Nutty Chocolate Batons Recipes

CHOCOLATE NUT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add the flour, sugar and salt; beat just until crumbly. Set aside 1 cup for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake 10-12 minutes or until set and edges begin to brown., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine milk and 1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips. Cook and stir until chips are melted. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Spread mixture over crust., Combine the nuts and milk chocolate chips with the remaining semisweet chocolate chips and crumb mixture. Sprinkle over filling. Bake 15-20 minutes or until center is set. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED PHYLLO STICKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface; brush with butter. Cover with a second sheet of phyllo; brush with butter. (Keep remaining phyllo dough covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.) Cut phyllo lengthwise in half; cut each half crosswise into 5 rectangles (4-1/2x2-3/4 in.). Tightly roll up rectangles jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. , Mix sugar and cinnamon. Lightly coat sticks with cooking spray; sprinkle with 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar mixture. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned, 3-5 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining ingredients., In a microwave, melt semisweet chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip 1 end of each phyllo stick into chocolate; allow extra to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Drizzle with white chocolate.

NUTTY CHOCOLATE BATONS

Steps:

• Directions In a small bowl, cream the butter, sugar and almond paste until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk. Gradually add flour and mix well. Shape into a ball, then flatten into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle. Divide dough into eight equal portions: divide each portion in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll each half into a 12-in. rope; cut each rope into 2-in. lengths. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 6-8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Dip ends of each cookie in chocolate, then in pistachios. Let stand on waxed paper until set. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 8 dozen.