Crisp Toffee Pecan Short Breads

  

Mmmm . . .  shortbread cookies  . . .  crisp . . .  buttery . . .  moreishly edible.  Perfect on their own or with a hot cuppa . . .  lovely with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a bowl of berries . . .  delightful any way you choose to enjoy them . . . .

 

Toffee shortbread . . .  crisp and buttery  . . .  created with a mix of flour, butter and dark soft brown sugar  . . .  plus an egg yolk  . . . I love the flavours of toffee and butterscotch don't you?

 

When I was a child my father always had a small tub of butterscotch wafers in his top dresser drawer.  Having him share one with us was a rare and much treasured treat!  

 

We did not get a lot of candy when we were children . . .  Christmas, Easter, Halloween and on special occasions such as Birthdays.  That was it, and we were much healthier for it.

 

Back to the short breads . . .  crisp,  buttery, golden, toffee flavoured and topped with a rich semi sweet chocolate ganache . . .

 

Creamy and rich  . . .  chocolaty  . . .  now add a sprinkle of toasted pecan nuts  . . .

 

Toasting nuts enhances their nuttiness  . . . 

 

This is a brilliant combination . . .  crisp buttery toffee shortbread base . . .  creamy rich decadent chocolate  . . .  crunchy toasty nutty . . .

 

I apologise for my inability to cut anything in a straight line or evenly  . . .  I can draw just about anything . . .

 

but a straight line . . .  I even mess it up when I am using a ruler.  Seriously.  Meh . . .  just one of my charms I guess!

 

These are simple . . . and yet special . . .  all at the same time . . .

 

Incredibly moreish . . . you tell yourself . . .  "I'm only going to have one."   . . .  but then . . .

 

Before you know it, you're nibbling on a second one . . . how did that happen?

  

You need to pick your battles  . . . and this isn't one of them. 

 

Shhh . . .  I won't tell if you don't tell  . . . .

  

Don't be put off if you don't have a fluted edged tart tin. You can also use a 9 inch square pan and cut them into squares . . . a shape by any other name and all that.  Just as tasty.

Crisp Toffee Pecan Short Breads

Yield: Makes 16 servings

Author: Marie Rayner

Crisp buttery wedges of a toffee flavoured shortbread, topped with a semi sweet chocolate ganache and toasted pecans!

ingredients:

For the short breads:

• 8 TBS butter at room temperature
• 100g soft dark brown sugar (1/2 cup packed)
• pinch salt
• 1 large free range egg yolk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla  extract
• 140g plain flour (1 cup)

For the Ganache and topping:

• 145g semi sweet chocolate chips (5 ounces)
• 3 TBS double cream (heavy cream)
• 60g toasted pecans chopped (1/2 cup)

instructions:

How to cook Crisp Toffee Pecan Short Breads

1. Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4.  Butter a 9 1/2 inch fluted tart tin with a removable bottom well.  Set aside.
2. Cream together the butter, salt, and the brown sugar until well blended.  Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla.  Beat in the flour until the dough begins to clump together.   Spoon into the prepared tin and press into it in an even layer using lightly floured hands.  Bake in the preheated oven until dry and golden and the cookie  has begun to shrink a bit from the sides of the pan, 25 to 27 minutes.
3. Remove from the oven. 
4. Put the chocolate chips and cream into a bowl and pop into the microwave.  Cook at 30 second intervals, whisking after each, until the mixture is smooth and creamy.  Pour over the centre of the warm crust and spread to within 1/2 inch of the edges.  Sprinkle with the toasted pecans.
5. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours then cut into 16 wedges to serve.  Serve chilled or at room temperature.
6. Store in an airtight container with wax paper between.

Created using The Recipes Generator

 

These freeze really well.  You can also double the recipe and bake them in a 9 by 15 inch pan, cutting them into about 60 squares when done.  Perfect for showers and teas . . .  and for tiny discreet indulgences.  I mean if you can eat it all in one bite there's no calories, right?  Right.