Double Chocolate Caramel Nut Bars

Recipe Photo

Crust Layer:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) cold butter, cut into pieces

Macadamia Caramel Layer:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 cups whole macadamia nuts, toasted*
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate layer:
8 bars (1.5 ounces each) Dark Chocolate, coarsely chopped

Make the crust:

Preheat oven to 350F.
Place flour, cocoa, brown sugar and butter in food processor bowl. Cover and pulse until fine crumbs form. Press firmly into bottom of 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool in pan on wire rack.

Make the macadamia nut layer:
Combine butter, sugar, corn syrup and sweetened condensed milk in medium saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until mixture turns golden. Remove from heat and stir in macadamia nuts and vanilla. Pour over crust.

Make the chocolate layer:

Place chocolate in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium (50% power) for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave 30 seconds more or until chocolate is softened. Stir until smooth.
Spread melted chocolate evenly over macadamia nut layer. Refrigerate until chocolate sets. Cut into 12 bars. Then cut each bar in half diagonally to form triangles.

*To toast macadamia nuts, spread on baking sheet. Bake at 350F. for 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted.