Chocolate Walnut Bars

I had an irresistible craving to have something chocolate today and half a bar of  Twix from the fridge didn't help at all :). I was all prepared to make some brownies when I saw this recipe in my book 'Cakes and Bakes'. These double-decker bars looked so good I just had to make them and they did satisfy my craving....

Ingredients:

For the base:

1/3cup (50gms) walnuts

1/4 heaping cup (55gms) sugar

1cup all-purpose flour, sifted

6tbs cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

For the topping:

2tbs unsalted butter

6tbs water

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup sugar

1tsp vanilla extract

1/4tsp salt

2 eggs, lightly beaten with a fork

icing sugar, for dusting

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180˚C/ 350˚F. Grease the base and sides of an 8" square pan.

Grind the walnuts with 2tbs sugar to a coarse powder.

Combine the powdered walnuts, remaining sugar and flour in a bowl.

Add the cold butter and rub it in using your finger tips or pulse in a food processor till the mixture resembles bread crumbs.

Pat the mixture evenly into the base of the pan. Bake for 25mins.

In the meantime, for the topping, melt the butter with the water. Add the sugar and cocoa and mix well using a balloon whisk. 

Remove from heat and stir in the salt and vanilla extract and cool for 10mins.

Whisk in the eggs until blended.

Pour the mixture over the baked crust. Return to the oven and bake until set, about 20mins.

Place the pan on a wire rack to cool. Once cold cut into bars and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Dust with icing sugar before serving.

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Sending this to 'Let's go Nuts -Walnuts' hosted by Aquadaze.