Caramel Walnut Bars
Instructions:
A baked crust topped with walnuts coated in a rich and
buttery caramel; it’s simultaneously crunchy, chewy, and
soft-not to mention completely delicious. Any type of
nuts will work here.
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus some for the pan
11/4 cups sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cream
Pinch salt
1/4 cup honey
1 cups roughly chopped walnuts
MAKES: About a dozen squares
TIME: About 1 hour
- Heat the oven to 350 F. Grease an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan. Use an electric mixer to cream 1 stick of the butter with 1/4 cup of the sugar. Stir in the flour. This mixture will be quite dry; press into the greased pan and bake for 15 minutes, no longer. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.
- Put the remaining cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon water in a saucepan over medium-high heat and cook until it melts and turns a light brown color, 5 to 8 minutes.
- Carefully stir in the remaining butter, the cream, and the salt; stir until the mixture is combined, then add the honey and walnuts. Immediately pour the walnut mixture over the baked crust and refrigerate until set.
- Cut into squares or rectangles and serve. Store, covered, for up to 5 days.
- Chocolate-Cherry Walnut Bars.
- Add 2 ounces chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate. Omit the honey. Add 1 cup dried cherries. Stir in the chocolate and cherries with the nuts in Step 4.