Chocolate-Caramel-Pecans : Compromise in a Square
Turns out that we are not very much in sync these days with what we want for dessert. I thought B. would be happy to have more fruits and light mousses to eat after dinner since Spring is here and the weather is very clement but it seems that I was wrong given the response I had this afternoon with my lemon dessert…
"Is there any chocolate in the house, I think I saw some caramel sauce in the fridge, what could you make with that?"…Arrrghhhh! I could have told him to whip something up himself but for one thing he can’t cook and for another, the kitchen is my territory. A few looks around and a few clicks on the computer later, I had these Chocolate – Caramel and Pecan Squares chilling in the fridge.
There’s nothing grand to them, just simple home baking, but making bars or squares is still relatively new to me. This is not the kind of treats we make in France and I am still quite intrigued by the multitude of recipes for all kinds of bar and squares, from fruity to nutty, cakey to crumbly. The novelty has not worn of yet and I really appreciate this kind of down home baking that I first encountered visiting family in Canada and then after settling in the States. I must have 50 recipes bookmarked here and there already and the list grew just trying to find a recipe for these! I used salted butter caramel sauce I had leftover from a cheesecake, but the following recipe gives you the instructions to make your own.
Chocolate, Caramel and Pecan Squares, adapted from several recipes at allrecipes:
Crust:
1 cup Graham crackers crumbs
1/4 cup melted butter
2 Tb. sugar
1/2 cup ground toasted pecans
Caramel Chocolate Layer:
2/3 cup butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 Tb. heavy cream
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans for garnish
Preheat oven to 350F.
In a medium bowl combine the crackers crumbs, butter, nuts and sugar. Mix well and pat in a 8×8 baking pan, lined with aluminium foil. Bake for 10 minutes. Set aside.
While the crust is baking. Prepare the chocolate-caramel filling: in a heavy saucepan combine the butter and brown sugar and cook on medium heat until bubbly. Add the cream and cook 2 more minutes. Remove from the heat and measure 1/4 cup of the mixture and set aside. Add the chocolate to the remaining caramel and stir until melted. Pour it over the crust, bake for another 5 minutes.
Remove from the oven. Let cool for 5 minutes and drizzle the reserved caramel and sprinkle with the chopped nuts. Chill until set (easier to cut that way too).
I truly wish I could have these breakfast, lunch and dinner. They are the right combination of crunch and smooth. I did not put a certain number of serving for the simple reason that in my house it serves 2….especially on the weekend….On a more serious note, you are in charge of the size of the squares….I will not be held responsible for expanding waistlines!!
Comments
Anonymous April 1, 2007 um 4:36 am
helen, i’ve made similar bars like this at christmas, i don’t think if we didn’t restrain ourselves, they’d be gone in a day! these type of bars are the best snacks!
MyKitchenInHalfCups April 1, 2007 um 7:58 am
Amazing…you could really convince me that you have a magic wand.
Anonymous April 1, 2007 um 8:58 am
*groans* Oh Helen, you drive me crazy with this constant flow of deliciousness! How am I supposed to cope? I am meant to be writing an essay, and yet now all I want to do is go into the kitchen and make something that will probably not taste even as half as good as these! *sobs*
Meeta K. Wolff April 1, 2007 um 9:06 am
magic! thank god you make these far away from me and I get a glimpse of these virtually. if you were anywhere near me i would probably be 10 kilos heavier LOL!
Hugs!
Lis April 1, 2007 um 12:45 pm
Holy cow.. I CAN MAKE THESE!! WOOOOOO!!! hehehee
And I shall, my friend.. I shall 😀
I’m so glad Bill wants chocolate! Har!
Brilynn April 1, 2007 um 3:36 pm
I think dessert wants are off in my house lately too… It seems like nobody wants the same thing.
Barbara April 1, 2007 um 7:44 pm
Hi Helen Congratulations on winning HHDD. Can you email me so we can discuss next event. Thanks.
Unknown April 1, 2007 um 10:05 pm
The top of these makes me think of my mom’s Nueces toffee that she makes at Christmas…except with a shortbread crust insetad of toffee. MMmmmmm.
Anonymous April 2, 2007 um 6:03 am
My mouth is watering!
Cheryl April 2, 2007 um 1:37 pm
I love how you just go in a kitchen whip something like this together. That is the sign of a real good baker.
These are incredible looking. Another success!
Anonymous April 2, 2007 um 7:20 pm
I must stop looking at your photos. Oh my!
Anonymous April 6, 2007 um 9:56 pm
Hi Helene, I want one of those squares *rigth now*.
They look sooooooo yummy.
And with such gorgeous pictures how is it possible to resist?
Love
– fanny
Anonymous March 31, 2013 um 3:43 pm
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