Walnut Blondie with Maple Sauce

#9

On the 9th day of Christmas treats I give you Applebee’s Walnut Blondie with Maple Butter sauce (or a very good copy)  

Ingredients:

1 Cup flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. soda

1/8 tsp. salt

1/2 Cup chopped walnuts

1/3 cup butter

1 Cup packed brown sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 Tbsp. vanilla

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Topping:

3/8 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup butter

3/8 cup brown sugar

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 tsp maple extract/flavoring

Vanilla ice cream

Directions:

Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and soda.  Add walnuts and white chocolate chips; stir well.  Melt butter and stir in brown sugar; cool slightly.  Add egg and vanilla and blend well.  Add flour mixture, a small amount each time, mixing well.  Spread in a lightly greased 8x8 pan.  Bake at 350* for 20 min, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  

For the maple butter sauce, combine maple syrup and butter and cook over low heat until butter is melted.  Stir in brown sugar until dissolved.   Remove from heat and beat in cream cheese and maple extract until smooth.  Heat again over low heat (or in microwave at short intervals) to reach desired sauce consistency.  

Serve sauce over warm blondies topped with vanilla ice cream, and sprinkled with nuts.