Nut Bar Recipe

Soft, sweet and spicy with chunks of delicious walnuts, this recipe was inspired by a local bakery from my childhood. This Nut Bar Recipe is easy to make and delicious with a glass of milk or dunked into your morning coffee.

this recipe!

Pilon's Bakery

Growing up in Vankleek Hill, Ontario, we made several visits to Pilon's Bakery It was always the highlight of our day.

The aroma of their freshly baked bread, a distant memory comes to the front of my mind in an instant. It was THE best bread I've ever had. Their baked goods were equally irresistible. Jelly rolls, cinnamon buns, chocolate chip cookies, and my personal favourite, Nut Bars.

Over the years, living in Hamilton, hubby and I would drop by bakeries with our boys anytime we were in a small town. Seeking the charm and goodness that only a small-town bakery seems to have, I always felt that you could really get a sense of the community when you went into their bakery. The minute I would cross the threshold, I would think about Pilon's Bakery Nut Bars. I have recreated the recipe as I fondly remember it.

Pilon's Bakery changed hands a few times and sadly closed many years ago, however, if you live in Vankleek Hill or are visiting, be sure to check out The Broken Kettle Bakery and Barkery (doggie treats too!) - they have delicious muffins, date squares and Kawartha Lakes Ice Cream! They offer the same small-town friendly service. We are making memories now with our boys as we drop in for treats. 🙂

Eureka!

To the best of my memory, this recipe is how I remember the Nut Bar Cookies. My parents tried them out yesterday when I dropped off a batch and my Dad said they were 99.9% the same! 🙂

If you've have never tasted Nut Bar Cookies, then you're in for a treat. This recipe is really easy to make and yields a nice batch of about 40 cookies. I've added them to the fall category, but they are delicious 12 months of the year 🙂

The elementary students have just started back to school and that always triggers fall in my brain. My Mom and Dad have maple trees and the leaves have changed colours already and started dropping. I scooped them up on my way to the car and knew they would be beautiful with my favourite Nut Bar photos.

Enjoy this recipe and if you make it, please be sure to comment below and give it a star rating!

How to Make Nut Bars

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.

2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. (If you have no parchment paper, don't sweat it - you will just need a good spatula to carefully lift them from the pan. I tried it and it worked fine. Parchment just makes it a little easier).

3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and allspice.

4. Using the bowl from a stand mixer, or large mixing bowl with hand mixer, cream together butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar. ( dark brown sugar is best as it will enhance the molasses flavours). Beat until light and fluffy.

5. Add in two large eggs and beat until well-combined.

6. With the mixer running on medium speed, gradually add in molasses.

7. Slowly add in the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until well-combined.

8. Turn out onto a very lightly-floured board and add in the walnuts. Shape into a ball.

9. Divide the ball in half, then divide each half into two pieces. You will end up with four pieces.

10. Shape each ball into a log and lay them across the cookie sheets. (Two per sheet)

11. Sprinkle the tops of the logs very lightly with granulated sugar.

12. Bake one cookie sheet at a time in 350 for 20-23 minutes. The log will be a little soft in the middle.

13. Cool on baking sheet for five minutes.

14. Carefully transfer one log to cutting board. Slice diagonally into one-inch pieces. Repeat with second log.

Makes 36 to 40 cookies.

Sweeten them up with a little glaze

Combine 6 tbsp. of icing sugar with two tsp. of milk and ½ tsp. of vanilla. Add a little more milk or icing sugar until you reach desired consistency. Place in icing bag and drizzle over top of cookies.

If you like this recipe, then I think you might also enjoy these:

Old-Fashioned Gingersnap Cookies

Pecan Butter Tart Squares

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

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