Apricot Macadamia Caramel Bars Recipes

WINNING APRICOT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk flour and baking powder; gradually add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Fold in coconut and walnuts., Press two-thirds of dough onto the bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Spread with preserves; crumble remaining dough over preserves. Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

APRICOT MACADAMIA CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add flour and salt; mix until soft dough forms. With floured hands, press dough in bottom of ungreased 9-inch square pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until center is set.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat caramels and whipping cream over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat; stir in apricots and macadamia nuts. Spoon mixture evenly over crust; spread carefully.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and oil uncovered on High 30 to 45 seconds, stirring every 15 seconds, until melted and smooth. Drizzle over bars.
• Refrigerate 1 hour or until set. Cut into 5 rows by 5 rows.

CHOCOLATE GLAZED MACADAMIA CARAMEL SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325*.
• Lightly grease a 9x13" glass baking pan or coat with nonstick spray.
• Line the pan with aluminum foil, letting the foil overhang the two narrow ends by about 2".
• For the shortbread; In a large bowl, with electric mixer on low, then medium speed, beat together the butter, powdered sugar, salt and vanilla until light and very well blended, about 2 minutes.
• Beat or stir in the flour until evenly incorporated.
• Firmly press the dough into the baking dish.
• Lay a sheet of wax paper over the dough, then press it out to the edges and smooth on top.Peel off and discard the paper.
• Bake in the middle of the oven for 27- 32 minutes or until pale golden all over and slightly darker at the edges.
• Transfer the dish to wire rack and set
• aside.
• FOR THE CARAMEL. In a small, heavy saucepan, combine the cream, butter and salt. Bring just to a simmer over medium-high heat; immediately remove from the heat.
• In a medium, heavy saucepan, combine half of the sugar and the corn syrup over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• When the sugar is full incorporated and liquefies, stir in about half of the remaining sugar.
• When this sugar liquefies, stir in the remaining sugar,.
• Cook, stirring and scraping down the pan sides, for 5-7 minutes more, or until all the sugar liquefies,, bubbles and turns a medium tan color.
• Immediately remove from heat,.
• Working carefully to avoid splatters and steam, pour the hot cream mixture into the caramel, stirring and scraping the pan bottom and sides with a long handled wooden spon until the caramel completely dissolves.
• Rinse all the sugar crystals from the spoon.
• Return the caramel mixture to the burner over medium-high heat.
• Insert a candy thermometer into the mixture, being sure the tip doesn't touch the bottom of the pan. continue cooking, stirring gently until the thermometer reqisters 246*-2467*.
• Immediately remove the pan from the heat. Stir in vanilla.
• Being careful ot to scrape any caramel or sugar crystals from the pan sides, pour the caramel through a fine sieve over the shortbread.
• Tip the baking dish back and forth to distribute the caramel evenly.
• Sprinkle the macadamia nuts evenly over the caramel.
• Let stand until the caramel cools to warm Using the palm of your hand, press down on the nuts to embed them.
• For the glaze: in a small microwave safe bowl, microwave the cream and corn syrup on 100% power for 30 seconds, or until very hot but not boiling; set aside.
• In a small microwave safe bowl, microwave the chocolates and butter on 100% power for 1 minute. Stir well. Continue microwaving on 50% power, stirring at 30 second intervals.
• Stop microwaving before the chocolates completely melt and let the residual heat finish the job. Slowly add the cream mixture into the chocolate mixture until well blended and smooth. Stir in the vanilla. Spread the glaze evenly over the cooled caramel. Let stand until complete cooled.
• Refrigerate the shortbread until chilled. Using the overhanging foil as ahandles, transfer the shortbread to a cutting board. Carefully peel off and discard the foil.
• Using a large, sharp knife, cut the shortbread into 36 bars, wipe knife between cuts.
• Store in an airtight container in a cool place for up to 1 week,.

APRICOT MERINGUE BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and 1/2 cup sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Add egg yolks and vanilla. Press into a greased 15x10x 1-in. baking pan. , Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Spread apricot filling over crust., In a small bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Spread the meringue evenly over filling; sprinkle with pecans. , Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until meringue is lightly browned. Cool in pan on a wire rack (meringue will crack). Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers.,