Cookbook of the Month Recipe – Marbled Caramel Chocolate Slice |

Cookbook of the Month Recipe – Marbled Caramel Chocolate Slice

Filed under Cookbook of the Month, Dessert - Cookies

Mar 21
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Do you ever find a recipe, especially one with a photo, and want to make it right then because it looks so good and so impressive? And then you go and make it, and the presentation just doesn’t turn out like it was in the book or how you saw it in your head? This is one of those recipes.

I’ve been excited to try this recipe since I first got this cookbook. I was actually going to make it last week, but since my first recipe from this book was chocolate and caramel, I thought I should wait a week. Then I saw Cookie Baker Lynn’s post yesterday – she did this cookie, and hers look beautiful!!

Well, I got started last night. I should have known from the beginning that my baking mojo was off. I started with the shortbread base, but when it didn’t turn into a dough, I went back and re-read the ingredients. Wow – I misread and only added half the amount of butter! So more butter was added, the dough came together, and I went to put the dough in the pan. It barely spread across the bottom of my jelly roll pan, but I figured it was just a very thin base. The caramel filling came together easily and without any problems. I spread it on top of the baked cookie base, and decided to wait until this morning to do the chocolate topping. I decided to go back in and re-read Lynn’s post to see if she had any pointers, and I noticed that she mentioned the 9×13 pan. Ummm, maybe that’s why my base was so thin – I used my regular jelly roll pan, which is 12 1/2 x 17 1/2! I already had that much done, so there was no going back.

So this morning, I set out to do what I would be the most fun – the marbled chocolate topping. I’m not an artist by any means, which should have given me the first hint that these wouldn’t turn out like the picture. I melted my chocolates, but when I put the milk chocolate and the semi-sweet chocolate on, my chocolates were the exact same color. Oh well, I thought – the white chocolate part is what makes it look really good. All I had at home was some white chocolate chips – I know that chocolate chips are harder to melt, but we don’t often eat white chocolate, so I thought I’d use some of the chips up. Mistake – they would not melt, but instead they liked to just stay in a big clump. I had already done the other chocolates, so I couldn’t run to the store. I did some quick thinking, and added a bit of shortening to the white chocolate, and that seemed to help a little bit. I was able to smooth it out for the most part. But my marbling is a mess. I think my chocolates had dried a bit too much by this point, and the chocolate layer was too thin because of the size of my pan. Not exactly the beauties I thought they would end up looking like.

But I guess the taste is most important – and how can you go wrong with shortbread, caramel and chocolate? You can’t!! These are delicious, rich, and sweet. In fact, it’s only 9:30 in the morning and I’m already on a sugar high!! Definitely a tasty treat. I

‘m off to enjoy a day off (I love it when the stock market is closed!) and to eat more than my fair share of Marbled Caramel Chocolate Slices!!

Marbled Caramel Chocolate Slices
from The Cookie Book

for the base
9 ounces/2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 ounces/1/2 cup superfine sugar
6 ounces/3/4 cup butter, softened

for the filling
3 1/2 ounces/7 tablespoons butter, diced
3 1/2 ounces/1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 14-ounce cans of sweetened condensed milk

for the topping
3 1/2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
31/2 ounces milk chocolate
2 ounces white chocolate

Preheat the oven to 350 deg. F. Line a 13 x 9-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it.

Put the flour and superfine sugar into a bowl and rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Work with your hands until the mixture forms a dough Put the dough into the prepared pan and press it out with your hand to cover the base. Then use the back of a tablespoon to smooth it and press it evenly into the pan. Prick all over with a fork and bake for about 20 minutes, or until firm to the touch and very light brown. Set aside and leave it in the pan to cool.

To make the filling, put the butter, brown sugar and condensed milk into a pan and heat gently, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Stirring constantly, bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and
simmer the mixture very gently, stirring constantly, for about 5 – 10 minutes, or until it has thickened and has turned a caramel color. Take care that the mixture does not burn on the base of the pan, as this will spoil the flavor. Remove from the heat. Pour the filling mixture over the cookie base, spread evenly, then leave until cold.

To make the topping, melt each type of chocolate separately in a microwave or in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of hot water. Spoon stripes about 2 inches wide of semisweet and milk chocolate down the length of the pan, alternating semisweet and milk chocolate. Place spoonfuls of the white chocolate randomly over the top. Use a skewer to form a marbled effect on the topping.

See who else has made this recipe!

Cookie Baker Lynn
Culinary in the Country
32 Comments

32 Responses to “Cookbook of the Month Recipe – Marbled Caramel Chocolate Slice”

Megan said on March 21st, 2008 at 5:32 pm

I think your bars look great.
Enjoy your day!

