Almond Apricot And White Chocolate Decadence Bars Recipes

ALMOND, APRICOT AND WHITE CHOCOLATE DECADENCE BARS (COOKIE MIX)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F
• In large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until soft dough forms.
• Spread dough in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan.
• Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until set.
• Cool 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat almond paste and sugar with electric mixer on low speed until crumbly but blended.
• Add apricots; beat on low speed just until combined.
• Add cream cheese, 2 eggs and the lemon juice; beat on medium speed until well blended.
• Pour over warm cookie base.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until set.
• Cool 30 minutes.
• Place baking chips in small bowl.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat whipping cream just to boiling over low heat, stirring occasionally; pour over baking chips.
• Let stand 1 minute.
• Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth.
• Pour and spread over filling.
• Sprinkle with almonds.
• Refrigerate about 2 hours or until set.
• For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows.
• Store covered in refrigerator.

ALMOND, APRICOT AND WHITE CHOCOLATE DECADENCE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until soft dough forms. Spread dough in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until set. Cool 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat almond paste and sugar with electric mixer on low speed until crumbly but blended. Add apricots; beat on low speed just until combined. Add cream cheese, 2 eggs and the lemon juice; beat on medium speed until well blended. Pour over warm cookie base.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until set. Cool 30 minutes.
• Place baking chips in small bowl. In 1-quart saucepan, heat whipping cream just to boiling over low heat, stirring occasionally; pour over baking chips. Let stand 1 minute. Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Pour and spread over filling. Sprinkle with almonds. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until set. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

HEAVENLY WHITE CHOCOLATE TOFFEE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, overlapping the two longer sides for easy removal.
• Combine white chocolate chips, coconut, almonds and 1/2 cup toffee bits. Reserve.
• Mix graham cracker crumbs and remaining toffee bits with butter; press into prepared baking dish.
• Pour Eagle Brand evenly over crumbs.
• Sprinkle with white chocolate chip mixture; press down firmly.
• Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool thoroughly and cut into bars.
• TIPS: Substitute white chocolate chips with 1 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips.

SWIRLED ALMOND-APRICOT BARK

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with foil, shiny-side up; smooth out the creases. Make sure all your tools are dry.
• Chop the bittersweet and white chocolate into 1/2-inch pieces with a large knife. Place all but 1/2 cup of the bittersweet chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave 15 seconds, then stir with a rubber spatula. Continue microwaving and stirring at 15-second intervals until melted, about 3 minutes total. Immediately add the reserved chopped bittersweet chocolate to the bowl; stir vigorously until melted and shiny. Repeat with the white chocolate in a separate bowl. Don't worry if there are a few small unmelted pieces.
• Pour the 2 chocolates side by side onto the prepared baking sheet; use the rubber spatula to swirl them together and spread into a 10-to-12-inch circle, about 1/4 inch thick.
• Press the almonds and apricots into the chocolate, arranging them so each bite has a mix of flavors and textures. Sprinkle with fennel seeds. Let the bark harden completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. (If the room is warm, you may need to freeze the bark for a few minutes.) Break into pieces and store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks.

WHITE CHOCOLATE-ALMOND TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Grease bottom and side of 9- or 10-inch springform pan with shortening; lightly flour. Place almonds on ungreased cookie sheet; bake 4 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Reserve 2 tablespoons almonds for garnish. Place remaining almonds in food processor or blender. Cover; process until almonds are ground; set aside.
• In small bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter and the granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating on high speed after each addition until smooth and blended. Add milk, liqueur, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the flour mixture and ground almonds; beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in 6 ounces white chocolate. Spread batter in pan.
• Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until center springs back when lightly touched and top is evenly browned. Cool 15 minutes; remove side of pan. Cool completely, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat 4 ounces white chocolate and boiling water over low heat, stirring constantly, just until chocolate is melted. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla; cool to room temperature. In large bowl, beat 3/4 cup butter on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually beat in cooled white chocolate mixture and powdered sugar until smooth.
• Run long knife under cake to loosen from pan bottom; transfer to serving plate. Spread frosting over side and top of torte. Garnish with reserved toasted almonds.