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Maple Pecan Sticky Bars

A new daytime baking programme started this week. Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard is on at 12:05pm on Channel 4 each week day for 4 weeks.



The new series will appeal to baking novices and experts alike. Eric Lanlard, the master of all things sweet and beautiful, will be in his own home, conjuring up quick baking recipes alongside his signature glamorous desserts. Each 30 minute episode, will also feature three members of the public who will come to his cookery school, Cake Boy, to demonstrate their baking skills and take part in a 'Bake Off'.

I watched the first episode today on replay, and I have to admit I did enjoy it. The voice over got on my nerves a bit, but I enjoyed watching Eric and bakers baking delicious cakes. In the first section of the program, the bakers have a bake off and then the winner has a masterclass with Eric. I am looking forward to watching the rest of the episodes.

Make sure you tune in on Thursday the 15th March 2012, to watch our good friend Dom from Belleau Kitchen taking part in the show. I have high hopes for him winning the masterclass.

adding butter
Until then I would like to share the recipe for Maple Pecan Sticky Bars with you. I made them today with Cooper. I did try to make them myself, but he took umbrage and demanded to help. So a chair was positioned, so he could stand at the end of my island unit and make a mess help. Actually he isn't too bad. Graham would argue that I make much more of a mess.

making shortcrust pastry
Cooper helped me measure out all of the ingredients and to make the dough. His placing of the rolled dough (yes, I rolled mine and the recipe says not to) in the tray ended with him stabbing it rather ferociously with his finger. So he was lifted off his chair and then there was tears, until I gave him a cuddle and explained it to him. *sigh* I suppose I do have to remember he is only just two.

cleaning up
Once it was baked, cooled and chilled in the fridge for an hour, Cooper had a small piece and pronounced it good. I did like it, but it is extremely sweet. I am sure Graham is just going to love it when he gets home from work.

I wonder if Cooper will be appearing on shows like this as a guest in years to come or even have his own show. He certainly has a love of baking and when he goes to playgroup all he wants to play with is the toy kitchen. 


For another easy treat try my 3 Ingredient Chcocolate Fudge.


print recipe

Maple Pecan Sticky Bars
A sticky maple flavoured toffee bake with pecans over a buttery shortcrust base. This recipe comes from Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard, shown on Channel 4, March 2012.
Ingredients
  • 175g toasted pecan nutes, roughly chopped
  • 100ml pure maple syrup
  • 200g light muscavado sugar
  • 1 tbsp whipping cream
  • 150g unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    Base
  • 100g unsalted butter, softened
  • 75g golden caster sugar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 175g plain flour
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan/350°F/Mark 4. Butter a 23x23x5cm cake tin.2. To start, make the short crust pastry base. In a large bowl mix together the butter and sugar with your hands, and finally add the egg yolks and mix. Add the flour and beat until a soft dough is formed. Gather the dough together and press it into the bottom of the tin and 2cm up the sides (I rolled my pastry). Bake for about 18-20 minutes, or until golden (I blind baked my pastry with baking beans). Remove from the oven, but leave the oven on whilst you make the filling.3. To make the filling; in a medium saucepan combine all the ingredients except the nuts and vanilla extract. Bring to the boil, stirring until the butter melts and the mixture is smooth. Boil for 30 seconds. Remove from the heat, then mix the nuts and vanilla extract.4. Pour the hot filling over the crust and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes until the filling is bubbling in the centre.5. Allow to completely cool in the tin where the filling will become firm, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours.6. When chilled, cut into bars with a large sharp knife.
Details
Total time: Yield: 16 squares

(Disclosure: this post was written on behalf of bakingmad.com who provided me with a recipe, flour, sugar and a small bottle of vanilla extract. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)

35 comments

  1. Those bars look amazing.....I NEARLY picked those to make, but went for another ingredient I love!
    I CAN'T wait to see Dom on the telly.....it'll be fun!
    Karen

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    1. Thanks Karen. It will be fun to see Dom. I am working that day, so will have to hope it appears on replay.

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  2. Great cake!!! I'd like a little square...
    LOL

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  3. cute little one he is helping you now :)
    bars look wonderful

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    1. Thanks Akheela. I am chuffed he wants to be in the kitchen helping. It is great fun :)

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  4. These bars look amazing, and how big is Cooper getting!? Such a cute little man helping his mum. I love when kids are interested in cooking and baking!

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    1. I am about to pack them up to take to work with me and yes, he is getting big :)

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  5. Knew I should have picked this recipe from the list!! They look so jolly good and positively sinful all at the same time lol. I've picked the ice cream and shall be making it this weekend, keep everything crossed for me, its the first time I've been in the kitchen this year!

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  6. Couldn't believe how much Cooper has grown Jac. It's fantastic, if sometimes frustrating, that he's helping you out in the kitchen. Those bars do look rather sweet, but I'd still like to try a piece. 4OD doesn't work for us very well, so I'm really hoping I'll manage to catch it live.

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    1. I am planning on watching it at work during my lunch break. So to heck with anyone who wants to watch sport :)

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  7. Haha can't wait to see dom on the show too! I don't have a tv so might have to find some way of watching it (late) online. cooper looks so cute! my mum was never the sort who was keen on having us in the kitchen and getting everything, well, sticky!

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    1. Cooper isn't bad actually, he doesn't like getting in a mess and likes to clean his hands if they get messy. He likes cleaning everything. Awww, my wee housekeeper in the making :)

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  8. I've only had these in a tea shop once, and they were indeed quite sweet, but it's the sort of thing that you have a teensy piece of with several big mugs of tea, which then balances all your hyper sugar rush out with a caffeine buzz. ;)

    Love that kid's head of hair! And yes, "helping" Mummy is only going to get more fun as the years ago on. He'll be a great TV chef - so long as he doesn't become a Gordon Ramsey type!

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    1. No, you are right and no swearing for him! Now just have to work on Graham lol!

      It is sweet, but a wee bit is a real treat!

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  9. I adore sweet. The sweeter the better.

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  10. These look so sweet and delicious! Am going to watch the show now.

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    1. I have been playing catch-up. Lots I want to try now.

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  11. aw - he cleans up too - he will be very popular with the girls! The slice sounds lovely though quite sweet - I know E would love it because it is pastry and caramelly - sylvia would expect to help me but sometimes it ends in tears too

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    1. They are still learning aren't they? But, it is fun for them and they are learning good kitchen skills. Long may it last :)

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  12. What a fabulous treat!
    Mary x

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  13. They look yummy! A bit like pecan pie, I think. Glad to see you've got Cooper in there helping, too!

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    1. You know, I have never had pecan pie. What a sad state of affairs.

      As to Cooper helping in the kitchen, well I didn't have much luck with Graham, so I moved my attentions to Cooper and now I have a wee apprentice x

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  14. I was drooling when Eric made these on his tv show - yours look just as delicious. I think I need to make these!

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  15. They look good!

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  18. You can't really say what is beautiful about a place, but the image of the place will remain vividly with you.

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I love reading comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one. Unfortunately, I'm bombarded with spam, so I've turned on comment moderation. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can and respond to them. Don't panic, they will disappear when you hit publish. Jac x