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ruthEbabes said on March 21st, 2008 at 5:47 pm

I love getting caramel squares at the bakery! I may just have to try making them myself sometime! Yours look great! love the marbling.

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Kristina said on March 21st, 2008 at 5:48 pm

They look great to me! Perfect marbling has no character

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Patsyk said on March 21st, 2008 at 6:09 pm

I think they look great!

I have the same problem with mis-reading recipes at times… you’re lucky you went back and re-read so you could fix it as you went. I sometimes don’t notice the problem until it’s too late!

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kat said on March 21st, 2008 at 6:29 pm

OMG do those sound & look amazing

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glamah16 said on March 21st, 2008 at 6:37 pm

Happy Easter to you and your husband.Those bars look like art to me. Dont eat them all!.

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Mandy said on March 21st, 2008 at 6:42 pm

I am definitely one of those who rush into the kitchen after seeing a nice picture that accompanies the recipe. Even though I could never achieve the effect I am after. But you are right, the taste of the food is more important than appearance!

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linda said on March 21st, 2008 at 6:55 pm

I have the same book and I love it a lot. It has great recipes.
The marbling looks wonderful to me, especially considering you used white chocolate chips that don’t melt.

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Joe said on March 21st, 2008 at 6:59 pm

I’ve made these bars too! It’s a fun cookbook to choose recipes from.

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Katie B. said on March 21st, 2008 at 7:08 pm

They look great! If you hadn’t told us you’d goofed, we’d never know! And who cares, considering they’re so tasty!

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Melanie said on March 21st, 2008 at 8:07 pm

Yum! I saw these on Lynn’s blog and now that you also attest to their deliciousness, I can’t resist making them! Yours still look beautiful, by the way.

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Steph said on March 21st, 2008 at 8:50 pm

These look delicious! Can’t beat chocolate and caramel!

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Gabi said on March 21st, 2008 at 9:50 pm

These look absolutely delish!

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Kevin said on March 22nd, 2008 at 12:15 am

It looks like they turned out well despite the problems. They look and sound really good.

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Judy said on March 22nd, 2008 at 1:44 am

Yum.

Oh, and the post below? Yum.

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Elle said on March 22nd, 2008 at 5:04 am

Hope you had a great day! The cookies look great and I can just imagine how good they taste. Melting white chocolate can be a challenge, especially the chips for some reason.
Happy Easter Deborah!

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Jenny said on March 22nd, 2008 at 5:46 am

Oh Man,
Another beautiful recipe. Wish I had a nice slice right now!! Great pics!

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Peabody said on March 22nd, 2008 at 8:06 am

They were beautiful…you did a lovely job as well.

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KJ said on March 22nd, 2008 at 9:42 am

Oh, all the time!!! Presentation is not my strong point. But these look lovely though. And you’re right so long as it tastes good!

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Ann said on March 22nd, 2008 at 11:43 am

They look wonderful!

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Brilynn said on March 22nd, 2008 at 2:07 pm

You and the Cookie Baker have definitely made me want to give these a shot, they’re so pretty!

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Jessy and her dog Winnie said on March 22nd, 2008 at 4:39 pm

That looks great! I love the marbled effect!

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Maryann said on March 22nd, 2008 at 5:47 pm

Hi Deb! Happy Easter

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Amy said on March 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 am

They turned out beautifully! I personally would like a thinner cookie base more.

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culinography said on March 23rd, 2008 at 2:52 am

Mmmm… chocolate and caramel? Who cares what they look like! Pass one my way!

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Kelly-Jane said on March 23rd, 2008 at 1:58 pm

You can find these cookies all over the place here, and they are so good, so why not! They look lovely =)

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Aamena said on March 23rd, 2008 at 7:02 pm

i know that feeling but they still look great!

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Cakespy said on March 23rd, 2008 at 10:20 pm

Oh my, now THIS is a slice of heaven! These look fantastic!!

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eatme_delicious said on March 23rd, 2008 at 11:49 pm

These look amazing!

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Shari G said on March 24th, 2008 at 1:47 am

These look delicious. I love the marbling on top.

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Tempered Woman said on March 24th, 2008 at 6:28 pm

Well the cookie looks damn good to me! I’m seriously thinking there is some secret plot to drive me insane going on~ I cannot resist caramel and it sems to be everywhere suddenly~ Aarrggh!

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Jen said on March 31st, 2008 at 2:47 pm

I made these last night, not as easy as I thought they would be. They came out good, but not at all as pretty as the picture.
They are very very sweet, and quite dense, but tasty.

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