These Turtle Caramel Bars are made with lots of chocolate, nuts, a simple caramel filling and a delicious shortbread base. Put it all together to make one of the most delicious cookie bars. These Caramel Bars will be the perfect addition to your Christmas Baking.
When I was a kid in Canada I can always remember eating these ooey gooey chocolate caramel sweets that supposedly resembled a turtle and needless to say were called Turtles. I loved those things. And now I love these Turtle Cookie Bars. So when I was flipping through a cookbook my Mom gave me when I first got married, I found these amazing sounding Turtle Cookie Bars. These my friends were a definite must, especially this year when we all need a bit more sweetness!
How to make them
In a medium bowl whisk together the flour and sugar, with a pastry blender or fork mix in the butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Press into the bottom of an ungreased cake pan, bake.
What is a bar cookie?
Bar cookies are made from a batter or stiff dough, such as a shortbread base, that is either poured or pressed into a baking pan and then baked, sometimes the base is pre-baked before the filling is added and then baked again. It is then cooled and cut into bars or squares. Bars are usually single layered, such as Brownies or multi layered such as these Caramel Bars.
Turtle Bars
Ingredients
SHORTBREAD BASE
1 1/2 cups flour (195 grams)
1/2 cup sugar (100 grams)
3/4 cups butter (softened) (169 grams)
TOPPING
1/2 cup brown sugar packed (110 grams)
2/3 cup butter (150 grams)
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts (150 grams)
1 cup milk chocolate chips (180 grams)
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 350°.
In a medium bowl whisk together the flour and sugar, with a pastry blender or fork mix in butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Press onto the bottom of an ungreased 9 inch (23 cm) square cake pan ( I used a spring form pan or line the pan with parchment paper for easy removal). Bake for approximately 15 minutes.
TOPPING
In a medium pot, combine the brown sugar and butter, over medium/low heat, bring it to a boil, stirring constantly continue to boil for approximately 1-2 minutes, be sure not to let it burn, remove from the heat then pour over baked shortbread base, sprinkle the nuts on top then bake for approximately 13-15 minutes or until bubbly.
Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with milk chocolate chips, let stand for approximately 3 minutes then with the tip of a knife, gently swirl the chocolate. Let cool completely, then cut into small squares. Enjoy!