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That name is a mouthful, isn’t it? So are these shortbread bars: they’re gooey, rich, and full of chocolate, toffee, and almonds!
How much screen time do you allow your kids? I’m asking for a friend. (Kidding, I’m asking for me, because my babysitter is a Chromebook.)
Personally I don’t think it matters how much screen time Jordan is getting as long as she’s also doing her homework, getting exercise, and being a well-rounded good and respectful person. Kids work hard these days – a long day at school followed by homework, reading, sports, activities…it’s no wonder when they just sit to unwind they want to watch TV instead of playing dolls.
(I know that’s what I do after a long day – not even a book relaxes me after working. It’s gotta be mindless TV!)
As we head into summer I’m starting to work on an electronics plan: how to work a full day and not have her spend 8 hours on Google Drive.
(Although I must say, she’s better at Drive than I am. She creates slideshows on her favorite topics like a pro and she can draw lifelike images on Google Draw. In about 3 years I’m hiring her as my social media manager. Tick tock.)
This topic really has nothing to do with these Chocolate Toffee Almond Shortbread Bars except that Jordan watched me work on the internet so that I could post them. Total stretch, but whatever.
These bars are one of my favorite recipes. A thick shortbread crust filled with a gooey filling of toffee, chocolate, and chopped almonds. That’s what dreams are made of, don’t you agree?
I normally only make these bars at the holidays but then I thought…that’s kind of dumb. Why make something good only once a year? (Snowballs, anyone?) This recipe, in fact, is one of the only repeat recipes; that is one of the only ones I repeat year after year!
The base of the bars is a thick, buttery shortbread. When you’re mixing the dough you’re going to think it’s too wet. Don’t worry, it comes together in the end. The result is a super tender, thick, and delicious cookie crust.
One of the things that makes the crust special is that you not only incorporate almonds into the topping, but into the base as well. I always used to use basic raw almonds, but no more. Now I’m forever going to use Sea Salt and Dark Chocolate Almonds in my gooey shortbread bars. You guys. THESE ALMONDS!
By now you know how much I adore Blue Diamond. The company is local to me, here in Sacramento. In fact, California produces about 80% of the world’s almonds, did you know that? Many of them are grown right here in the central valley.
This month I got to try the Sea Salt and Dark Chocolate Blue Diamond Almonds. They’re oven roasted and they taste so good, just by themselves. We eat a lot of almonds in our house; they’re a great afternoon snack that Mel and I both enjoy. I’ve tried lots of brands of salted roasted almonds (regular and chocolate) and I gotta say, these oven roasted ones are the best and most flavorful.
It was only natural that I decided to try them in my favorite almond dessert, these toffee shortbread bars.
Once you pre-bake your shortbread crust for 15 minutes, you pour a gooey topping over the top. The gooey comes from sweetened condensed milk that’s mixed with an egg (so the bars “set” more than they would when you’re making a magic bar) and a hefty dose of chocolate, toffee bits, and even more chopped almonds.
The result? Soft, chewy, gooey, and crunchy. It’s a party going on!
I dare you to eat just one. Go on, try.
That is, if you don’t eat all the almonds before you get them in the bars! 🙂
Chocolate Toffee Almond Shortbread Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 3/4 cup chopped Blue Diamond almonds divided
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 can 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup toffee bits
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line a 9x13” pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place butter, flour, salt and powdered sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or use a hand mixer). Mix until smooth. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped almonds. The mixture will be wet to the touch.
- Place shortbread in the prepared pan. Spray your hands with cooking spray and press to a thin layer in the pan. Bake shortbread layer for 15 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, stir together sweetened condensed milk, egg, and vanilla. Stir in toffee bits, chocolate chips, and remaining 1/2 cup chopped almonds. After 15 minutes of baking, pour the milk mixture carefully over the hot crust. Continue baking for about 18 minutes until the sides start to look golden brown.
- Cool completely before cutting into bars. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to one month.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Gooey Bars
Almond White Chocolate Magic Bars
Sweets from friends:
Coconut Almond Sheet Cake by The Food Charlatan
Almond Coconut Chocolate Donuts by Lemons for Lulu
No Bake Butterscotch Bars (with Oreos and Almonds!) by Very Culinary
This post was sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds. All opinions are 100% my own.
I was going to try these, until I got distracted by that gorgeous photo of the chocolate chip cookie gooey bars – yum! I restrict my kid’s screen time to an hour a day on weekdays (hour of computer plus one hour or so of TV on weekends); now I just have to reign in my own screen time! It helps that the RHNJ aren’t on TV anymore, due to Theresa’s prison time!
Right, I’m the worst. But, a lot of it is work and kids can’t tell the difference! (And lol, I love that show!)
These look amazing! Yesterday I was watching a Barefoot Contessa episode and she made a pecan shortbread and the crust started with 5 sticks of butter. Then she used 4 sticks for the pecan/caramel filling. And it only made 1 sheetpan. LOL Now seeing yours, I’m craving shortbread!
Screentime. I wish I knew the answer to screentime. Right now I go with the unlimited route and threaten to take away all devices in one fell swoop if she doesn’t get her schoolwork done. So far, the approach is working since she’s terrified of losing them. Bribery still works 🙂
Wow, 9 sticks of butter in ONE recipe? Holy cow! And bribery, yes. It’s my BFF at this point!
I don’t know what I would do some days if I didn’t let my kids play a few computer games or watch a little tv! Go nuts I’m sure, wait I already am, darn. These bars though look really really good! I’m a sucker for anything shortbread. It’s just so addicting!
Thanks Malinda!
I’m 24 now, so a lot has changed in the world of technology since I was in elementary and middle school. I do remember being on the computer because I adored The Sims and Rollercoaster Tycoon. I also totally nerded out by writing on a fantasy role playing website. Haha. I swear it helped me with my creative writing. Anyways, I also loved to go swimming, read, and go to museums as a kid. As long as Jordan is getting all of that balance, it’s okay for her to have some downtime. 🙂 These bars…holy mama jama. They look amazing. 😀
Yeah, I totally think it does help with creativity! Most of the time Jordan’s “coloring” but it’s online!
First things first: Yes, I’ll take the whole batch of these bars, thank you!
And secondly: Screen time for kids scares me. Screen time for myself scares me! I spend way too much time in front of a computer/iPhone/iPad and I don’t want my daughter to pick up on the habit. So I’ve started reducing my screen time (at least internet… We all need mindless TV in the evenings!) as much as possible to prevent her from saying “but mommy, YOU…” in the future. I don’t think it’s good to let kids hang around screens as much as they want but I also don’t think it’s good to forbid them stuff. It’s a balance thing, I guess?
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