Visions of sugarplums – or at least sugar, dance in our heads, with dieting on hold for a New Year’s resolution. We box these easy cookies with a pretty bow for the perfect gift for a hostess, a teacher, a senior pal, neighbors and kids. (Quick, give them away so you won’t be tempted.)
While baking can be a zen experience, the divas prefer not to turn on the oven during the hectic holidays. This quickie leaves time for family and friends – but wows the lucky recipient. An addictive combo of butter, chocolate and rich, salted nuts on a platform of sweet graham cracker, the cookies are ready to wrap in less than an hour.
Wishing you happy holidays!
Divas’ Decadent No-Bakes
Makes 48 bars
14 double graham crackers
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup butter
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups deluxe salted nuts
Line a 15 X 10 X 1-inch jelly roll pan with graham crackers; set aside.
Combine sugar and butter in a 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture come to a full boil, 3 to 5 minutes. Boil stirring constantly, for 5 minutes.
Immediately pour mixture over graham crackers. Spread to coat; sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let stand 1 minute, then spread chocolate chips.
Immediately sprinkle with salted nuts, lightly pressing into chocolate. Cool (in the fridge works fastest) and break into pieces.
Diva confession: Never let ‘em see you sweat. If you make a mistake in the kitchen, especially with company during the busy holidays, put a smile on your face and go on with the dinner show. Lumpy gravy? Pour it through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the solids. Cake sticks to the pan? Cut it into cubes and turn it into a trifle with layers of cake, pudding, jam and whipped cream. Veggies overcooked? Purée them with some herbs and a bit of butter or olive oil and serve as a side dish. Or add stock and a bit of cream for an impromptu first-course soup. Be creative!
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