Name: Cashew Caramel Shortbread Bars
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ⅔ cup butter (softened); ¼ cup white sugar; 1¼ cups all-purpose flour; ¾ cups sugar; ½ cup heavy cream; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (roughly cut into pieces); 1 teaspoon vanilla; ¼ teaspoon salt; 1¼ cups salted roasted cashews

Ingredients

Scale

For the shortbread

⅔ cup butter (softened)
¼ cup white sugar
1¼ cups all-purpose flour

For the caramel

¾ cups sugar
½ cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (roughly cut into pieces)
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon salt
1¼ cups salted roasted cashews

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch square pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, mix together 2/3 cup butter, white sugar, and flour until evenly crumbly. Press into a 9 inch square baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven but keep it on. Let cool while you prepare the caramel cashew layer.
Place sugar in a nonstick saucepan over medium high heat. Let stand until bottom layer of sugar begins to melt, then start stirring, continuing to stir until sugar has turned light brown in color and smooth in texture. Pour in heavy cream, being careful of it splattering. Stir constantly until mixture is smooth again, about 5 minutes. Turn down heat and stir in butter, vanilla, and salt.
Take mixture off heat and quickly stir in the cashews while the caramel is still hot. Pour mixture into pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the caramel is all bubbling.
Let cool completely before cutting. Cut into 16 bars.

Keywords: caramel shortbread, cashew shortbread