CHEWY PEANUT-CARAMEL BARS

CHEWY PEANUT-CARAMEL BARS image

Number Of Ingredients 16

For Crust:
1 1/4 C. flour
2 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
6 Tbsp. butter (cold, cut into chunks)
5 Tbsp. heavy cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
For Topping:
1 1/4 C. tightly packed LIGHT brown sugar
1/2 C. LIGHT corn syrup
1/2 C. heavy cream
3 Tbsp. butter (chunked)
1/8 tsp. salt
3 C. chopped, unsalted peanuts
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 C. (9 oz.) semisweet chocolate morsels

Steps:

Place rack in middle of oven. Preheat 375. 9X13" pan, line w/ foil & spray. In food processor: flour, sugar, salt. Add butter & pulse until become coarse crumbs. Add cream & vanilla & pulse just until it holds together. DO NOT OVERPROCESS! Press dough firmly & evenly across bottom of pan & prick w/ fork. Bake 20-25 min. until tinged w/ brown. Transfer & cool. In saucepan, med-high, add brown sugar, corn syrup, cream, butter & salt. Bring to boil, stir frequently. Add 2 1/2 C. peanuts. Cook, stir frequently, 2 1/2 min., adjust head so boils briskly. Immediately, remove from heat & add vanilla. Pour hot topping over crust, cover evenly, smooth with greased knife. Cool for 20 min. Sprinkle chocolate, let stand until partially melted. Spread melted chocolate over topping. Sprinkle remaining peantus on top. Let cool completely.