Austrian Chocolate Walnut Bars Recipes

AUSTRIAN CHOCOLATE WALNUT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a large bowl, beat the 1 cup butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the 1/2 cup brown sugar. Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Gradually add flour, beating on low speed just until combined (mixture will look slightly dry). Press mixture into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Carefully spread preserves over hot crust.
• In another large bowl, beat eggs on medium-high speed for 3 minutes. Add the 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, the cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt. Beat on low speed for 3 minutes. Gradually add the finely ground walnuts, beating just until combined.
• Carefully spread chocolate mixture evenly over preserves. Bake about 30 minutes or until set. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
• For the Icing: In a medium heavy saucepan, combine bittersweet chocolate and the 3 tablespoons butter. Cook and stir over low heat until melted. Stir in corn syrup and rum. Spread icing over cooled uncut cookies. If desired, top with the walnut halves. Let stand for 1 to 2 hours or until chocolate is set. Using a sharp knife, loosen edges of cookies from sides of pan. Cut into bars.

HUNGARIAN COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325ºF. Grease a 9" square baking pan; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, cream together 3/4 cup of the brown sugar and the margarine. Add vanilla and flour; mix well. Pat this mixture into the bottom of the baking pan.
• In a small bowl, beat the eggs until foamy. Add the remaining 1 cup brown sugar; mix well. Pour into the pan over the first mixture. Sprinkle the nuts evenly over the top.
• Bake at 325ºF for 30 to 40 minutes, or until center is no longer jiggly. Cool completely before slicing. Slice into 2-1/2"x1-1/2" bars.

APRICOT WALNUT BARS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, cook apricots in water over medium heat for 10 minutes or until softened. Drain, cool and chop; set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add 1 cup flour until well blended. , Press into a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake at 350° until lightly browned, about 20 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat eggs and brown sugar until blended. Beat in vanilla. In a small bowl, combine the baking powder, salt, and remaining flour; gradually add to egg mixture. Stir in apricots and nuts. Pour over crust. , Bake at 350° until set, about 30 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar; cut into bars.