Skip to main content

Day 2: Toffee Squares

So, when preparing for this challenge, I made up a list of all the cookies I wanted to make. 23 cookies to be exact. (I expected I would add more as the challenge progressed.)


So, tonight, when I contemplated and pondered what cookie to make, I realized that I don't have many of the ingredients for my beloved cookies on the list! (And this is after I "stocked up" on chocolate chips and nuts at Farm 'n' Fleet. Hmmm... Guess I forgot about the Hershey kisses and maraschino cherries and peppermint candies and red food coloring. Looks like I need to go to the store.)


So, using the handy-dandy internet, I stumbled across this simple, yummy-looking recipe, from the Pioneer Woman. (Love her site! Can't say that enough.) She found this recipe in an old church cookbook, so of course it's practically guaranteed to be good. Those church ladies know what they're doing in the kitchen.


The best thing about the recipe is that it's a simple one. It has a short list of ingredients that you should already have on hand, and they're in and out of the oven in about 30 minutes. (They take a bit longer to cool though!)


First, you start off preparing the dough. Butter, sugar, flour, ya know... the usuals.


Then, you spread it into a thin layer on a cookie sheet. (And yes, it is difficult to spread with that utensil. I ended up using my fingers for most of it. But it's nice to say I "used" my offset spatula that I absolutely had to have on my wedding registry.)



Then, pop the whole thing into a 350*F oven for about 15 minutes, until it's golden and crispy.

Pull it out, and sprinkle it with chocolate chips. (Milk or semisweet will do; I used semisweet, 'cause I like my chocolate the way I like my men--rich! Just kidding!!)



Pop the pan back in the oven for about a minute or so to let the chocolate get all melty.


Here's the fun part. Spread that chocolate all over the big cookie. And then you have my permission to lick the spatula. (Best part!)


Next, sprinkle liberally with chopped nuts of your choice. (I used walnuts. Toffee bits would be super-good, too!)


Then, you have to let the chocolate set before you can cut them. If you live in the Midwest, no problem--just set it on the back porch for about 15-20 minutes. (This only works in the wintertime, and if it's not snowing outside.)


Then, slice into squares and enjoy! A pizza cutter works great for perfect little squares.



A crispy buttery brown sugar cookie base, with a rich chocolate topping, and the crunch of nuts!



Yum, yum, yum... these are perfectly sweet! Can't wait to take them to work tomorrow.




Toffee Squares

 Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 cups chocolate chips, milk or semisweet
  • ¾ cup finely chopped walnuts



 Method
Preheat oven to 350*F.

Cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and flour and mix until combined. Spread on a cookie sheet with an offset spatula until then. Bake for about 15 minutes, until golden.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Return to oven for 1 minute.

Remove from oven and spread chocolate thinly over the cookie layer.

Sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Let cool. Cut into squares.




**********************************************************************************


In other news, we had our first snow today! How fitting for the beginning of December. I absolutely love that I have a whole wall of windows in my classroom. We were able to watch the snow fall all day long, while listening to Christmas music on Pandora. (As my students were wishing for a snow day tomorrow. We shall see! I wouldn't hate it...) 


Question: Do you love snow? Or hate it?


Happy baking!!!

Comments

Anonymous said…
These look so delicious! I'm making them when I get out of this kitchen-less place.

Zack

Popular posts from this blog

Day 7: Buried Cherry Cookies

I don't remember where my mom & I got this recipe... we started baking these about 8 years ago. And haven't stopped since! The name says it all - there is a 'buried cherry' in each cookie. The cookie itself is chewy and chocolatey, and inside there's a surprise cherry! It's all topped with a unique type of frosting; it is poured over the cookie before  it's baked. It's like a cookie version of a chocolate-covered cherry! (Without all that nasty sweet white goo inside...) Here's a step-by-step break-down: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Make an indentation in each ball. Place a cherry in each indentation. Make the frosting. (And don't forget to lick the spoon. And scrape the sides of the pan.) Top with the frosting. Bake! And then wonder what to do with the leftover 1/2 can of sweetened condensed milk. (What kind of recipe only calls for 1/2 cup?) I guess I could be like my friend Jen , as she tol...

The Arrival of Something New...

Woo hoo for the last Friday of the school year! And only one more day of school next week. (And then a couple teacher workshops...) Another reason to be excited? Our fridge came today!! Isn't she a beauty? It is so nice to have a fridge again. You don't realize how much you miss a full-size refrigerator until you go a couple weeks without it. A bit bare... but that can be solved easily. Bottom-drawer freezer, containing the essentials: moose tracks & Diet Dew trying to get cold asap. Anyways, I'm just popping in to share my beautiful new appliance. The baking monster has taken over, and I'm in the midst of making 150 cupcakes for a graduation party tomorrow.  First big baking project in the new kitchen! I'm loving all the counter space. Mmm... chocolate buttercream! Making good use of the baking nook! :) Adios!

Samoa-what?

So. Last night I did some baking. For my Business Man. Leaning tower of... cookie bars? Before I tell you all about it, let's rewind a bit... Last week when I was gone traversing the Midwest , our order of Girl Scout cookies came in. (finally!) They got here on Monday. When I spoke with my Business Man Tuesday night, he informed me that the box of Caramel Delights was gone. Gone! I would have been shocked and horrified and disappointed if I actually liked coconut, but alas I just shook my head and laughed. Those cookies didn't stand a chance with my Business Man locked in the same apartment for any length of time. The real deal. Just to prove his love for Caramel Delights even further, let me tell you this little story. L ast year  I came out to visit one weekend and take the oh-so-enjoyable Praxis tests. We stopped at Family Video after the tests to pick up a few movies for the afternoon/evening. There happened to be some cute lil' Girl Scouts trying ...