Cranberry Turtle Bars
Base
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup cold unsalted butter
Topping
1 cup unsalted butter
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups chopped, toasted pecans
Decoration
2 oz bittersweet chocolate
To make base, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 15 x 10 inch shallow baking pan (one inch deep) with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the 2 short sides. Butter all 4 sides (but not bottom). Blend flour, brown sugar, and salt in a food processor, then add butter and pulse until mixture begins to form small (roughly pea-size) lumps. Sprinkle into baking pan, then press down firmly all over with a metal spatula to form an even layer. Bake in middle of oven until golden and firm to the touch, 15 to 17 minutes, then cool in pan on a rack. To make topping, melt butter in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat and stir in sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Boil over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until caramel registers 245 degrees F on thermometer, about 8 minutes. Carefully stir in cranberries, boil until caramel returns to 245 degrees. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, then stir in pecans until well coated. Working quickly, spread caramel topping over base, using a fork to distribute nuts and berries evenly. (Tip: Don’t overcook caramel as it gets very brittle.) Cool completely. To decorate, melt chocolate in top of a double boiler and drizzle over bars. Makes 3 dozen bars.
Turtle Cookies
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons hot water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 cup chopped Skor bar pieces
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, nuts, and heath bar pieces. Drop by large spoonfuls onto sprayed or lined pans. Sprinkle with any leftover nuts. Bake for about 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned.