. They are fabulous warm but will make a mess if you try to serve them before they have a chance to set up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the crust made of?
Maple bar crust is a lot like a shortbread cookie. It is made from butter, flour, and brown sugar.
Do maple bars need to be refrigerated?
Yes. Because of the eggs in the filling, you should store your maple bars in the refrigerator. Cover them with plastic wrap, and they will keep for up to a week.
Gooey Maple Syrup Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup salted butter
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Maple Filling
- 2 cups pure maple syrup
- 1½ cups light brown sugar packed
- 1 cup pecan or walnut pieces optional
- ½ cup salted butter
- 4 large eggs
- 4 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉ and line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper.
- In a large saucepan, bring the 2 cups pure maple syrup, 1½ cups light brown sugar, and 1 cup pecan or walnut pieces (if using) to a boil over medium to medium high heat.
- Reduce heat to medium low and cook for 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and stir in the ¼ teaspoon salt and ½ cup salted butter until melted. Set aside to cool.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combined 2 cups all-purpose flour and ½ cup light brown sugar.
- Add 1 cup salted butter and mix until crumbly. Press into lined pan.
- Bake for 10 minutes then remove from oven and set aside.
- In a small bowl, beat together the 4 large eggs and 4 Tablespoons all-purpose flour. Add to maple syrup mixture while stirring. Pour over the crust.
- Bake 25-30 more minutes. The top should look mostly set.
- Cool completely, then chill before cutting.
Notes
- These bars are rich and sweet, so cut into small squares for serving.
- They are easier to cut and serve cold, but are delicious at room temperature or even slightly warmed.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
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