Magical Microwave Chocolate-Nut Shortbread Bars--Fab Treats Fast!
Author: Nancy Baggett
Prep time: 3 mins
Cook time: 6 mins
Total time: 9 mins
Due to a breakthrough here at last are microwave baked sweet treats that really deliver on the usual "fast and fab" promise. My "magical" chocolate-nut shortbread bars are deeply chocolaty-nutty, and have a pleasing shortbread texture and taste.
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons chopped roasted, salted cashews or pistachios, or chopped roasted and hulled hazelnuts
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose unbleached white flour
  • 2 teaspoons clover honey
  • ¼ cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate morsels
Instructions
  1. Spread the nuts on a paper plate and microwave on high power 30 seconds. Set aside.
  2. In a 1-quart microwave-safe bowl combine the butter and flour, covered with a paper plate, and microwave on high power for 45 seconds. Using a fork, stir well, then mash out the lumps until the dough is the consistency of fine crumbs. Re-cover and microwave for 1½ minutes. Stir well, then re-cover and repeat microwaving on high power 1 minute more.
  3. Stir the honey, chocolate morsels, and half the nuts into the flour mixture, scraping it away from the bowl sides and mixing until thoroughly incorporated; let cool briefly.
  4. Turn out the dough onto a sheet of baking parchment. Using the fork push and press the dough into a 3- by 4-inch evenly-thick rectangle. Sprinkle the remaining nuts evenly over the dough, pressing them down firmly to embed.
  5. With a large knife cut the dough rectangle on the 4-inch side into 2 or 3 equal bars. If desired, trim away uneven edges all around and discard them. Using a spatula space the bars 2 inches apart on the parchment. Slide it onto the paper plate. Microwave, uncovered, on 50 percent power for 1 minute. Then continue microwaving on 50 percent power, stopping and checking at 20 second intervals until the tops look melted and slightly bubbly but not burned; they burn quickly so watch carefully. Let cool at least until firmed up and barely warm, or better yet fully cooled, then serve.
Recipe by KitchenLane at https://kitchenlane.com/2018/04/magical-microwave-chocolate-shortbread-bars-rich-decadent-quick-shorbread-bars.html