Walnut Cookie Bars With Shortbread Crust Recipes

BROWN SUGAR WALNUT SHORTBREAD SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350° F. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• To make the shortbread crust, stir the flour, sugar and salt together in a large bowl. Drop in the butter and, using your fingers, mash and mix the ingredients together until you have a cohesive dough. (Alternately, the dough may be mixed in a food processor.) Pat and press evenly over the bottom of the prepared pan. With a fork, prick the dough all over at 1/2-inch intervals. Bake about 20 minutes, until the surface looks dry and the crust has browned lightly around the edges. Set aside to cool while you prepare the topping.
• To make the topping, in a large bowl combine the brown sugar, egg and vanilla and beat until evenly mixed.
• In a small cup or bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt and stir or whisk together to blend. Add to the brown sugar mixture and beat vigorously until smooth-the batter will be very stiff. Stir in the walnuts. Spread over the prepared crust. Bake about 25 minutes, until the surface looks dry and the filling has set and risen slightly. Cool completely, then cut into 2-inch squares. Store in an airtight container.

WALNUT COOKIE BARS (WITH SHORTBREAD CRUST)

Steps:

• Set oven to 350° (oven rack to second-lowest position).
• Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
• In a processor (I use my small processor for this) place the flour and sugar, process for a couple of seconds.
• Add in cold butter and vanilla; process until fine crumbs form (about 10 seconds or just until the mixture holds together).
• Press the mixture into bottom of the baking pan.
• Bake 350° (second-lowest oven rack) for about 12-15 minutes or until the edges are just golden brown.
• Meanwhile in a bowl whisk together brown sugar, corn syrup, 2 teaspoons vanilla, pinch salt and eggs until well blended.
• Mix in chopped walnuts.
• Pour over the crust.
• Bake for about 20 minutes or until set (these bars do not bake out high so watch closely they bake quickly!).
• Cool for about 1 hour or more before slicing.
• At this point you can drizzle with melted chocolate if desired.
• Slice into bar shapes.

GOOEY CHOCOLATE WALNUT BARS WITH SHORTBREAD CRUST

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
• For the crust; in a processer mix the flour, sugar and salt until combined (about 4-5 seconds).
• Add in the butter and process until crumbly.
• Press into bottom of the baking dish.
• Bake for about 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.
• For the filling; in a large mixing bowl whisk the eggs, corn syrup, sugar, melted butter and vanilla until well combined.
• Mix in the chocolate chips and nuts.
• Pour over the crust.
• Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until set.