chocolate shortbread cookies

Rich, rich chocolaty, salty, sweet cookie goodness.  Enjoy!

Mix together the following ingredients to form a dough:

2 sticks butter, softened
1/2 c sugar
2 c flour
1/4 tsp salt


Grease 9 x 13 pan.  Press just a little more than half of the dough into pan to make a thin crust.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  Let cool.


Melt together the following ingredients, stirring while melting:

1 c milk chocolate chips (you'll need a whole bag overall for the recipe)
1 small can sweetened condensed milk


When melted, pour over crust.  Add remainder of chocolate chips from bag and stir into remaining dough.  Push on top of melted chocolate mixture just enough that a little bit of melted chocolate pokes through the top layer of dough here and there.  Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.


*I don't have a photo of these so the image in this post shows the general idea.  :)

salted caramel bars

I got this recipe from my mom, who got it from our friend (and amazing cook) Natalie Harris.  Whenever my mom makes these I get (a little too) excited.  They are so good... and so bad.  But mostly SO GOOD!

Combine the following to form a soft dough:

4 sticks butter, softened
1 c sugar
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
2 tbsp vanilla
4 c flour


When soft dough is formed, put 2/3 of it into a 9 x 13 greased pan.  Press gently into pan.  Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes.  When done let cool for an additional 15 minutes.


Melt together the following ingredients then pour over cooled crust:

1 14oz bag caramels
1/3 c heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla


Drop remaining dough on top.  Sprinkle with coarse salt (1 tbsp).  Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes.