Cranberry Turtle Bars

x 1


Bars keep in an airtight container (use wax paper between layers).

Prep Time

30 min

Cook Time

hours

Total Time

hours

Serves

36

Servings

36

candy thermometer
shallow pan
cutting board
double boiler or metal bowl

Base

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cups unsalted butter cold, cut into ½-inch cubes

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Line a 15- by 10-inch shallow pan with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two short sides. Butter all four sides.
  3. Blend flour, brown sugar, and salt in a food processor, then pulse in butter until mixture resembles small (roughly pea-size) crumbs. Sprinkle into baking pan, then press down firmly all over with a metal spatula to form an even layer. Bake in middle of oven until golden and firm to the touch, 15 to 17 minutes, then cool in pan on a rack.

Topping

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries coarsely chopped (not thawed)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 cups pecans toasted, coarsely chopped

Preparation

  1. Melt butter in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat and stir in sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Boil, stirring over moderately high heat, occasionally, until caramel registers about 245°F on thermometer, about 8 minutes. Carefully stir in cranberries, then boil until caramel returns to 245°F. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, then stir in pecans until well coated. Working quickly, spread caramel topping over base, using a fork to distribute nuts and berries evenly. Cool completely.

Decoration

Ingredients

  • 2 oz bittersweet chocolate finely chopped

Preparation

  1. Lift bars in foil from pan and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 6 crosswise strips, then cut into 6 lengthwise strips to form 36 bars.
  2. Melt half of chocolate in top of a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove bowl from heat and add remaining chocolate, stirring until smooth. Transfer chocolate to a small heavy-duty sealable plastic bag. Seal bag and snip off a tiny piece of one corner to form a small hole, then pipe chocolate decoratively over bars. Let stand at room temperature until chocolate sets, about 1 hour.