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Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars: #CreativeCookieExchange
May 19, 2015 by Laura 19 Comments
These Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars are an indulgent, decadent treat, perfect for this month’s Creative Cookie Exchange theme of Caramel. Keep reading to check out all of the wonderful caramel cookies we have this month! Affiliate links have been used in this post to link to items I am discussing.
Guys I am just a bundle of nerves right now, writing this. As I write, we leave the next day–although as you read, there is a decent chance I am on a plane…. maybe even over the Atlantic! When I picked up the kids today from their last day of school, Sammy was visibly sad. I think leaving school early, just as it turns into the big…
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%20most%20of%20her%20friends.%20All%20of%20us%20fret%20about%20leaving%20the%20dogs%20for%20so%20long.%20There%20will%20be%20a%20house/pet%20sitter%20staying%20with%20them%20most%20nights,%20and%20the%20regular%20pet%20sitters%20coming%20on%20the%20days%20she%20cannot.%20They%20will%20be%20ok%20I%20know%20but%20a%20control%20freak%20hates%20leaving%20behind%20stuff%20out%20of%20her%20control!%20And%20I%20am%20nothing%20if%20not%20a%20control%20freak.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20know,%20cry%20me%20a%20river.%20Truly%20I%20am%20mostly%20excited,%20but%20a%20worrier%E2%80%99s%20gotta%20worry!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAnyway!%20About%20these%20bars.%20I%20made%20the%20majority%20of%20them%20for%20Staff%20Appreciation%20Day%20at%20the%20kids%E2%80%99%20school,%20although%20as%20rich%20as%20they%20are%20I%20probably%20sent%20in%20too%20many.%20Which%20is%20not%20to%20say%20that%20they%20are%20not%20good%E2%80%93my%20kids%20in%20particular%20loved%20them.%20I%20thought%20we%20might%20peter%20out%20on%20eating%20them,%20because%20of%20that%20richness,%20but%20Alex%20and%20Sammy%20made%20sure%20every%20last%20crumb%20was%20devoured.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20recipe%20for%20these%20bars%20comes%20from%20Carole%20Bloom%E2%80%99s%20Caramel%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E,%20a%20treasure%20trove%20of%20recipes%20for%20those%20of%20you%20inclined%20toward%20anything%20caramelized.%20My%20only%20real%20change%20was%20to%20add%20Maldon%20Sea%20Salt%20Flakes%20to%20the%20finished%20bars,%20which%20I%20think%20keeps%20the%20bars%20from%20being%20too%20cloyingly%20sweet.%20I%20hope%20you%20keep%20reading%20to%20check%20out%20all%20of%20the%20other%20caramelized%20cookie%20goodness%20from%20Creative%20Cookie%20Exchange%20this%20month!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EChocolate%20Caramel%20Shortbread%20Bars:%20%23CreativeCookieExchange%20%20%20Very%20closely%20adapted%20from%20Carole%20Bloom.%20Be%20sure%20to%20have%20everything%20ready%20beside%20your%20cooktop%20when%20you%20make%20the%20caramel,%20as%20sugar%20can%20burn%20quickly.%20You%20will%20want%20to%20make%20the%20caramel%20while%20the%20shortbread%20is%20baking.%20%20Author:%20TheSpicedLife%20Recipe%20type:%20Dessert%20Cuisine:%20Cookies%20%20%20Ingredients%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EFor%20the%20shortbread:%209%20T%20(4.5%20oz,%201%20stick%20plus%201%20T)%20unsalted%20butter,%20softened%20%C2%BC%20cup%20packed%20dark%20brown%20sugar%201%C2%BD%20cups%20(6.75%20oz)%20AP%20flour%20%C2%BC%20t%20fine%20sea%20salt%20For%20the%20chocolate%20caramel%20topping:%2010%20oz%20bittersweet%20chocolate,%20finely%20chopped%20(I%20used%20about%203%20oz%2062%25%20cacao%20and%207%20oz%20of%2072%25%20cacao)%201%C2%BD%20cups%20sugar%20%C2%BC%20cup%20water%206%20T%20(3%20oz,%20%C2%BE%20stick)%20unsalted%20butter%20at%20room%20temperature%201%20cup%20heavy%20whipping%20cream%20%C2%BC%20t%20fine%20sea%20salt%201-2%20t%20(to%20taste)%20flaky%20sea%20salt%20for%20sprinkling%20%20%20Instructions%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EFirst%20make%20the%20shortbread%20base:%20Preheat%20the%20oven%20to%20350%20F.