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Maple-pecan shortbread bar. (Photo, Sian Richards.)
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp maple syrup
1/4 cup icing sugar
3 tbsp maple syrup
PREHEAT oven to 350F. Spray 2 8 × 8-in. metal baking pans with oil and line each with overhanging parchment.
STIR flour with pecans and salt in a medium bowl.
BEAT butter with sugar and 1 tbsp maple syrup in a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, until smooth, 1 min. Gradually stir in half of flour mixture, until just combined. Add remaining flour mixture, kneading with your hands, until dough forms a ball.
DIVIDE dough in half. Press a portion of dough evenly into each prepared pan. Using a fork, prick dough all over.
BAKE in centre of oven until golden, 28 to 30 min. Cool completely on a rack, about 1 hour.
WHISK icing sugar with 3 tbsp maple syrup in a small bowl until smooth. Using a spoon, drizzle over cooled shortbread. Let stand until glaze is firm. Remove shortbread from pans to a cutting board, then cut each into 16 bars.