Cookie And Caramel Chocolate Bars Recipes

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment, leaving an overhang on all sides; butter parchment, excluding overhang. Beat butter and brown sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add flour and table salt, and beat until just combined.
• Press dough evenly into pan, and bake until lightly browned, about 30 minutes.
• Chocolate Caramel: Place chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, washing sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming, until amber, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat. Add butter, cream, and table salt. Bring to a boil, stirring until smooth. Pour over chocolate. Let stand for 2 minutes. Stir to combine, and let stand until cool, about 10 minutes.
• Pour mixture over crust. Refrigerate at least 4 hours, or overnight. Run a knife around edges; lift parchment to remove whole bar from pan. Sprinkle with sea salt. Trim edges, and cut into 16 bars. Bars can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL COOKIE CANDY BARS

Steps:

• Combine the caramels with the water in a small p an and melt over low heat. Place the shortbread cookies side by side on an ungreased cookie sheet. Spoon a dab of caramel onto each cookie. Then place all the cookies in the refrigerator until the caramel firms up.
• In the meantime, in a double boiler over low heat, melt the chocolate chips.
• You may also use the microwave for melting the chocolate. Just zap the chips for 1 minute on high, stir, then zap 'em for another minute. Remove the cookies from the refrigerator.
• rest each one on a fork and dip it into the chocolate. Tap the fork on the side of the pan or bowl to knock off any excess chocolate. Then place each one on a sheet of waxed paper and let them cool at room temperature (65-70F). This could take several hours, but the bars will set best this way.
• If you want to speed up the process, put the candy in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Makes 40 bars.
• - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NOTES : Substitute 1 cup of peanut butter sweetened with 1/2 cup powdered sugar for the caramels.
• The peanut-butter mixture will be of a consistency that allows you to spread it on the shortbread cookies with your fingers.
• Follow the rest of the directions exactly.