Bar #7: Brown Sugar Maple

Brown sugar and maple just say fall to me.  This is one of those bars that I could eat for breakfast alongside a hot cup of coffee…in other words, the perfect bar.

Shopping List

1 box of yellow cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs

1/2 cup maple syrup
1 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup chopped pecans, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease one 9×13 inch pan.

In a mixing bowl, combine cake mix, veggie oil, and eggs with an electric mixer.  Stir in your butterscotch chips.  Spread batter over the bottom of your pan and bake 18 minutes or until slightly brown around the edges and set in the middle.

As soon as you remove your pan from the oven, prick the bottom of the warm bars with a fork (don’t slice the bars yet!).  Drizzle your maple syrup down over the tops allowing it to seep into the holes.  Set aside and allow to cool.

While your bars are cooling (you haven’t cut them yet…they’re still in the pan!), melt your butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add in your brown sugar and bring to a boil.  Boil constantly while stirring for about 2 minutes.  Add in your milk and bring the mixture back up to a boil while still stirring.

Once it reaches a boil, remove from heat and let it cool at least 5 minutes.  Once it has cooled a bit, stir in your powdered sugar.  Spread your frosting mixture quickly over your bars.  Sprinkle pecans on top.  Allow these bars to cool at least one hour before slicing.

You need to work quickly with your frosting because it sets fast!  As soon as you have your powdered sugar incorporated, spread it out over the bars.