Nutty Cake Bars With Chocolate Glaze Food

DARK CHOCOLATE NUT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush an 8-by-8-inch dish with 1 teaspoon of the coconut oil and set aside.
• Combine the coconut flakes, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, trail mix and flaxseed and spread into an even layer on a baking sheet. Toast until lightly golden, 10 to 12 minutes, then transfer to a large heatproof bowl. Set aside.
• In a small saucepan, combine the maple syrup, honey and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the temperature on a candy thermometer reads 260 degrees F, about 5 minutes. Immediately pour over the nut mixture and stir to coat. Use a rubber spatula to press the mixture into the prepared dish and let cool until set, about 30 minutes.
• To make the chocolate drizzle, combine the chocolate chips and remaining 1 teaspoon coconut oil in a medium heatproof bowl and place over a small pot of simmering water. Heat, stirring, until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, combine the chocolate and oil and microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring often, until melted and smooth.)
• Drizzle the chocolate over the mixture. When set, cut into bars and serve.

RICH CHOCOLATE CAKE BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Beat in syrup. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in nuts. Pour in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan., Bake at 350° for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. , For glaze, in a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, milk and butter. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Add chips and vanilla; beat with a wooden spoon until smooth. Spread over warm bars. Cool on a wire rack before cutting.

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with foil. To prepare the crust: Process the chocolate wafers in a food processor with the butter, sugar, coffee, and salt until fine. Evenly press the crust into the prepared dish covering the bottom completely. Bake until the crust sets, about 15 minutes.
• 2. Meanwhile, to prepare the filling: Put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl; heat at 75-percent power until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir, and continue to microwave until completely melted, up to 2 minutes more. Alternatively, put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching the water, and stir occasionally until melted and smooth.
• 3. Blend the cream cheese, sugar, and sour cream together in the food processor until smooth. Scrape down the sides as needed. Add the eggs and pulse until just incorporated. With the food processor running, pour the melted chocolate into the wet ingredients and mix until smooth.
• 4. Pour the filling evenly over the crust. Bake until the filling puffs slightly around the edges, but is still a bit wobbly in the center, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool on a rack.
• 5. To prepare the glaze: Put the chocolate, butter, and corn syrup in microwave-safe bowl. Heat the glaze in the microwave at 75-percent power until melted, about 2 minutes. Stir the ingredients together until smooth and add the sour cream. Spread the glaze evenly over the warm cake. Cool completely, then refrigerate overnight. Cut into small bars or squares. Serve chilled or room temperature.
• Store the bars, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

CRUNCHY PEANUT CAKE BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. , Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. , For glaze, in a shallow bowl, mix 3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Place one can of peanuts in another shallow bowl., Cut cake into 20 bars. Coat the top and sides of each piece with glaze, then roll in nuts. Place on wire racks over waxed paper; let dry completely., Make a second batch of glaze with the remaining confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla. Coat cake squares a second time, then roll in remaining nuts. Let dry completely.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT POUND CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. and butter a 10-cup bundt pan or other tube pan.
• In a food processor pulse hazelnuts until finely ground.
• In a double boiler or a bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate, stirring until smooth. Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and cool chocolate slightly.
• In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat butter with 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy and beat in chocolate. Add yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in hazelnuts and flour.
• In another bowl with cleaned beaters beat whites with salt at medium speed until white, opaque, and beginning to hold their shape. Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, beating at high speed until whites hold soft (not stiff), slightly glossy peaks.
• Stir one fourth whites into chocolate mixture to lighten and fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly until no streaks remain.
• Pour batter into pan and smooth top. Bake cake in middle of oven 35 to 45 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Invert cake onto a rack. After 5 minutes remove pan but leave cake on rack until cooled completely. With cake on rack set over a pan (to catch the drips), pour chocolate glaze over cake, allowing it to drip down outside and center.
• While glaze is still wet (to avoid cracking), transfer cake to a platter. When glaze is set, cover cake loosely with plastic wrap or keep under cake dome at room temperature until ready to serve.
• If cake is kept more than 1 day (before or after serving), it should be wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen. Bring cake to room temperature before serving.