Sweet And Salty Double Nut Toffee Brownie Bars Recipes

SWEET AND SALTY CRUNCHY NUT BARS

Steps:

• Be still my beating heart! Or perhaps this is not the best thing to say here, given the likelihood of this lusciously over-the-top piece of chocolate excess inducing just such an outcome. I wouldn't want to make this very often, so impossible is it to walk away from with any conviction. I fear it is the kitchen equivalent to crack cocaine.
• Still, as the French say "Everything in moderation, even moderation." This is gloriously intemperate, riotously vulgar. I love it.
• The key is the blaring balance between sweet and salty: it's like several klaxons going off in your head as you eat. And it's strange that while I would normally eschew an all-milk chocolate offering, I prefer it here to the bittersweet-and-milk mixed version. Not that either is bad, and since the jury is matched on this, I feel it only right to alert you to either option. For what it's worth, I like the darker version in the round pan and cut into panforte-type skinny wedges, and my preferred milk chocolate version set in a rectangular pan and cut into chunky, squat slabs (rather as I feel and look like after eating too many of them).
• Line your springform pan with aluminum foil or use a foil pan.
• Break up or chop the chocolate into pieces, and drop into a heavy-based saucepan. Add the butter and syrup, put on a low heat, and melt gently together.
• Tip the peanuts into a bowl, and crush the honeycomb candy with your hands, letting the golden-glinting rubble fall into the nuts.
• Take the melted chocolate mixture off the heat and stir in the peanuts and crushed honeycomb candy, then tip straight into the springform pan or foil pan. Smooth the top of the mixture as much as you can, pressing down with a silicon spatula or vinyl-disposable-gloved hand. Put into the refrigerator for about 4 hours, and once set, cut into slices as desired.
• Make Ahead Note: The bars can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer slices to airtight container, layered with parchment paper, and store in refrigerator. Keeps for 3 to 4 days.

SWEET AND SALTY BROWNIES

Steps:

• Line 9-inch square pan with cooking parchment paper, leaving paper hanging over 2 opposite sides of pan. Spray paper with cooking spray.
• Make brownie batter as directed on box using water, oil and eggs. Stir in pretzels, caramel bits and peanuts. Pour batter into pan.
• Bake and cool as directed on box. Cut into 6 rows by 6 rows.

TOFFEE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Lightly butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan, preferably a light-colored aluminum or steel pan. (Dark pans cause over-browning.)
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add the butter, and cook until the butter foams and turns amber brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Pour the butter into a large bowl and set aside until cool enough to touch.
• Meanwhile, sift the flour, baking powder, nutmeg and salt together into a bowl.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, or using a hand mixer, combine the brown sugar with the butter and mix until combined. Add the eggs and vanilla, and mix until smooth, thick and light, 3 to 5 minutes. (You want to make sure the mixture is very light and airy, like frosting.) Stir in the sifted flour mixture and mix by hand until incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it into an even layer, smoothing the top. Scatter the hazelnuts, pressing lightly to submerge them about halfway in the batter.
• Bake until the surface wrinkles evenly and turns nut brown, about 35 minutes. Let cool completely, at least 2 hours, before cutting into 2-inch bars.

THE UNION SQUARE CAFE'S BAR NUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Toss the nuts in a large bowl to combine and spread them out on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven until light golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine the rosemary, cayenne, sugar, salt and melted butter.
• Thoroughly toss the toasted nuts in the spiced butter and serve warm. And once you eat these, you will never want to stop.

SWEET AND SALTY DOUBLE NUT TOFFEE BROWNIE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square metal cake pan with parchment.
• In large bowl, whisk together 4 tablespoons melted butter and the melted chocolate. Blend in granulated sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and vanilla. Whisk in egg. Then stir in flour. Spread in pan and bake for 15 minutes, remove and leave oven on.
• Heat 1/2 cup butter and 3/4 cup of the brown sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Boil for 2 minutes. Pour over brownie base and bake 7 minutes more. Remove from oven and sprinkle with milk chocolate, let sit 5 minutes, and spread to cover the top. Dust with ground almonds and then pecans. Sprinkle with salt. Press down pecans. Cool, then freeze 30 minutes before cutting. Serve at room temperature.