Shelly's Recipe

AUSTRIAN CHOCOLATE WALNUT BARS

Category: Bars

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups packed brown sugar (divided use)
2 1/2 cups flour
2/3 cup apricot preserves
4 eggs
1/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp salt
3 cups walnuts, toasted and finely ground
Frosting (recipe follows)
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 375. Grease a 13x9 inch pan and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat butter with electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup brown sugar and beat until combined, scraping bowl occasionally. Gradually add flour, beating on low speed just until combined. (Mixture will look slightly dry.) Press mixture into bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Spread apricot mixture over hot crust.

In another large bowl, beat eggs on medium-high speed for 3 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, cocoa, vanilla and salt. Beat on low for 3 minutes. Gradually add the ground walnuts, beating just until combined. Spread chocolate mixture over the preserves. Bake 30 minutes until set. Cool completely on wire rack.

Spread on frosting and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Let stand 1 to 2 hours until chocolate is set. Cut into 1 1/2 -inch squares. Makes 48 bars.

Frosting: In a medium saucepan, combine 8 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped, and 3 tbsp butter; cook and stir over low heat until melted. Stir in 1 tbsp light corn syrup and 1 tbsp rum.