Plated and seconds away from consumption!
As my regular readers know, I’m part of a group baking our way through Dorie Greenspan’s cookbook, Baking Chez Moi. It’s all about Parisian French desserts, and can I just tell you? Yum! Some of the recipes are super-intricate, time-consuming, knock-your-ballerina-flats off, and others are surprisingly quick, like today’s recipe!
This week’s recipe is Crispy-Topped Brown Sugar Bars! It’s a shortbread-type crust, topped with chocolate, and sprinkled over those layers is a layer of…whatever you decide. Dorie suggests caramelized Rice Krispies, but says that dried fruits or shredded coconut is another option, and that even popcorn could be used.
When I read that, I knew immediately what I was going to do! I don’t have any Rice Krispies in my house that I could caramelize, and I doubt that caramelized Raisin Bran would taste the same, so I made up a batch of my favourite Caramel Corn to top these bars with.
And, as per usual, I realized while baking that I had run out of one of the staples needed (white sugar) so I just substituted something else in (more brown sugar). I used my favourite Callebaut chocolate chips, because they melt so nicely on the tongue (apparently, that’s due to the higher cocoa fat content).
The dough pre-smushing. Dorie says “show it who’s boss!”
As I said above, this week’s recipe is really quite quick! Especially compared to the Pink Grapefruit Tart we made a few weeks ago, or the Gingerbread Buche de Noel we made around the Christmas holidays. All you do in this recipe is blend the crust ingredients together, press it into a prepared pan, bake, top with chocolate, and sprinkle with your toppings. Really, it’s the work of half an hour! Although I will say that it depends on the toppings — the caramel corn takes about an 1 hr. and 20 minutes to make (but an hour of that is just baking time).
Dough, post-smushing. Now with zebra-stripe-esque finger imprints. And apparently also lumps of butter. And brown sugar. Eh. Almost perfect is good enough!
I’m sitting on my sofa typing this on my laptop, and waiting for the caramel corn to finish up baking to a crispy crunch in the oven, so that I can pop the crust in to bake. A number of the other bakers in this bake-a-long said that the crust should be baked for a shorter period than what Dorie recommends, but I guess it depends on your oven, and your crust preference. Dorie keeps talking about ‘the French bake’, which is where you brown your pastry so that the butter flavour comes out more. I love the idea, but not the actuality, so I shall be cutting down on my baking time!
Ooh, the kitchen timer went off! I’m going to see how my caramel corn is doing!
[interruption to check on popcorn. And maybe to eat a kernel or three.]
So, as I was typing this, I was hearing a scratch-scratching noise coming from the darkened kitchen (the DH has already gone to bed. I’ve said before that I’m a night owl, right?). I looked in the kitchen. The DH was happily helping himself to a bowlful of caramel corn.
Me: Nooooo! I’m making that for a recipe!
DH: But I want it!
I finally gave him a bowl and sent him on his way. And then sneakily hid the remainder of the popcorn, because I know my boy! Indeed…10 minutes later:
DH: Noooo! Where did you hide it?
Me: Bwahahaha! *steeples fingers a la Mr. Burns*
Sometimes as I make these Baking Chez Moi recipes, I feel like the Pied Piper, except with baked goods! But enough with the chit-chat. What about that delicious square?!?
Some squares set aside for work tomorrow. Possibly. In my gnome-riffic cookie container!
The recipe verdict: Is…ok. I like the idea, but the execution just didn’t do it for me. Maybe the caramelized Rice Krispies would have been better. I found the base a bit too buttery and crumbly for my taste, and the mouth feel of the popcorn combined with the rest of the square just…wasn’t my favourite. I packed some to bring to work tomorrow, but I’m of two minds — it’s not the best thing I’ve ever baked, and yet it’s still a nice coffee break munchie. Hmm. I’ll sleep on it and decide tomorrow!
Edit: I’ve thought about it, and I think if I made them again, I’d made the caramel corn recipe with half, or even a third of the popcorn, but with the same amount of caramel. I think a crunchier, caramel-ier topping would be a better balance for the base. Thoughts?
Next Post: Probably my Canadian Meat-and-Veggie Galette! The DH devoured it. Would be a fabulous Thanksgiving dish, come to think of it!
I like the idea of a caramel corn topping. I’m sorry it wasn’t your favorite. I guess we can’t like them all.
My DH liked this one alot. To me it was a bit too sweet. The pop corn is a good idea. I have alwas wanted to try it, after seeing the recipe I will put it on hold too much work.
The caramel corn does sound like it takes a long time, but it’s actually surprisingly easy. It’s just pop the corn, make the sauce, mix together, and bake in the oven for an hour, stirring 3 times. And it makes A LOT! Mmm…now I want caramel corn! 🙂
Aaaaggh! I can’t believe that your hubby was going to snaffle all the caramel corn that you made especially for this. Your bars look wonderful. I did enjoy it, but I have a very sweet tooth.
I would be with your husband, hunting down the caramel corn—yum! Fun topping for your bars 🙂
The popcorn looks so pretty on top. We used the caramelized Rice Krispies on top of ours and they were a real hit. I think a crunchy topping definitely helps. I’m glad I’m not the only one that has to hide food from other members of the household so I can use them for recipes!
Fantastic idea to top these with the caramel corn. I think they would have been gone in a flash around here!
I took them to my workplace, and they were a hit, so I’m very happy about that! 🙂
I thought your idea of caramel corn was great. You should try it with Rice Krispies, you might like it.
I’m definitely going to have to try the caramelized Rice Krispies! They sound so yummy!
Glad to know I wasn’t the only one not entirely enamored of these, though I define rely think I am going to try them a la Milk Bar. I will post all about it when I do!
You totally should do the Fruity Pebble thing! Not sure if it would be necessary to caramelize it, but then again, why not? 🙂
Caramel popcorn for the topping sounds good to me! The next time I’m gonna try the caramelized rice krispies, as my kids love these bars!
syour bars look very delicious and playful. I’m glad someone tried out the popcorn idea. I love how you did your process photos.
I love your idea for the caramel popcorn! It was an interesting cookie…but I couldn’t stop myself from eating them.
Keep writing – I love your style1
Thanks, Julie! Your comment totally made my day!
Thank goodness for work places, hey?! I too found these to be very sweet, though the sweetness did seem to dissipate overnight. Cute cookie tin!
I know! Between my workplace and the DH’s, all my baking overflow gets eaten up. Good for me, good for workplace morale! 🙂 And yes, I agree, they were a bit sweet. Thanks re the cookie tin compliment!