Crispy Crunchy Bars Food

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CRISPY BARS

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch square baking dish with a strip of parchment paper, cut to fit neatly across the base and up opposite sides. In a large mixing bowl, combine the brown rice crisps and 1 cup of the chopped pecans (reserve the rest for sprinkling on top). Set both aside.
• In a medium saucepan, combine the peanut butter and honey. Warm the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring often, until it's steaming or you catch a bubble or two forming on the bottom, about 5 minutes. (We don't want this mixture to come to a boil or the peanut butter could scorch.)
• Pour the warm mixture into the bowl of rice crisps. Using a rubber or silicone spatula, stir until the mixture is completely combined. Transfer it all to the lined baking dish. Press down with the spatula to spread it fairly evenly, then switch to a large, sturdy glass with a flat bottom (maybe a working jar or mason jar or what-have-you) and press down firmly all over, including the corners. You really want to pack it down (it's ok if you hear some crunching noises). Lastly, use your hands to ensure that it's evenly compacted.
• Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments, stirring after each one. Don't overdo it. The chocolate is done when it's about 90% melted-keep stirring off the heat and the pieces should completely dissolve. (Alternately, you can use melt it in a heat-proof bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water.)
• Pour the melted chocolate over the peanut butter-crispy mixture. Use a clean spatula to spread it evenly all over. Make some pretty chocolate swooshes if you'd like. Sprinkle the remaining pecans on top, followed by the salt.
• Place the baking dish in the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours, or up to a day. To slice, carefully grab both sides of the parchment paper and lift it out of the baking dish. Use a sharp chef's knife to make 4 even columns and 4 even rows-to minimize the risk of cracking the chocolate, carefully apply even pressure from above the knife to press straight down, rather than sawing from one edge across.
• These bars will keep well at room temperature for up to 1 week, or for several months in the freezer. Store in an air-tight container either way.

THE BEST HOMEMADE CRUNCH BARS

Steps:

• Line an 8 x 8-inch baking dish or deep baking tray of choice with parchment paper and set aside.
• Add crispy rice cereal into a large mixing bowl and set aside. In a microwave safe bowl or stovetop, combine all your other ingredients and heat until melted. Remove from microwave/off stove and whisk until completely incorporated.
• Pour the chocolate/peanut butter mixture over the crispy rice cereal and mix until combined. Pour into the lined baking dish and refrigerate until firm (at least an hour).
• Remove and cut into bars.

CRUNCHY GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• To toast oats spread them on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350F for 10-15 minutes or until just golden.
• Mix all ingredients.
• Firmly press into a cookie sheet or jellyroll pan lined with grease parchment paper.
• Bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes.
• Cool completely and cut.

CRUNCHY PECAN BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275°F (135°C). Butter a 15 x 10 jelly-roll pan.
• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add egg yolk and vanilla; mix well.
• In a medium-size bowl, mix flour and cinnamon.
• Sfir flour mixture into creamed mixture, using hands to mix stiff dough, if necessary.
• Spread evenly in buttered jelly-roll pan.
• In a small bowl, beat egg white just until well mixed; spread over dough.
• Sprinkle pecans evenly over top, then sprinkie lightly with sugar.
• Bake in preheated oven about 1 hour or until set. Cut in 2 x 1" bars or diamond shapes while still very warm.
• Remove cookies from baking sheet to wire racks and cool.
• Cookies become crisp as they cool.

CRISPY-CRUNCHY BARS

Steps:

• Melt 3 tablespoons butter, 10 ounces marshmallows and 1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter) in a large saucepan over low heat. Stir in 4 cups crisp brown cereal, 1 cup granola and 1 cup chopped almonds. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Press into a buttered 9-inch square pan; let cool, then cut into bars.
• Copyright (c)2011 Food Network Magazine, LLC. Published by Hyperion. Available wherever books are sold. All Rights Reserved. Photograph courtesy of Antonis Achilleos.

CRUNCHY PART OF A CADBURY'S CRUNCHIE BAR

Steps:

• Grease an 8 inch square pan with butter.
• Off the heat (that means on the counter), mix the sugar and the syrup in a heavy-bottomed saucepan (use a pretty big saucepan, you'll thank me later).
• Now put the pan over a medium to low heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes (Nigella bases this on using an 8-inch diameter saucepan).
• The mixture is ready to come off the heat when it's a thick, bubbling bunch of gook, the color of light sand and no darker -- don't let it get any darker than that, or you'll end up with burnt and smelly sugar goop!
• Take the stuff off the heat and quickly whisk in the baking soda.
• Watch the caramel foam up like something out of a sci-fi film (this is the part where you thank me for telling you to use a large pot).
• Pour the foamy stuff into the pan and leave it to set.
• This will take several hours.
• Be patient.
• You can try and cut it into squares, but it will be a fruitless task.
• Best bet is to just bash it into a bunch of different shaped pieces.
• This is good frustration therapy.
• You can dip the pieces into melted chocolate to make your own Cadbury's Crunchy bars, or you could fold splinters of this into either homemade or bought vanilla icecream for honeycomb ice cream.