TWD: Caramel Crunch Bars

This week's Tuesdays with Dorie selection is the Caramel Crunch Bars, a fabulous layered bar cookie with lots of chocolate and a toffee topping. I read the recipe thinking, "this will be great! I love caramel!" But after eating it, I thought, "these are great! I love toffee!" I didn't really taste the caramel, just lots of toffee.

Mine were a bit crunchy, which had me questioning if I overcooked them a bit. But after I've read that other's were also crunchy, I happily determined that it wasn't my error - it's just how they are.

They came together quite nicely for me. The dough was yummy, of course, with the instant espresso powder and the chopped bittersweet chocolate mixed in.


Getting the dough to spread into the 13x9" pan was a little tricky. My fingers came in handy!


The bottom layer was baked until bubbly and golden. I kind of wanted to take a taste right then and there. But I refrained. I can occasionally be patient.


The bottom layer is then sprinkled with chocolate. I chose to use milk chocolate chips that were hiding out in my cupboard. Then it went back in the oven for just a couple of minutes to soften up the chocolate.


Then the chocolate is spread. There's nothing quite like melted chocolate. Yum.


The final step - sprinkling on bits of chopped toffee and pressing them down lightly into the chocolate. I used a little more toffee than called for. And a little more chocolate than called for in the step above this one. And then I wonder why my hips look the way they do.


The bars cut nicely for me and looked so perfect. I consumed several and then packed up the rest and sent them to work with my husband. They were a hit - big surprise.



The selection this week was made by Whitney of What's Left on the Table. Check out her blog for the recipe. And check back next week for a cake that involves setting something on fire. I'm putting the fire station on speed dial.