Maple Walnut Bars

If you’re a fan of cozy desserts, these maple walnut bars will be your new favorite. They’re buttery, chewy, and filled with toasted walnuts and maple syrup. A drizzle of maple icing takes them over the top.

• 10 tablespoons (141g) melted unsalted butter, cooled slightly but still warm
• ¾ cup (170g) light brown sugar, tightly packed
• 1 large egg
• ⅓ cup (78ml) pure maple syrup
• ¾ teaspoon maple extract
• 1½ cups (188g) all purpose flour, spooned and leveled or weighed
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 scant cup (97g) chopped toasted walnuts

• 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ¼ teaspoon maple extract
• pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts, optional topping
• flaky sea salt, optional topping