A tender shortbread crust topped with pecans and an easy homemade caramel layer finished off with chocolate chips which melt into a perfect topping.
JUMP TO RECIPEI have a very healthy “fight or flight” reflex. Well, maybe I shouldn't say it’s healthy because I tend to fight. Which might be the wrong decision one day. Like, for instance, the time I punched Husband in the temple when he popped his head in the shower to say goodbye.
When I opened my eyes after rinsing my hair and there was a big hairy head in front of me my first instinct was to smash it with a right jab. And then he didn't talk to me for two days. Whoopsie...
I might have good survival skills when it comes to imminent danger but when I’m faced with a touchy or overwhelming situation I’m often completely useless because I erupt in laughter. Peals of it.
Like last week when Husband suddenly had a mild allergic reaction to some mixed nuts he was eating, I just sat there and laughed at him.
How horrible is that?! In my defense, it was funny. He jumped up off the couch and landed clear across the living room like someone had stuck him with a cattle prod. Which was hilarious. And then he said, “I can’t breathe! Something’s going on! It feels like my throat is closing up!” To which I told him if he could say all that he was obviously still breathing.
The irony of which struck me as even more hilarious. Then he started arguing with me about the definition of choking, while still claiming to be choking, which made me laugh harder. I got some benedryl in him and all was well but I’m pretty sure I’m still going to hell for it.
The reason we had a ton of mixed nuts in the house is that he picked up the wrong thing when I asked him to bring home pecans so I could make these bars for y'all.
Maybe I was a little salty that he didn't listen which meant I had to go back to the store. I'm not usually quite so heartless when he's choking.
ANYWAY... I created this recipe to be like the Pecan Bars at The Fresh Market. I worked there in high school and they were my favorite way to treat myself! I added chocolate so they're like turtles to me which is why I call them turtle bars! You won’t believe how easy these are to make and they look and taste like something from a la-tee-da bakery!
Recipe for How to Cook Caramel Turtle Bars
Salted Caramel Turtle Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 heaping cup coarsely chopped pecans
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher or coarse-grain salt
- 1 cup butter
- 2/3 cups sugar
- 2 cups (12-oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Combine butter and sugar then beat on medium speed with an electric mixer (paddle attachment if using a stand mixer) 2 minutes.
- Add flour then beat on low speed until ingredients are incorporated and dough sticks together when squeezed between your fingers. Shortbread doughs are dry and meal-like. As long as it holds when you pinch it together, you’re good to go.
- Press shortbread dough evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 13x9 baking pan.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Sprinkle pecans and kosher salt over dough; set aside.
- To make the caramel, combine butter and sugar in a medium saucepan then cook over medium heat until mixture just starts to boil, stirring occasionally. Once boiling, continue cooking for exactly 3 minutes, without stirring. Pour caramel evenly over pecans.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 14 minutes. Remove from oven then sprinkle chocolate chips over caramel. Wait 5 minutes for chocolate to melt and become pliable then spread evenly over caramel layer.
- Once cool and chocolate is set (it takes forever for the chocolate to set so… sorry about that) cut into squares and store in an airtight container.
Oh, that was SO funny! If you're going to hell, then I'll meet you there - sounds just like me! And these bars sound like me, too!
ReplyDeleteYou can sit at my table!
DeleteOH.MY.STARS! I'm in love...with these gorgeous bars. ;-} Pinning, printing..making soon. Thanks a million for sharing another luscious recipe with us at Weekend Potluck. Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteThese look delicious.
ReplyDeleteThese were so yummy! My Dad is a serious chocoholic, but can't chew the big pecan pieces, so I used pecan chips (meal) instead. They tasted like choc/caramel covered Pecan Sandies, and were a big hit! :-D
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad y'all enjoyed them! And thanks for taking the time to let me know!
DeleteNot to worry, I have punched more than one person in the head for startling me. On the other hand my husband is impossible to startle, we often remark he must have been a T-Rex in a past Life! Gonna make these lovely squares tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI just loooove salty sweets! Especially the easy to make ones! This recipe goes in my to do list right away! Thank you Mandy!
ReplyDeletep.s.
The picture of you punching your husband in the shower is tv series material! I am still smiling!
I would've smacked him, too! These bars are GOOD! I use milk chocolate --sometimes I prefer a mild chocolate flavour.
ReplyDeleteI would like to make these in advance for Christmas. Do they freeze well? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI would think they would freeze beautifully but I've never frozen them myself. If you try it, let us know how it goes!
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