%20Line%20an%208X8%20baking%20pan%20(with%20a%20minimum%20of%202%20inches%20high%20sides)%20with%20parchment%20paper.%20Set%20aside.%20Beat%20the%20butter%20until%20creamy.%20Add%20the%20brown%20sugar%20and%20beat%20until%20fluffy%20on%20medium%20speed,%20about%201%20minute.%20Scrape%20the%20sides%20and%20bottom%20of%20the%20bowl%20as%20needed.%20Whisk%20together%20the%20salt%20and%20flour.%20Then%20slowly%20mix%20the%20flour%20into%20the%20butter%20mixture--the%20result%20will%20be%20crumbly,%20which%20is%20ok.%20Once%20the%20moisture%20in%20the%20dough%20is%20evenly%20distributed,%20dump%20the%20dough%20into%20the%20prepared%20pan.%20Using%20damp%20fingertips,%20press%20the%20dough%20evenly%20into%20the%20pan.%20Bake%20for%2025-30%20minutes,%20until%20the%20top%20is%20evenly%20golden%20brown.%20Remove%20from%20oven%20and%20set%20aside%20to%20cool.%20Make%20the%20caramel%20while%20the%20shortbread%20is%20baking:%20Place%20the%20chopped%20chocolate%20in%20a%20heat-proof%20medium-large%20bowl%20and%20set%20aside.%20Gently%20stir%20the%20sugar%20and%20water%20in%20a%203%20quart%20heavy%20bottomed%20sauce%20pan%20(mix%20BEFORE%20placing%20on%20heat).%20Then%20place%20the%20pan%20over%20medium%20high%20heat.%20Place%20a%20small%20bowl%20of%20water%20with%20a%20heat-proof%20pastry%20brush%20beside%20your%20cooktop.%20When%20the%20sugar%20begins%20to%20boil,%20brush%20the%20pan%20along%20the%20edges%20of%20sugar/water%20mixture%20to%20dissolve%20crystals.%20Turn%20the%20heat%20up%20to%20high%20and%20repeat%20the%20brushing%20to%20prevent%20crystals.%20Let%20the%20sugar%20boil,%20without%20stirring,%20until%20it%20turns%20amber%20colored%20(about%206-8%20minutes,%20340-345%20F).%20When%20it%20turns%20amber%20colored,%20turn%20off%20the%20heat%20and%20remove%20the%20pan%20from%20the%20heat.%20Add%20the%20butter,%20cream%20and%20salt--be%20careful%20as%20the%20mixture%20may%20bubble%20up.%20Immediately%20begin%20stirring%20with%20a%20long-handled%20heat-proof%20spatula;%20stir%20constantly%20for%20about%202%20minutes,%20until%20the%20caramel%20is%20smooth.%20When%20the%20caramel%20is%20smooth,%20pour%20it%20over%20the%20chocolate.%20Let%20stand%20for%201%20minute,%20and%20then%20stir%20the%20mixture%20smooth.%20Scrape%20the%20bottom%20of%20the%20bowl%20to%20get%20all%20over%20it%20combined.%20Let%20the%20chocolate%20caramel%20mixture%20cool%20for%208%20minutes,%20stirring%20frequently.%20Pour%20the%20chocolate%20caramel%20mixture%20over%20the%20baked%20shortbread.%20Let%20stand%20for%2020%20minutes.%20Then%20cover%20tightly%20with%20plastic%20wrap%20and%20place%20in%20the%20fridge%20to%20chill%20at%20least%204%20hours%20or%20overnight.%20When%20the%20caramel%20is%20firm,%20remove%20the%20entire%20%22bar%22%20from%20the%20pan%20by%20the%20edges%20of%20the%20parchment.%20Sprinkle%20with%20flaky%20sea%20salt.%20Use%20a%20large%20chef's%20knife%20to%20slice%20into%20bars--use%20an%20up/down%20motion,%20not%20a%20sawing%20motion,%20to%20slice%20the%20bars.%20Store%20in%20the%20fridge.%20%203.3.3070%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EYou%20can%20also%20just%20use%20us%20as%20a%20great%20resource%20for%20cookie%20recipes%E2%80%93be%20sure%20to%20check%20out%20our%20Pinterest%20Board%20and%20our%20monthly%20posts%20(you%20can%20find%20all%20of%20them%20at%20The%20Spiced%20Life).%20You%20will%20be%20able%20to%20find%20them%20the%20first%20Tuesday%20after%20the%2015th%20of%20each%20month!%20Also,%20if%20you%20are%20looking%20for%20inspiration%20to%20get%20in%20the%20kitchen%20and%20start%20baking,%20check%20out%20what%20all%20of%20the%20hosting%20bloggers%20have%20made:%3C/p%3E){kind=link}