Carrés Aux Noix (Nut Squares)

Ingredients

• •Batter:
• •1/4 cup butter
• •1/2 cup sugar
• •1 large egg
• •1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• •1/2 teaspoon salt
• •1 teaspoon baking powder
• •1/2 cup milk
• •1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• •Filling:
• •1 1/2 tablespoons butter
• •1 1/2 tablespoons flour
• •1/2 cup brown sugar
• •1/2 cup chopped nuts
• •Icing:
• •3 tablespoons butter
• •1/2 cups brown sugar
• •3 tablespoons milk
• •1 1/2 cups icing sugar

Directions

1. 1Heat oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cream butter and sugar until well blended. Add egg and vanilla and beat well. Mix together flour, salt and baking powder. Add to batter alternating with milk. Beat until well blended, not more.
2. 2To prepare filling, mix brown sugar with flour. Cut in butter with two knives or a pastry blender. Add nuts. This can be done with food processor.
3. 3Butter an 8-inch square pan. Spread half of batter in pan, cover with filling. Cover filling with remaining batter by spreading it with back of a spoon. It is possible that the filling won’t be completely covered by the batter.
4. 4Bake on center racks of oven for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in batter comes out clean. Bring to room temperature and cover with icing.
5. 5To prepare icing, bring butter, brown sugar and milk to boil on low heat. Remove from heat and add icing sugar. Beat until smooth. Spread icing on baked squares immediately.
6. 6Cut in squares and keep in a sealed container.
7. 7Note: These are a traditional Christmas recipe.