Thursday, January 14, 2010

Two Years!!! (Maple Hazelnut ButterTart Squares)

Since this is my first post of 2010, I guess a Happy New Year is in order! I hope all of you have had a great start to this new year and that you will have the inspiration, energy and passion needed to reach success in all of your goals. How wonderful it is to get a fresh start every new year!

I can hardly believe my blog is 2 years old today! I feel like it was just yesterday that I decided to post a few photos and recipes and see what would come of it. 130 some posts and 122 followers (!) later, I'm still at it, albeit a little inconsistently lately. Balance is hard to achieve between obligations and the things I love to do, choices have to be made. I'll get there though, that's what life is all about!

I want to share one of my family's favorite desserts with you today. When I get a request for pecan pie but I don't have time to make the pie dough, I make these squares. They're so easy to make, almost too easy, I could have them everyday! For a change I used hazelnuts and golden raisins in this batch but you could use walnuts, pecans, currants, dried cranberries or pretty much any combination of dried fruit and nuts you like. As I said, it's all about choices!!! :)


Maple Hazelnut Butter Tart Squares
adapted from here and here


for the base:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 cup all purpose flour


for the topping:

1 cup brown sugar

1 tbsp flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

1 tbsp melted butter

1/3 cup pure maple syrup

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cups golden raisins (or other dried fruit)

1/2 cup toasted hazelnut, skins removed, coarsely chopped (or other nuts)


To make the base:

Line an 8 inch square pan with parchment or aluminum paper. Set aside.


In a large bowl, with your mixer of choice, cream the butter and sugar together well. Add the flour and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press into the prepared pan and bake at 350F for 10 to 15 minutes. The base with be golden when ready. Don't over bake it as it will become hard but don't under bake it either or it will be too soft.


To make the topping:

Combine all the ingredients for the topping and mix well.

Spread the mixture over the base and bake at 350F for about 30 minutes. The top will be golden and cracked and beautiful!


Let cool to room temperature in the pan then cut into squares. Top with whipped cream or the ice cream of your choice.
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27 comments:

Diane Schmidt said...

Happy Happy 2 yr Anniversary. I love your blog.

grace said...

congrats on hitting two years, lyb--it's no small feat, to be sure! another thing that would be no small feat is stopping at just one of these ooey bars of goodness. what decadence!

Jules Someone said...

Those sound amazing! Happy two years!

Isabelle Lambert said...

joyeux anniversaire Lyb :) je t'en souhaite encore beaucoup d'années pour que tu puisses nous régaler!
j'imagine aisément que ces carrés sont à tomber :)

Patricia Scarpin said...

Happy blog birthday, darling!
You are one of my favorites and dearest - keep up with the good work!

xx

Cookie baker Lynn said...

Congratulations on keeping such a consistently wonderful blog going for 2 years! The bars looks heavenly - love the maple syrup in there!

natalie said...

these look so good. And so easy. I m making them soon :) hope golden syrup will be a good substitute to maple syrup since I don t find it here.

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

Two years! Congratulations. It's a real accomplishment to maintain a blog for that long. Looking forward to year three.

Edana said...

For your blog's birthday, I'm giving it a new follower :) Everything here looks so good (especially that maple brulee pie...hmm). I just did the "decide to post a few photos and recipes and see what comes of it" a few days ago; it's nice to see someone who went from where I am to where you are. Thanks for the inspiration!

http://edanacooks.blogspot.com

Manggy said...

Happy new year and happy blog birthday!!! And what a great way to celebrate- I can never resist anything Maple, I must be an honorary Canadian! :)

Valerie said...

Happy anniversary! These photos look so good!

Kathleen said...

Happy anniversary! These sure look yummy!

Carol Peterman/TableFare said...

Congratulations on 2 years of blogging! The food blog world is better with you in it! The Maple Hazelnut Butter Tart Squares look amazing.

PheMom said...

Happy Happy Anniversary! Yay! I have to say, this dessert does look ridiculously heavenly too!

Tony said...

Happy 2 year anniversary. New follower here and looking forward to all your great creations. Those squares look AMAZING.

ChichaJo said...

Congratulations one two very yummy years! I look forward to more! :)

buy r4 karte said...

Nice images and yeah thanks for the recipe. I am going to give it a try. This is special.

Unknown said...

Lets talk you and I. Don't you know I'm not supposed to have stuff life this. Oh bother who am I fooling - easy and delicious. It's got my name all over it

Nic said...

Happy Blog Birthday! These look awesome, am bookmarking them!

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Happy belated blogiversary! Here's to many more. :)

AmyRuth said...

You know that is a wonderful "go to" recipe. I just love all things nuts. Maple Syrup sounds warm and wonderful. happy anniversary #2!
AmyRuth

Di said...

Happy (belate) blogiversary! And what a yummy thing to celebrate with! =)

Carolina Andrade said...

What most delightful blog, each more beautiful sweet than the other! Come back more often. Kisses from Brazil. Carol

Shine said...

ohhh....looks so good...love hazelnut..i bet this would be tasty with goji berries as well...yum yum

Shari said...

I like the idea of a crustless tart. These look delicious! And congrats on two years of blogging!
Here's to many more!!

Kathleen said...

Happy 2 year blogiversary! These sound off the charts yummy!!!

Foodista said...

We miss you! Hope you're doing okay