Turkish Delight Bars - cooking recipe

Ingredients

12 tbsp (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 2/3 cups flour
1/3 cup self-rising flour
None None FOR THE TOPPING
1 tbsp unflavored gelatin
1 2/3 cups sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
2 tbsp rosewater
None None Red food color
2 tbsp powdered sugar

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350\u00b0F. Grease and line a 12 x 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, extending paper above long sides for handles.
Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer until combined. Stir in sifted flours. Press mixture evenly into bottom of prepared pan. Use a fork to rough the surface. Bake for 20 mins. Cool.
For the topping, sprinkle gelatin over 2 tbsp water in small heatproof bowl. Stand bowl in small saucepan of simmering water; stir until gelatin dissolves.
Stir 1/4 cup water and sugar in medium saucepan on low heat, without boiling, until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil. Boil, uncovered, without stirring, until temperature reaches 241\u00b0F on a candy thermometer. Reduce heat to low; simmer, uncovered, for 5 mins, without stirring, adjusting heat to maintain temperature at 241\u00b0F. Remove from heat.
Mix cornstarch with 1 tbsp water, gelatin mixture, rosewater and a few drops of food color until smooth; stir into sugar syrup. Return to heat; simmer, stirring, for 3 mins or until mixture is opaque. Strain mixture over layer in pan, skimming surface as needed. Let stand for 3 hours or overnight at room temperature. Serve dusted with sifted powdered sugar.