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Is it just me or does Bravo have the very best television shows ever?
I have never been a reality show fan until Shelly insisted that I watch Real Housewives of New Jersey.
Those women are crazy, y’all.
Once you start watching that kind of crazy, you can’t stop. You just can’t stop.
And once you turn Bravo on, you can’t change the channel. Each show is better than the last. Even my husband gets sucked into it. He just sat here and watched Tabatha’s Takeover with me. He won’t admit he did that, but he totally did.
I just don’t recommend turning it on early in the morning. You won’t get a single thing done the rest of the day. Seriously. I should know. It’s 9am and I’m watching it right now. I’ll be here until bedtime.
Of course, I’ll take breaks for food. Like, these caramel shortbread bars. These are ridiculously easy to make and taste like a grown up twix bar.
Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars
Ingredients
For the shortbread:
- 2/3 cup butter softened
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
For the caramel:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
For the chocolate topping:
- 1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel optional
- 1 1/4 cups milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- To make the shortbread, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter, sugar and flour until crumbly.
- Press into a 9x9 baking dish and bake for 20 minutes.
- To make the caramel, add the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and condensed milk to a medium sauce pan set over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring often, and continue boiling for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir vigorously for 3 minutes.
- Pour caramel over the (warm or cool) shortbread.
- For the topping, sprinkle the fleur de sel over the caramel.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and return to the oven for 1 minute.
- Spread the chocolate chips with an offset spatula or swirl with a knife for a marble effect.
- Cool completely and cut into small squares.
Nutrition Information:
adapted from All Recipes
Elizabeth@ Food Ramblings says
Look amazing and love that you watch bad reality tv too 🙂 The housewives are wonderful- nothing better than a table flipping and a fight at a baptism…
Kimberly says
I love your blog to pieces, but you sure make dieting close to impossible! (Especially with yummy recipes like this one! YUM!)
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
My mouth is watering. I need these!!
Joanne says
Even the Bravo shows that I hate…I actually love. It’s a really weird feeling.
Ahh caramel and chocolate. The perfect Real Housewives commercial break foods.
Becca from It's Yummilicious says
Aye carumba… I can’t POSSIBLY get hooked on ONE MORE THING. I’m already spending 20 hours a day Pinning every sinful delight known to man. Like these bars. CHICKA to the BOW WOW!!
Tracy says
I’m thinking these would be great for the hubby’s birthday! He doesn’t like cake so I’m always trying to find something different.
Thanks!
Riley says
It’s not just you! Real housewives is like a car crash, you really want to look away but you just can’t! I would love to be eating one of these right now while watching a Millionaire Matchmaker marathon!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
These just look dangerous. So, so, wonderfully dangerous.
Non Invasive Surgery says
Anything with chocolate and caramel is an absolute must try!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
I think the “That’s What We Said” recaps are better than the actual shows most of the time lol These bars are killer.
sally @ sallys baking addiction says
hahahaha i love Bravo. And yes all those women are CRAZY!! These bars look insanely good KArly. All those delicious layers. I could totally get on board with these!
Cookbook Queen says
Yes, Bravo is the best. You have GOT to watch Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis. Who, I was totally convinced was my future boyfriend, until Shelly broke the news to me that he plays for the other team.
Between you and me, though…he’s still my secret future boyfriend.
LOVING these bars — way better than those plain ol’ candy bars!!
Karly says
@Cookbook Queen,
Knock it off. I don’t need any more bad television to watch!
Okay, I totally do. I’ll look it up.
Jenny Ramsey says
YES PLEASE! but actually, i am in the throws of morning sickness purgatory and thus unable to cook. if you want to come make these for me, you can watch whatever you want on television.
ps. watch “lizard lick towing”…just trust me. it’s not on bravo but i promise it’s worth it.
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says
These are rockin’. As is Bravo, but these are gooey and chewy and slightly better than Bravo and crazy women (but only slightly) 🙂 seriously, my dad CLAIMS he hates “all this reality show crap” but he definitely sat down and watched a couple Tabitha episodes with me… and later, I overheard him telling my mom about how “dirty the salons are” and “Tabitha totally changed everything!!” Also, he loves watching PLL with me. I *am* still talking about my father, right?
Karly says
@Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel,
Dude. Your dad watches PLL?? He’s my new favorite person.
shelly (cookies and cups) says
Yeah, RHNJ have lost their ever-loving minds…
You need to watch Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis. Kristan got me hooked!
Melissa says
@shelly (cookies and cups), What was the name of his first show? It was awesome! Flipped Out? I love Jeff, and I want him to come redo my house. I could seriously watch all Bravo all day, so I actually limit myself to Jeff Lewis, RHOC and RHAtlanta and Tabatha takes over. Oh and that cooking show and millionaire Matchmaker (who knew there were actual matchmakers in the world?). But I never watch it during the day, only at night- cant be sucked in! Funny thing is my husband loves all Bravo programming too! And he willingly admits it!
Karly says
@shelly (cookies and cups),
Seriously? Like I need another Bravo show. You’re a bad influence.