Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Toffee apple shortbreads

Toffee apple shortbreads

Joao and I went to Sao Paulo’s Mercado Municipal last weekend – the one Anthony Bourdain visited in one episode of “No Reservations”; btw, I’ve read he said some mean things about the city. I hope he never comes back, thank you very much.

Mercado Municipal is a very traditional market, full of lots of types of food and ingredients, but it was my first time there. I went crazy with all the spices, nuts, fruits and veggies, cheese, olives... I got home with several new ingredients to cook and bake with. And an emptier wallet, too. :)

My first choice was some delicious dried apples I’d bought there– they were so good I was glad there was a lot more than the amount called for in the recipe. :)

I found these bars here and used a different pan to make them. Make sure you use a warm knife to slice the bars, so you won't mess up the topping like I did.

Toffee apple shortbreads

Toffee apple shortbreads
from Delicious magazine

Shortbread base:
110g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
40g caster sugar
175g all-purpose flour
10g cornstarch

Filling/topping:
100g dried ready-to-eat apples, finely sliced
450g firm dulce de leche*
200g dark chocolate, chopped and divided

Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF. Grease and line a square 20cm (8in) baking pan, leaving some paper hanging out of the pan on at least two sides (it will make unmolding easier).
To make the shortbread base, cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Sift in the flour and cornstarch and, using a rubber spatula, then your hands, work to a dough. Place in the pan and use your fingertips to roll out flat and into the corners – if you have much too warm hands you might try it with the back of a spoon, lightly dusted with flour.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Set aside to cool.Scatter the apples over the cookie base, spread over the dulce de leche and level out. Chill in the fridge for 1 hour.Melt 150g of the chocolate in a glass bowl over barely simmering water. Remove the bowl from the pan and quickly wipe the water with a kitchen tower – no water should be in contact with the chocolate. Add the remaining 50g of chocolate and beat well to melt it. Pour the melted chocolate over the caramel and apples, then spread evenly. Set aside to cool at room temperature for about 2 hours or until set. Remove from the pan and cut into squares.

* you can warm the dulce de leche into pouring consistency prior to adding it to the cookie base.

Makes 16 squares

35 comments:

Snooky doodle said...

hmm yummy this looks good. It looks like the millionaire shortbread but with added dried apples :) Really interesting

The Food Librarian said...

Yummy and pretty! What a combo of flavors!

Anonymous said...

If it's with chocolate, I can't say no ! Yummy...

Susan @ SGCC said...

Oooh! Those look a lot like the Millionaire's Shortbread that I discovered in Scotland, but without the apples. I could eat the whole batch myself!

Anonymous said...

These bars look incredible! And who doesn't love caramel and chocolate? :)

Anonymous said...

Having just consumed and bought a load of macadamia shortbread and all its variations, I'm ready for a new twist to it. This looks mighty evil, but so very good! Chocolate and caramel and apples -- can't go wrong with those lovely flavors.

Peter M said...

Well Tony Bourdain didn't see these shortcakes, so he snoozes & loses!

Anonymous said...

These remind me of caramel slices, which I just happen to love but I think these would be even better as they've got apple and dulce de leche in them! *drools*

kickpleat said...

oh my goodness! those look amazing! i never have dried apples around, but i may have to pick some up for these.

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

From what I remember of that episode of Bourdain's show, he was drunk for much of the time, so pay no attention to anything unkind he might have said about Sao Paolo. Obviously he didn't taste your cooking!

Anonymous said...

Those look insanely, ridiculously and overwhelmingly delicious. Wow!

Anonymous said...

Those look insanely, ridiculously and overwhelmingly delicious. Wow!

Elle said...

Very British recipe...and very appealing, too. I rarely have dried apples around, but might have to find some to make these.

KJ said...

This looks so interesting. Yum!!

Anonymous said...

I could really sink my teeth into these...wow, what a recipe.

Peabody said...

Oh my, look at all that gooey goodness.

Unknown said...

caramel sounds really delicious!

Emily said...

Oh man, those look amazing!

I used to like Tony Bourdain, but now I don't know...

Gosh, I'm in love with your madeleines and pictures. They're gorgeous! I want to give you a hug.

Anonymous said...

That looks outrageously decadent!

Deborah said...

I am so in love right now!! This is something I'd end up eating all by myself - the whole pan!!

Katie said...

It seemed like he liked it down there while on the show. That market alone made me want to go to San Paulo.

kelly.dee said...

Oh Lordy........those look amazing!

Anonymous said...

Oh my! Patricia, you're a bad influence, and I mean that in a good way.

Alexa said...

This is exactly my type of treat... They look so delicious. Recipegirl had a dulce de leche apple cake posted and now I get to feast on your gorgeous dessert as well. I am spoiled! :-)

Patricia Scarpin said...

Snooky Doodle, I have never tried millionaire shortbread - now I think I have, right? :)
Tks!

Food Librarian, thank you!

Vanille, I have to agree with you, darling. :)

Susan, I did not know about this millionaire's shortbread, really? I'm glad I know now! Tks, darling!

Hannah, only crazy people don't. :)

Joy, now you've got me craving macadamia shortbread! :)

Pete, hahaha, you made me laugh, my friend! :)

Lorraine, the apple adds some fiber , so we'll feel less guilty while having these. :)

Kickpleat, it was my first time making something with dried apples, too.

Lydia, I read he had 14 caipirinhas... I wonder how he did not end up at the hospital. :)

Julie, thank you!

Elle, I think I'll be making more recipes with dried apples, not to mention they are a wonderful snack.

KJ, thank you, sweetie!

Cathy, and there's minimal baking involved!

Pea, I can't have dulce de leche around the house - too dangerous. :)

Arfi, thank you!

Emiline, you are just adorable, my dear friend. I want to give you a huge hug back. ;)

Candace, thank you!

Deb, I know! This stuff is dangerous! :D

Katie, he had 14 caipirinhas, he couldn't possibly have seen anything correctly. :)

Kelly.Dee, thank you for stopping by!

Marysol, hahaha, you are too, my dear. :)

Alexa, the more dulce de leche, the better! :)

Nic said...

Very unusual and delicious - perfect for Fall.

Anonymous said...

The apple is a great idea to add to these toffee shortbreads. Looks delicious!

LyB said...

I think the topping looks great all broken up. You have to break it when you bite into it, right? You know me and caramel, these are right up my alley!

Anonymous said...

Those look incredible! I'm drooling now!

Anonymous said...

i'm a big fan of these slices! have never made em because Waitrose does some amazing ones too. Definitely not a reason, lol. But with this recipe, I might be sorted now. :) x

thecoffeesnob said...

Ooh. You're killing me, Pat! It's almost midnight on my side of the world but i sure could do with a slice (or two) of those right now.

Anonymous said...

these look sooo good. i bet i could eat them in mass amounts. YUM!

Jaime said...

woah... those are my favorite flavors... caramel and apples! those remind of the TWD snickery squares, but yours look better!

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Every layer of these cookies is making me salivate!

Sarah said...

What a beautiful combination of flavors!

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