Nearly Successful

As I have much free time during this Spring Break, I decided to try a new recipe today, and hopefully a few more this week. Today was Toffee Bars.

Starting with the bottom layer, sugar and butter, your results are such:The instructions were to add flour and stir by hand, but I found this difficult, so just used the mixer.
After adding flour and smashing into pan:

This bakes for about 15 minutes.

On the stove, you blend sweetened condensed milk and butter, bring to a small boil, keep it there for about 5 minutes, add vanilla, then pour over baked crust. Stick this in the oven for about 12 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Next is the chocolate. You can either add chocolate chips to the top, or make a sauce. Just some unsweetened chocolate, butter and powdered sugar, and water. My mistake in the chocolate was to over cook it, so it turned out slightly grainy. Here is the finished result:
Next time modifications: Use a smaller pan so bars are thicker. Cooking time will change, but the layers will be thicker. One problem was getting each layer even over the whole thing. Smaller surface area would help. Since layers were slightly uneven, the corners were hard. I also think you should wait until the two layers cool before pouring on the chocolate.

Toffee Bars.

Bottom Layer:
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 sugar
1/4 tsp slat
1 cup flour

Toffee Layer:
1 14-ounce can (1 1/4 cup) sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbl butter or margarine
2 tsp vanilla

Fudge Icing: (or sprinkle chocolate chips)
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate (3 Tbl cocoa powder and 1 Tbl cooking oil)
2 Tbl butter or margarine
1 & 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

In a medium mixing bowl beat the 1/2 butter, sugar, and salt. Beat until combined. Stir in flour. Press into bottom of an ungreased pan. (recipe calls for 13x9x2-inch, but I suggest something smaller). Bake in oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or till the edges are lightly browned.

Meanwhile, in a heavy medium saucepan heat the sweetened condensed milk and 2 Tbl butter over medium heat till bubbly, stirring constantly. Cook and stir for 5 minutes more (it will thicken) Stir in 2 tsp vanilla. (Mine went a little chunky, so use a whisk to smooth it out) Spread evenly over baked layer. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

For fudge icing, in a small saucepan, melt chocolate and 2 Tbl butter over low heat stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and 1 Tbl vanilla. Stir in enough hot water (1 to 2 Tbl - BE CAREFUL not to get too much) to make icing easy to pour. (NOT liquidey, just a thin-ish icing) Spread evenly over warm cookie. Cool and cut into bars.

Difficulty: 3 - There are a lot of steps and it takes good timing to make sure things don't burn. Watch everything so you don't over cook. It may take a few times to get this perfected (I know it will for me) so don't try this on company!