MOCHA TOFFEE CASHEW BARS

Mocha Toffee Cashew Bars image

Yield Makes about 4 dozen bars

Number Of Ingredients 9

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2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg yolk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
3 tablespoons instant-espresso powder* dissolved in 2 tablespoons boiling water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), finely chopped
3/4 cup salted roasted cashews (4 oz), chopped

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Beat together butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at moderately high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in yolk and vanilla, then gradually add espresso mixture, beating until combined well. Add flour and salt and mix at low speed until just combined.
Spread batter evenly in an ungreased 15 1/2- by 10 1/2-inch baking pan (1 inch deep) and bake in middle of oven until top puffs slightly and sides pull away from edge of pan, 16 to 22 minutes. (Watch carefully toward end of baking; base can burn easily.)
While base is baking, melt chocolate in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally, then remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat. Spread chocolate over warm base and immediately sprinkle with cashews. Cool completely in pan on a rack, then cut into 48 bars. Chill until chocolate is firm, about 15 minutes.