Remembering Gratitude. And Maple Bars

My son in law loves maple bars. Two years ago my daughter gave him maple bars for his birthday.

But not just any maple bars. Think made from scratch, dough rising, cut in shapes, then fried, iced while hot, made in my own kitchen by my daughter and me maple bars. We doubled the recipe. I fried for an hour and a half, and we ended up with four cookie sheets of maple bars.

Birthday party with fifteen people.

Menu: Two huge homemade pizzas with pepperoni, sausage and 4 lbs. of cheese. Four trays of maple bars.

Cost: Meh

Memories: Priceless

That was the day before Thanksgiving. Each year at this time I think of the maple bars and an over the top birthday party and feel grateful for a wonderful, over the top family.

MAPLE BARS

1 1/2 c. milk

1/2 c. shortening

4 tbsp. sugar

2 tsp. salt

2 yeast cakes

4 tbsp. warm water

4 3/4 c. flour

3 eggs, beaten well

Frosting (recipe follows)

Bring milk to boiling point and pour over shortening, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Cool to lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in warm water and add to lukewarm mixture in bowl along with flour and eggs; mix well. Grease bowl and add dough, turning to grease top. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled. Turn out onto a well-floured board and roll 1/2″ thick. Cut in 2″x4″ pieces. Let rise again in warm place until double. Deep fry in oil heated to 375 degrees in deep skillet or fryer until golden on all sides. Remove to paper towels to drain. Make frosting and frost bars while still warm.

FROSTING

2 c. confectioners’ sugar

3 tbsp. butter, softened

1/4 c. milk

1/4 c. maple syrup

1/2 tsp. maple flavoring

Blend butter into sugar, add milk a tablespoon at a time until right consistency. Should be smooth and spreadable. Add more powdered sugar if mixture is too runny, and more milk and/or syrup if it’s too stiff.

8 thoughts on “Remembering Gratitude. And Maple Bars”

Hilary November 23, 2011 at 7:07 am

Hi Karen .. they sound delicious .. and I love your banner with part of the cover art for House of Diamonds .. have a fun party if you’re doing similar this year .. the menu sounds good – but it’s the family banter that goes along.. that makes the occasion. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours .. cheers Hilary

Reply ↓

karenjonesgowen Post authorNovember 23, 2011 at 7:15 am

Hi Hilary, Won’t be doing anything like that again! It was fun but not something I’d like to do every day before Thanksgiving. This year his birthday falls on Thanksgiving Day so guess we’ll celebrate with turkey.

Reply ↓
1. Hilary November 23, 2011 at 7:20 am
  
  Roast turkey and all the trimmings sounds a very good idea .. happy Birthday son .. and to you for those memories over the years .. cheers to you all – Hilary

Glynis Smy November 23, 2011 at 7:55 am

They sound gorgeous! Not sure if I can get Maple syrup here in Cyprus but going to have a good look. If not I will get my son in Canada to send me some!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday to your son.

Reply ↓

karenjonesgowen Post authorNovember 24, 2011 at 7:10 am

Glynis, Just a note about that frosting recipe– we always use extra maple flavoring, up to a teaspoon or more, to taste. Maybe because our maple syrup isn’t the real thing, more like pancake syrup, so the additional flavoring makes up the difference.

Reply ↓