Thu, 30 November 2017
Rachel Allen is in the AM kitchen to treat us with these delicious Salted Caramel & Peanut Bars
Ingredients:
100g (3½oz) butter, plus extra for greasing
250g (9oz) digestive biscuits 100g (3½oz) soft light
Brown sugar
250g (9oz) crunchy or smooth peanut butter
200g (7oz) dark chocolate (55–62% cocoa solids), roughly chopped
150g (5½oz) tinned caramel, or boiled condensed milk (see tip)
30g (1¼oz) salted peanuts a pinch of sea salt flakes
20cm (8in) square cake tin
Method:
1. Grease the base and sides of the tin and line with baking parchment. Put the butter in a small saucepan over a medium-low heat until melted. Put the digestive biscuits in a food processor and add the sugar. Pulse until the biscuits are reduced to fine crumbs. (Alternatively, put the biscuits in a plastic bag, tie the top and crush them with a rolling pin. Tip into a bowl and add the sugar.)
2. Add the melted butter and the peanut butter to the crushed biscuits and blend with the food processor, or mix with an electric beater, until they come together. Scrape down the sides of the food processor or bowl and mix again for a few seconds. Tip the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth it out using the back of the spoon. Put in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill.
3. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, making sure the base of the bowl doesn’t touch the water, and stirring regularly for a glossy finish. Pour the melted chocolate over the biscuit base in the tin.
4. Use a teaspoon to spoon the caramel over the chocolate topping in blobs, then scatter with the salted peanuts. Using a knife, or the handle of a teaspoon, swirl the mixture well to create a ripple effect, then scatter with a pinch of sea salt flakes. Return the mixture to the fridge for 30 minutes to chill and set, then lift it out of the tin and cut into 18 bars to serve.
Tip: If you are unable to buy tinned caramel, you can buy condensed milk and boil it in the tin, unopened, in a saucepan of water for 3 hours. Make sure that you leave it to cool in the tin before opening. I often boil a few at a time and keep them for another time, as they will keep for a year, or even more!
