Caramel Walnut Fudge Bars

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg, beaten lightly
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons dark corn syrup
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 3 cups walnuts or 3 cups pecans, toasted
• 1 tablespoon dark rum

Recipe

• 1 make base: line bottom of greased 13 x 9 inch pan with wax paper (cut to fit), grease paper.
• 2 preheat oven to 350°f.
• 3 in a saucepan, melt butter with cocoa and stir until smooth.
• 4 remove from heat, beat in brown sugar and egg; stir in flour, salt and vanilla.
• 5 spread in baking pan and bake for 10 minutes or just until firm to touch and pulls away slightly from sides.
• 6 let cool.
• 7 make topping: in a saucepan, melt butter; add brown sugar and corn syrup and bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring with a wooden spoon.
• 8 boil, stirring occasionally, until it reaches hard-ball stage (250f).
• 9 remove from heat and add cream and walnuts carefully, stirring gently.
• 10 bring to a boil and boil until it reaches soft-ball stage (240f).
• 11 remove from heat, let cool 1 minute, stir in rum.
• 12 pour over base, spreading evenly.
• 13 let cool, chill, covered with foil, 2 hours, or until firm.
• 14 run a thin knife around edge of pan; turn out onto cutting board and cut into 30 bars.
• 15 store bars, separated by sheets of wax paper, in an airtight container, chilled, for up to 1 week.