Let’s keep this one short and to the point: If you like bread and/or chocolate, together or separately, this is a recipe you should take for a spin. Crunchy croutons take the place of bland wafer cookies in this classic no-bake bar cookie. Accented with chocolate and hazelnuts, the whole mixture is bound with a dark, toasty caramel. Finally, a touch of salt and pepper sets this unique treat apart.
Ingredients:
- 8 Ounces Fresh Baguette, Diced into Very Small Cubes (1/4 – 1/2 inch)
- 3 Tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 1/2 Cup Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder
- 1 Tablespoon Flaxseeds, Finely Ground
- 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
- 1 Cup Toasted Hazelnuts
- 1/4 Cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
- 1/2 Cup Coconut Oil, Melted
- 1 Cup Turbinado Sugar
- 5 Ounces Semi-Sweet Chocolate, Melted
- 1/2 Teaspoon Coconut Oil
- Flaky Sea Salt, Optional
Method:
1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and have a baking sheet at the ready.
2. Slice the baguette into very small cubes, between 1/4 – 1/2 inch, as long as they’re equally to ensure that they'll bake evenly. Toss the pieces with the olive oil, salt, and pepper until full coated, and then spread the bread out in one even layer on your waiting baking sheet. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes, rotating the sheet halfway through, until golden brown all over. Let cool completely.
3. While the oven is still hot, place the hazelnuts in a small baking dish and slide them into the oven for 5 – 10, until lightly toasted and aromatic. Let them cool for about 5 minutes before rubbing them in a kitchen towel to remove the papery skins.
4. Measure out 3 cups of croutons and set them aside. Place the rest of them in your food processor along with the cocoa powder, ground flaxseeds, and cornstarch, and pulse until coarsely ground. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl along with the reserved whole croutons, skinned hazelnuts, and shredded coconut, stirring lightly to combine. Set aside.
5. Line an 8 x 8-inch baking dish with foil and lightly grease.
6. Combine the melted coconut oil and sugar in a medium saucepan over moderate heat on the stove. Resist the urge to stir again once the sugar has dissolved, swirling the pan gently instead to mix the contents. Bring to a boil and let cook until the sugar caramelizes and turns a deep amber color. Quickly pour the hot caramel into the bowl of dry ingredients, stir thoroughly to incorporate, and transfer the whole thing into your prepared pan, spreading it out into as flat a layer as possible.
7. Finally, mix together the chocolate and 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil in a small pitcher, and pour it all over the top of the bars while they’re still warm. Use a spatula to smooth it over and distribute it evenly across the whole pan. Sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt if desired.
8. Let cool until the chocolate has set. Slice into bars and store in an air-tight container at room temperature.
Makes 12 – 16 Bars
This article was originally published on www.bittersweetblog.com. Read the original here.
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