Shelly's Recipe

CHOCOLATE DIPPED CARAMEL PECAN BARS

Category: Bars

Crust:
8 tablespoons (1 stick) salted butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

Caramel Pecan Topping:
1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract *please check label for gluten-free if needed
1 cup heavy cream
3.5 cups toasted pecans *recipe here.
coarse sea salt
1 cup melted chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar until light. Add egg and vanilla and beat for one minute. Add baking powder and flour until mixed and has formed a cookie dough. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with non-stick spray. Press cookie dough mixture evenly throughout the bottom of the pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Allow to cool.

For the topping, combine water, sugar, and corn syrup in a large sauce pan or pot. Cook over medium-high heat stirring it occasionally until sugar is completely dissolved. When the sugar/water/corn syrup mixture begins to change to an amber like color (like a dark honey) immediately turn off heat. Carefully add vanilla and heavy cream stirring until smooth and looks like caramel sauce. Add toasted pecans stirring and coating everything. Spread caramel pecan mixture over the cookie crust evenly. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or until cold. Cut bars into small triangles and dip each one in melted chocolate. Allow to completely cool. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt sparingly.