Caramel Shortbread Bars Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C).
• In a medium bowl, mix together 2/3 cup butter, white sugar, and flour until evenly crumbly. Press into a 9 inch square baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes.
• In a 2 quart saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk. Bring to a boil. Continue to boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon for about 3 minutes. Pour over baked crust (warm or cool). Cool until it begins to firm.
• Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute, then stir and continue to heat and stir at 20 second intervals until chocolate is melted and smooth. Pour chocolate over the caramel layer and spread evenly to cover completely. Chill. Cut into 1 inch squares. These need to be small because they are so rich.

Steps:

• Dissolve coffee in hot water.
• Beat butter, coffee and sugar until fluffy.
• Stir together flour and toffee bits.
• Mix into butter mixture the flour and toffee bits half a cup at a time until combined.
• Press dough into a 9x13-inch pan.
• Bake in 350°F oven for about 20 minutes or until golden.
• Remove from oven and cool in pan.
• Cut into bars and enjoy.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving about a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides. Spread the coconut in a single layer on a baking sheet and set aside.
• Beat the butter, vanilla and salt with an electric mixer on medium speed in a large bowl until smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix on low until just incorporated. Beat in the flour in 2 batches to make a smooth dough.
• Lightly flour your hands and press the dough into the prepared baking pan. Bake the shortbread until the edges are firm and the top is dry, 28 to 30 minutes. Top the shortbread with the caramels in an even layer. Return to the oven along with the baking sheet of coconut and cook, tossing the coconut once, until the caramels are melted and the coconut is golden, about 10 minutes.
• Spray the back of a spoon with cooking spray and use it to spread the caramel all over the shortbread. Sprinkle with the chocolate and let sit until the chips are melted, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the toasted coconut and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Using the foil overhang as handles, lift the shortbread out of the pan and cut into 12 pieces.

Steps:

• Position a rack on the lowest level of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, then use a little butter to lightly grease the paper.
• For the dough: Combine the 16 tablespoons of butter, the sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer. Beat on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture is soft and light. Add the vanilla extract and mix to incorporate.
• Reduce the speed to low, then gradually add 2 1/4 cups of the flour and beat until well incorporated to form a smooth dough. Use a spatula to scrape down the bowl and paddle.
• Remove the bowl from the mixer; transfer three-quarters of the dough into the prepared pan. Use the palm of your hand to press the dough down lightly and evenly. Chill the dough-lined pan while you make the topping: Work the remaining 1/4 cup flour into the remaining dough with your fingertips so that it forms small crumbs. Set aside at room temperature.
• For the filling: Combine the butter, corn syrup, brown sugar and condensed milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Allow the mixture to boil gently, stirring often, for about 10 minutes, until the mixture starts to thicken and darken slightly. Pour into a stainless-steel bowl to cool for 5 minutes.
• To assemble: Pour the cooled filling on top of the chilled dough, then scatter the crumb mixture evenly over the top. Bake for about 30 minutes, until the filling bubbles gently and is a deep caramel color and the dough and crumb topping are baked through.
• Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 to 20 minutes, until lukewarm. Use the parchment paper to lift the slab of baked dough out of the pan and onto a cutting board before it has cooled completely. Cut the slab into roughly 2-inch squares.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Lightly grease and line a 20-22cm square or rectangular baking tin with a lip of at least 3cm.
• To make the shortbread, mix 250g plain flour and 75g caster sugar in a bowl. Rub in 175g softened butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Knead the mixture together until it forms a dough, then press into the base of the prepared tin.
• Prick the shortbread lightly with a fork and bake for 20 minutes or until firm to the touch and very lightly browned. Leave to cool in the tin.
• To make the caramel, place 100g butter or margarine, 100g light muscovado sugar and the can of condensed milk in a pan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Continually stir with a spatula to make sure no sugar sticks to the bottom of the pan. (This can leave brown specks in the caramel but won't affect the flavour.)
• Turn up the heat to medium high, stirring all the time, and bring to the boil, then lower the heat back to low and stirring continuously, for about 5-10 minutes or until the mixture has thickened slightly. Pour over the shortbread and leave to cool.
• For the topping, melt 200g plain or milk chocolate slowly in a bowl over a pan of hot water. Pour over the cold caramel and leave to set. Cut into squares or bars with a hot knife.

Steps:

• Grease and line the bottom of a 23-cm/9inch shallow square cake tin. Place the butter, flour and sugar in a food processor ans process until it starts to blind together. Press into the pan and level the top. Bake in a preheated oven, 180'C,350'F/Gas Mark 4, for 20-25 minutes or until golden.
• Meanwhile, make the caramel. Place the butter, sugar, syrup and condensed milk in a heavy-based saucepan. Heat gently until the sugar has melted. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 6-8 minutes, stirring, or until very thick. Pour over the shortbread and chill in the refridgerator for 2 hours, or until firm.
• Melt the chocolate and allow to cool a little, then spread over the caramel. Chill in the refridgerator for 2 hours, or until set. Cut the shortbread into 12 pieces using a sharp knife.

Steps:

• Make the rosemary shortbread: Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Line a 9 x 13-inch baking dish (preferably aluminum) with parchment paper.
• Add the flour, sugar, rosemary, and salt to the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times to incorporate. Add the butter and pulse until pebbly and the butter chunks are no larger than the size of peas, about 20 pulses.
• Transfer the dough to the prepared baking dish and press down with your hands or a flat-bottomed measuring cup to compact into an even layer, ensuring the dough reaches all the corners and edges.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the edges are light golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool completely (for faster cooling, let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes, then transfer to the refrigerator or freezer). The cooled shortbread can be wrapped in plastic wrap and kept in a cool, dry place for up to 2 days.
• Make the sage caramel: Add the heavy cream and sage to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Let simmer lightly for a moment, then remove the pot from the heat and let the sage steep for at least 20 minutes. Strain, discarding the sage leaves, and set aside.
• Add the sugar, corn syrup, and water to a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan and gently swirl the pot to moisten the sugar completely. Attach a candy thermometer to the pot (or have an instant-read thermometer nearby) and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook until the temperature reaches 320°F (160°C), 5-10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat. Gradually pour in the sage-infused cream and whisk constantly to incorporate, being careful as the mixture will bubble and sputter. Whisk in the butter and salt to combine.
• Return the pot to the heat and cook, whisking constantly for another 5-10 minutes, until the temperature reaches 240-245°F (115-118°C). Immediately remove the pot from the heat.
• Pour the caramel over the cooled shortbread and use an offset spatula to smooth into an even layer. Transfer to the refrigerator to let the caramel set completely.
• Once the caramel has set, prepare the decorations, then make the white chocolate ganache: Add the white chocolate, cream, and salt to a medium heatproof bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals until beginning to melt, then stir or whisk until smooth.
• Pour the ganache on top of the caramel and use an offset spatula to spread into a smooth, even layer. Immediately sprinkle the pomegranate arils, pistachios, and sprinkles, if using on top. Transfer to the refrigerator to set the chocolate.
• Once firm, cut the shortbread into squares or diamonds. The cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Place shortbread cookies on a baking sheet or tray. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt caramels in water, stirring frequently. Spoon a thin line of caramel over each cookie. Place cookies in refrigerator until caramel is set.
• Line baking sheets or trays with waxed paper. In a double boiler over simmering water, melt chocolate. Dip cookies in chocolate one at a time, tapping against the side of the bowl to remove excess. Place on prepared sheets and let rest at room temperature several hours, until set.