cashew butterscotch bars

a rich & sultry dessert from down south.

Browned butter intensifies the buttery flavor of these quick and easy

dessert bars.

1 1/2 cups raw unsalted cashews

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 egg

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 3/4 cups unbleached white flour

syrup ~

3 tbls butter

1/3 cup sugar

2 tbls water

1) preheat oven to 350* and toasted cashews for 7-10 minutes until golden. then chop and toss with 3/4 salt & set aside to cool.

2) in a heavy sauce pan, heat butter on medium heat until it begins to bubble, turn and amber color and leave small brown particles in the bottom of the pan. pull off heat and refrigerate for 10 minutes.

3) beat egg, brown sugar, and vanilla into the cooled butter until creamy. sift remaining 1/4 tsp salt & half of the flour into the mixture, stir well. add the rest of the flour and mix until the dough becomes stiff and forms a ball. Press the dough evenly into a greased & floured 9 X 13 dish and set aside.

4) for the syrup, in a small saucepan heat the butter & sugar on medium-low heat until the mixtures bubbles vigorously and the sugar begins to dissolve. Add the water and stir until most of the sugar has melted and it becomes syrupy. stir in cashews and then take off heat and pour over the top of the pressed dough

bake for 25 - 30 minutes until golden brown and firm. cool, then cut into squares.