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I’m often found in the kitchen talking to myself. I like to think it makes me “cute” instead of “crazy.” My husband, however, doesn’t let me hold on to that illusion for long. I get some pretty strange looks and, if we’re being honest, a few eye-rolls every now and then.
I can’t help it. I talk when I cook. If no one else is around, then I’ll just talk to myself. I’m a pretty cool girl! I say interesting things! I have some great conversations with me!
I’m sorry. I think my weird may be starting to show. Whoops!
Anyway, one of the things I often converse with myself about is my need for a double oven. This conversation (between me and me) definitely happens more frequently around the holidays. Yes, I’d like a double oven all year round, but at the holidays, it really turns from a want to a need.
Let’s talk food. This Thanksgiving, I’m sure I’ll be making quite a bit of food; while I don’t know for sure what all I’ll make, I do know that these will be on the menu.
Traditional pecan pie is total Thanskgiving food, right? This year, I’m changing things up. Traditional is boring. Let’s live a little.
These bars have a simple shortbread crust, a layer of melted chocolate, and the yummiest, most gooey, caramel pecan topping you can imagine. They pretty much taste like heaven and are beyond simple to make. These took me about 5 minutes to prepare and are just about impossible to screw up. The recipe doubles easily, too!
Chocolate Caramel Pecan Shortbread Bars
Ingredients
For the shortbread:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
For the pecan topping:
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup caramel sauce ice cream topping
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- In the bowl of your stand mixer beat together the flour, sugar, and butter until it is a coarse, crumbly mixture.
- Dump the mixture into an ungreased 8x8 baking dish and press to form the bottom crust.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
- While the shortbread is baking, beat together the egg, brown sugar, caramel sauce, and pecans. Set aside.
- After 20 minutes remove the shortbread from the oven and sprinkle on the chocolate chips. Wait 1-2 minutes for the chocolate chips to soften and then spread them gently with an off-set spatula to cover the shortbread crust.
- Pour the pecan mixture on top of the chocolate.
- Return to the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the pecan mixture is set.
- Remove from the oven and immediately run a knife around the edges to prevent the bars from sticking to the side of the baking dish. Let cool completely before cutting and serving.
Shari says
I tweeted about the giveaway here: https://twitter.com/#!/sharinlilbit/status/135083975071895552
Shari says
Ooo, it would be hard for me to choose between pecan pie and sweet potato pie!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
I’m a traditional pumpkin pie girl. Great giveaway, would be perfect for the holidays!!!
Amanda Sakovitz says
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/135056649114222592
Amanda Sakovitz says
I love apple pie!
Jessie says
Pumpkin pie! ๐
brandi says
um…those look like they’d be gone in about 5 minutes here. guess i need to make them!
my favorite holiday dessert has always been and will always be my mom’s fudge pie. no comparison. it’s even better for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving.
Erin says
My favorite is homemade caramels!
Cookbook Queen says
You had me at “impossible to screw up”…
Just kidding. You had me at “chocolate”.
Also, my favorite holiday dessert…hmm…that’s so hard…for Thanksgiving though, I’d have to say Pumpkin Pie. Boring, but true.
Lisa says
Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting ๐
Shelly says
My favorite would probably be decorated sugar cookies…Nothing says Christmas more to me ๐
Lindsay J says
pecan pie!
Debi says
Hi!~ Yes I LOVE my double oven. Kinda came with the house, so I lucked into it. It is definitely one of the best things about my kitchen. And, therefore, when I bake for the holidays I can usually bake the meal AND the dessert at the same time. SWEET right? Well my favorite holiday dessert is my very own apple pie. I always aspired to make apple pie like my Mom, and when I finally surpassed her recipe and enjoyed my own even more… (shhhh) I was ecstatic. Yay me! But whenever there is a holiday and she brings apple pie, I always eat hers and rave about it. Just because. Wouldn’t want to be rude, now would I?
Leslie Fox says
Nut Rolls My holiday favorite.
Rebecca Shockley says
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/mngirlinssp/status/134837129158197249