Tuesday, March 10, 2009

TWD: Caramel Crunch Bars

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Finally, these were baked and posted! I was going to skip this, but then when I was swamped with tests to study for, I decided that making cookie dough was more fun. I put the dough in the freezer and it sort of just stayed there until now..haha. I halved the recipe, but I think I really should have made 2/3rds of it because as the dough was coming together I was starting to realize that there was no way it could fit in my 9 inch pan without being paper thin. I considered turning them into cookies, but then I decided to use a 9x5 loaf pan. I only used 1/2 the cinnamon (1/8th since I halved) because I was afraid it would mask the coffee flavour. I chopped up some Lacey's we still had leftover from Christmas and reduced the butter to 3/4 cup (1/4 cup + 2 tbsp since I halved) because 1 cup of butter to 1.5 cups of flour seemed like a lot! Plus, the bubbly percolating and puckering Dorie mentioned made me feel like this cookie was swimming in butter. Overall, the texture of these bars were perfect. Crunchy, crumbly with the slightest chew. I'm not a crazy cinnamon fan so I'll omit it next time, but will double up on instant coffee for extra coffee flavour!

Thanks to Whitney of What's left on the table for choosing this recipe, which can be found on her blog and here. Don't forget to check out the TWD blogroll!

29 comments:

  1. Your crunch bar looks delicious. Thanks for the yummy reminder!

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  2. These sure look good, I have a weakness for anything that involves toffee!

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  3. My, do these bars look divine! You've got all my favorite flavors in there. I just can't wait to taste these for myself. I think I need to get out Dorie's book right now!

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  4. Mmmh... I'm so sorry I could not taste them... Those sound so tasty... Very well done!

    Cheers,

    Miette

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  5. You do need to keep your strength up for those long days and nights of studying, you know! I didn't make these but I can see a personal rewind sometime in the future. Yours look wonderful!
    Good luck on the tests!

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  6. swimming in butter is just about right! And so good. Yours look great, and good luck on all that work!!
    Nancy

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  7. I loved these too!! Yum!!!
    Actually made them last Sunday...

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  8. SOoo glad that you didn't skip making these bars - they're sooo tantalizing (especially since I'm a caramel FANATIC)!!

    Good luck studying!!

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  9. They look luscious, Steph. I liked these better the 2nd day. I wasn't that crazy about the cinnamon, either. Nice job!

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  10. Toffee is my weakness! Love it!! Nice job on the bars!

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  11. Ha! I remember my apartment being cleaner than clean during exams. I wish that I baked bake in school -- that would be a much more fun way to procrastinate than cleaning! Your crunch bars look amazing, and I am soooooo wanting more of them right about how!

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  12. I agree, more coffee flavor would be perfect. These would be perfect with my coffee right now! Breakfast of champions!

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  13. Better late than never ;) I love baking when procrastinating.

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  14. Your photo says it all...these are scrumptious!

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  15. These look amazing! Makes me want to make them again. I'm still craving them.

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  16. I've made this...a lot actually, and it's one of my favorites.

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  17. Those look gorgeous, especially the sticky,chewy topping! Mmm :)

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  18. They look wonderful.....not sure what Lacey's is but I want some. I can't believe you don't like cinnamon :-), I'm the opposite I'd reduce the amount of coffee and up the cinnamon.
    ~ingrid

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  19. Mmm, yours look sinfully good!

    I agree, baking is more fun than studying.

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  20. Hi, thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog. YES! I insist you give blondies a try. Question do you like chocolate chip cookie dough batter (think without the chips or nuts)? Okay this is BETTER and you like cookies you can tweak them to suit YOUR taste AND they're in bar form. Couldn't be easier! Do it! DO it! DO IT!!
    ~ingrid

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  21. Oh my goodness... that photo takes my breath away! Excuse me while I wipe the drool off of my keyboard :P jkjk... seriously though, I could just bite my screen right now!

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  22. Your cookie bars looks delicious and yes, cookie dough is more fun than studying and it's fun to eat a little raw dough while studying = )

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  23. They look and sound fabulous! Cookie dough is always more fun than studying!

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  24. Steph, nothing and I mean nothing is better than a warm slice of banana bread fresh out of the oven. So good and delicious!!

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  25. You know, I haven't made these yet and you've inspired me. Do you think these would travel well? We're off on spring break next week....might be fun to bring these along.
    They looks scrumptious!
    AmyRuth

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  26. You know, I haven't made these yet and you've inspired me. Do you think these would travel well? We're off on spring break next week....might be fun to bring these along.
    They looks scrumptious!
    AmyRuth

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  27. Thank you SO much for coming over to answer my questions and more.....you are so thoughtful. I think I will lighten up on the cinnamon although I typically like it I wouldn't want a tug of war on flavors. Especially with chocolate. I like using good quality chocolate. Good to have the tips on texture. See, I need to read the recipe. I have some tins and I think they would travel well in one. Thanks a million once again.
    AmyRuth

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  28. Yummmm!! This looks really delicious!! Really!

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