Caramel Frosted Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Bars Recipes

BROWNED BUTTER CARAMEL AND BUTTERSCOTCH BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
• Place butter in a medium sauce pan and heat over medium-low to medium heat. Butter will melt, begin to bubble, foam, hiss, sputter, and brown specks will form in the bottom of the pan; this process takes approximately 2 to 4 minutes, give or take. During the process whisk frequently or nearly continuously and keep an extremely watchful eye on the butter. Brown it long enough to see browned bits and specks, but don't burn it. Butter can go from browned and nutty-smelling to burnt and inedible in less than one minute.Watch for the brown specks and once you see them, remove the pan from the burner, continuing to whisk for another 30 seconds or so. Transfer butter into large mixing bowl and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
• To the melted butter, add the brown sugar and whisk to combine. Add the egg, vanilla, and stir to combine. Add the flour, salt, and stir until just combined, taking care not to over-mix or the blondies will be tough. Fold in the butterscotch chips. Ppour batter into prepared pan, smoothing it lightly with a spatula or offset knife.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until bars are about 90 to 95% done. The center should just barely be setting up and edges will be slightly pulling away from sides of pan. Remove pan from oven and evenly sprinkle caramel pieces over the bars. Lightly and carefully break the surface of the bars with the caramel pieces, poking them in past the surface layer and pressing down lightly; use caution so you don't burn your fingers. Return pan to oven for 3 to 6 minutes, or until caramels melt and turn into puddles and top surface of bars is set. Allow bars to cool for at least 2 hours before slicing and serving. Bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• To keep gluten-free, use your favorite gluten-free flour blend.

CHOCOLATE CHIP-CARAMEL-PUDDING COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch square pan with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, mix cookie mix, butter, egg and dry pudding mix with spoon until soft dough forms. Stir in chopped chocolates. Press evenly in pan.
• Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store in airtight container at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL CAKE WITH BUTTERSCOTCH FROSTING

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions for two 9-in. round baking pans. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter and cream. Cook and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to medium. Do not stir. Cook for 3-6 minutes or until bubbles form in center of mixture and color is amber brown. Remove from the heat; stir in pecans. Cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally., In a small bowl, whisk pudding mix and milk for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold in whipped topping. Cover and refrigerate until thickened, about 20 minutes., Place one cake layer on a serving platter; spread with 3/4 cup pudding mixture. Top with remaining cake layer; spread remaining pudding mixture over top and sides of cake. , If necessary, reheat pecan mixture over low heat to achieve a spreading consistency. Spoon pecan mixture around edge of cake. Store in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE BUTTERSCOTCH CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick spray.
• Mix together the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the mixture into the prepared pan and pat lightly to pack it slightly.
• Bake until light golden brown on top and done in the middle, watching to make sure it doesn't burn, 30 to 35 minutes. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.
• Spoon the dulce de leche into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave to just slightly soften it, about 45 seconds. Scoop it on top of the oatmeal base and use an offset spatula to spread it out to the edges and into an even layer. Sprinkle on a layer of peanuts so that they completely cover the caramel and use your hands to gently press them into the caramel. Sprinkle on the butterscotch chips and mini chocolate chips in generous layers.
• Note: The warmth of the cookie base and caramel should slightly soften the butterscotch and chocolate chips. When that happens, use your hands to very gently press the chips just enough to anchor them together (but not enough to misshape them). If the pan isn't warm enough, pop it into the oven for 30 seconds or so and gently press the chips to anchor them together.
• Chill the bars for 2 to 3 hours to make them easy to slice. Remove them from the pan, place on a cutting board and use a long serrated knife to cut into small squares (they're rich!). Serve cold or at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE CHIP CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8 x 8-inch pan with flour no-stick cooking spray.
• COMBINE shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla in medium bowl; beat at medium speed until blended.
• COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Add gradually to shortening mixture at low speed. Beat until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips with spoon. Divide dough in half. Spread half in bottom of prepared pan.
• COMBINE caramels and water in small saucepan; heat over very low heat. Stir until caramels melt. Spread over dough in pan to within 1/2 inch of edge. Spoon remaining dough over caramel mixture. Spread carefully.
• BAKE 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Loosen from sides of pan with knife. Remove pan to cooling rack to cool completely. Cut into 1 1/2 x 1 1/2-inch bars.

CARAMEL FROSTED PUMPKIN COOKIES WITH BUTTERSCOTCH CHIPS

Steps:

• Cream together shortening and 1 cup sugar. Note: I have recently experimented by substituting 1/4 cup of the shortening for a healthy, butter-flavored margarine -- using all butter or margarine tends to make the cookies spread out and not hold their shape, however). Add pumpkin and egg and cream lightly until fluffy (I usually use a hand mixer for this).
• Combine flour, soda, cinnamon and salt; mix into cream mixture. (I usually switch to a wooden spoon, to keep the mixture light and fluffy -- you don't want to overbeat).
• Fold in butterscotch chips.
• Drop by teaspoons on an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until done (I sometimes find it takes a little longer, depending on humidity, the size of the cookie, etc.). Refrigerate remaining dough, covered, while other cookies are baking.
• In the meantime, make the frosting: combine the butter and milk in a small saucepan and cook until sugar is dissolved (or, you can cook in the microwave, about 30 seconds+/-). Let cool for several minutes (mixture will be still be warm). Stir in the powdered sugar, sifted, then add vanilla; whisk well until smooth.
• Frost cookies fresh out of the oven and while frosting is still somewhat warm; frosting will harden as it sits out; if necessary, reheat for a few seconds in the microwave until pliable again and/or add a few more drops of milk and restir.