Caramel Nutella Crumb Bars

 

Nutella.  Caramel.  Tender crust with a crumbly topping.  Have I got your attention?  How about putting all THREE of these together to make one lovely decadent bar?  I say YES! AND completely brrrrrrilliant.  That's what you get when you stop over at the Fearless Homemaker's blog by the adorable, Amy.  You can find amazing recipes such as these Caramel Nutella Crumb Bars that feed your visual taste buds to the highest degree in such a strong way that you have no choice but to grab your apron and dive into your kitchen to whip up such a treat.

 

I have already been a faithful "stalker" to Amy's blog now for quite a while as I discovered her blog through the Secret Recipe Club.  This month I had the complete honor of being assigned to her blog for February's Secret Recipe Club to actually pick a recipe and make it to share with all of you.  What fun!  I wanted to make every single bar, cake, soup and bread recipe on the Fearless Homemaker!  Unfortunately, between working full time, raising two young kiddos and having laundry that really needed to be done I could only make one recipe.  My sweet tooth won over (yet again) and I choose to make the Caramel Nutella Crumb Bars.   Sweet, sweet HEAVEN in a bar I am telling you.  Simple ingredients, quick assembly and delicious outcome.  What could be better?  Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  So grab your butter, your Nutella and a can of sweetened condensed milk and mix up a batch of these bars ASAP.  It will be well worth it.  And then cruise on over to visit Amy at the Fearless Homemaker to say hi and grab a few more recipes from her fabulous, treasure of a blog!

 

 

 

 

Caramel Nutella Crumb Bars

(recipe from the Fearless Homemaker)

 

Crust and Topping Ingredients -

 

2 Sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups flour

 

Filling Ingredients -

 

4 Tablespoons unsalted butter

1 Tablespoon light corn syrup

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1 14oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup Nutella

 

Directions -

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.

 

2. Cream together 2 sticks of butter,  granulated sugar and salt until light and fluffy. Add in vanilla extract.  Slowly add in 2 1/4 cups flour until dough is smooth and flour is fully incorporated. 

 

3. Press 3/4 dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.  Place into refrigerator while you make the filling and crumb topping of the bars.

 

4.  Add the remaining  1/4 cup of flour to the dough.  The dough will become crumbly and coarse.  Be careful not to over mix the dough at this point. Set crumble topping aside.

 

5. Spread 1/2 cup nutella evenly over chilled crust.  If need be heat nutella slightly to allow for easier spreading.

 

6. To make the filling use a medium size saucepan to combine 4 Tbsp butter, corn syrup, brown sugar and sweetened condensed milk.  Heat saucepan over medium-low heat, whisking occasionally until mixture comes to a simmer.  Now bring mixture to a boil and  whisk constantly for about 10 minutes so that it thickens in texture and darkens in color.  Remove from heat once you have a darkened and thickened sauce and cool for about 6-10 minutes.  Pour caramel sauce over nutella layer and then sprinkle crumble topping over the caramel layer.

 

7.  Bake for 30 minutes or until the filling is a dark caramel color and bubbling lightly.  Cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before cutting into squares.  Share and enjoy! :-)

 

Happy Caramel Nutella Crumb Bars Baking!

 

 



An InLinkz Link-up

Caramel Swirled Apple-Pear Bread (Week #3 of 12 Weeks of Holiday Treats)

 

 

Confession.  I baked this bread twice in a 12 hour period of time.  Not once but twice I say. Yes, this quick bread which is packed with chunks of apples and pears, oozing with cinnamon happiness and swirled with a rich loveliness of caramel sauce is NO joke.  I promise you that once you make it once you will then make it twice within a day.  Bake one loaf for yourself and one to give away.  EASY!   Even better, bake a couple as holiday gifts!! This bread would absolutely perfect wrapped up in a pretty package and handed off to friends and family for the holidays.   They will all love and thank you for it over and over again -  I can promise you that.  So put your apron on and get out your apples and pears!  It's time to make a lovely quick bread.

 

 

 

Thus I present to you my #3 entry for the 12 Weeks of Holiday Treats. I can't thank Brenda from Meal Planning Magic for all the hard work and dedication she has put towards making this 12 week party happen.  Hugs of gratitude to sent to you dearest Brenda!
 

 

 

 Feel free to make this bread with just apples as the original recipe only used apples.  Also feel free to use store bought caramel sauce (simplicity is crucial during the holidays!) or you can use the recipe I posted last week for Homemade Caramel Sauce - it's super yummy and very easy to make. The original recipe also called for pouring caramel sauce over the top of the bread when baked and cooled.  Such a good idea!  I did not do so for either of my breads but I promised myself that the next time I make this recipe I will. 

 

 

Caramel Swirled Apple-Pear Bread

(recipe altered slightly from one of my all time favorite blogs - Bakingdom)

 

Ingredients:

 

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 medium apples - peeled, cored and cut into small chunks (shredded is fine too)

1 medium pear - peeled, cored and cut into small chunks (shredded if you prefer)

1/4 - 1/2 cup caramel sauce - homemade or store bought

 

Directions:

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 9x5 loaf pan and set aside.

 

2. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves. Set dry mixture aside.

 

3. Beat butter and sugars together until light and fluffy.  Add in eggs one at a time - mix well inbetween each one.  Add in 1/3 of flour mixture, mix to combine and continue with remaining 2/3's flour mixture.  Do not over beat as that will create a "tough" bread.

 

4.  Gently stir in prepared fruit.

 

5.  Pour 1/2 of bread batter into prepared pan and then pour caramel sauce over batter. Finish by topping with remaining bread batter.



 

6. Bake for 50-60 minutes.  Rotating pan half way through.  A toothpick inserted in center should come out with only a few crumbs stuck to it when bread is done. Cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing and enjoying.  Don't forget, you can always drizzle some caramel sauce over the top of your bread before slicing...it sure looks good that way!

 

 

 



 Happy Caramel Swirl Apple-Pear Bread Baking!