Chocolate-Caramel Chews - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Cookie Base
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
3/4 cup butter
1 3/4 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Caramel Topping
1 1/3 cups packed brown sugar
3/4 cup whipping cream
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup butter
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts, toasted (pecans can also be used)
Bittersweet Chocolate Glaze
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350\u00b0F Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
Cookie Base: In a heavy, medium saucepan over low heat, warm chocolate and butter, stirring often, just until melted and smooth. Do not heat mixture any more than necessary. Remove from heat. Add brown sugar and salt; beat by hand until smooth. Stir in vanilla and eggs. Add flour 1/2 cup at a time, blending well after each addition. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on rack 1 hour.
Caramel Topping: In a heavy, medium saucepan, combine all ingredients except vanilla. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture reaches 230\u00b0F on a candy thermometer or forms a 2-inch wide thread when dropped from a spoon (should take about 25 minutes). Immediately remove from heat; stir in vanilla and nuts. Spread hot caramel evenly over cookie base. Let stand until cool.
Chocolate Glaze: In a small saucepan, combine chocolate and cream. Warm over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Drizzle over caramel in a lacy pattern. Or pour melted chocolate into a pastry bag and pipe over caramel.
Let chocolate set before cutting into 54 (about 1x2-inch) bars, cutting 9 strips one way and 6 strips the other way. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 10 days or freeze for longer storage.