I was going to try to wait and post this recipe for Chocolate Friday, but ... I couldn't wait. *sigh* So much chocolate, so little time.
I really shouldn't try to bake at this time of the month, no matter how much I'm craving chocolate goodies. This was almost a disaster, a real "abandon ship!" kind of disaster, but I clung to the mast and road the sucker out. The resulting bars were delish, if I do say so myself. In case you're interested in the story (if not, just scroll down...), the situation was this:
Picture one fiercely PMSing woman, sitting in the kitchen peeling cellophane off 50 little caramel candy pieces - 50 FRIKKEN CARAMEL CANDIES!!! -- and she gets involved in a movie which was originally only intended to help the unwrapping all those suckers less tedious. Having gotten thusly involved in said movie, and being short of attention and patience anyway, PMSing woman puts caramels in the pan directly on the burner, adds milk, and then forgets about them. Some time later, the smell of scalding milk and burning caramel having failed to penetrate her haze, her hubs wanders in and interrupts her movie with, "Whatcha burnin'?"
I'm here to tell you, caramel mixed with burnt milk is disgusting. And it takes a while to get rid of the smell. Fortunately I had bought two bags of caramels, not being sure how many there were to a bag (50). So I dumped the ruined batch and started over -- UNWRAPPING FIFTY MORE CARAMELS. This time I put them in a pan on a pan in a makeshift double boiler setup.
I guess it's time to buy an actual double boiler, huh?
Anyway, you'll be happy to know that I was able to finish watching my movie without burning the 2nd batch of caramels and from that point forward, all was as well as it can be when you're PMSing.
German Chocolate Caramel Bars
1 box German Chocolate cake mix
3/4 cup butter (stick and a half)
1 cup evaporated milk
6 ounces chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts (I used some of the candied walnuts from the other day)
50-60 caramels
Melt caramels over a low heat together with 1/3 cup of the evaporated milk. While caramels are melting, stir cake mix with softened butter and 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup evaporated milk. Just add milk a little at a time till it reaches the consistency of frosting. Divide batter in half and spread half on the bottom of a 9x13 inch cake pan. Bake for 6 minutes at 350°. Remove from oven and sprinkle with nuts and chocolate chips. Pour melted caramel on top and lastly, dot with remaining cake batter. Continue baking for 15-25 minutes.
You can insert a toothpick into the cake batter portions to test for done-ness (should come out dry), but be careful because if you hit a chocolate chip or the caramel, it'll come out wet.
I took a platter down to my brother's last night and they were a hit! Of course I saved some back for myself the hubs. Heh.
Merry Merry!
Thanks Herb! I should have thought of that. But doesn't that caramel topping stay a little too runny? Or does it set up, once it's baked in a bar?
Posted by: Christine | December 22, 2006 at 12:45 PM
These look fantastic!
One thing, instead of unwrapping all those caramels, my wife uses the caramel ice cream topping that comes in a jar for these oatmeal/caramel bars she makes. They have layer of Oatmeal bar, a layer of caramel, and a layer of chocolate, then another layer of oatmeal bar on the bottom. They are my all-time favorite!
Posted by: Herb Kennedy | December 21, 2006 at 12:27 PM
Nik, no kidding! If anything else had gone wrong I might have started on a murder spree. LOL! Bothenook, that's just what my hubs said. I told him the caramel was softened, but it still hurt his teeth, so guess who got to eat the rest?
Vicki, dang, I wish I'd thought of the microwave. I've never melted caramels in the nuker, it didn't even occur to me. Duh. I'll try that next time. :)
Keewee, let me know how you like them!
Posted by: Christine | December 21, 2006 at 07:11 AM
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy !! The recipe is copied and ready to make tomorrow.
Posted by: keewee | December 20, 2006 at 09:01 PM
I've made these using chocolate cake mix and they are good.
Melt the caramels in microwave...it works great...use low setting.
Posted by: vicki | December 20, 2006 at 08:47 PM
ohhh. these i'm going to have to try. kind of makes my teeth hurt just looking at them, so you know they'll be good!
Posted by: bothenook | December 20, 2006 at 04:21 PM
I'm so glad they turned out! Especially during "that" time when you really don't need anything to go wrong. :)
Posted by: aka Nik | December 19, 2006 at 12:34 AM