Sunday, March 24, 2013

Cream Puff Squares


Cream Puff Squares

Crust:
3/4 cup water 
6 tablespoons butter or margarine 
3/4 cup all-purpose flour 
3 eggs

Filling and Topping:
2 cups cold milk 
2 (3.4 ounce) packages vanilla instant pudding 
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 oz milk chocolate chips

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

For crust, heat water and butter in saucepan over medium high heat until butter is melted and mixture comes to a boil. Stir in flour all at once using bamboo spoon. Reduce heat to low and stir mixture vigorously about 1 minute or until mixture leaves sides of pan and forms a ball. Remove pan from heat; let stand 5 minutes.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until mixture is smooth. Spread mixture over bottom of rectangular baker using large spreader. Bake 20 minutes. Surface will puff unevenly. Prick 10 to 12 times with hold n slice to release steam. Continue baking 5 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Cool completely.

For filling, pour milk into bowl. Add pudding mixes; whisk two minutes until thickened. Fold in two cups of the whipped topping. Spread mixture evenly over cooled crust. Refrigerate one hour.

For topping, place chocolate in a small bowl and microwave until melted.  I would heat it in 15 second increments, mixing every 15 secs. Pour chocolate into small resealable plastic bag. Close bag. Cut dessert into 15 squares. Cut off very tip of one corner of the plastic bag with kitchen shears. Garnish with a drizzle of chocolate. Refrigerate until ready to serve or serve right away. 

This is adapted from a Pampered Chef recipe!

Oh so yummy....Carmelitas!

Carmelitas

32 caramel squares, unwrapped
1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Combine caramels and cream in a small saucepan over low heat. (If you want to make your own caramel sauce, you will need 1-1/4 cups of sauce to take the place of the caramel/cream mixture) Stir until completely smooth; set aside. In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, and baking soda. Pat half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of an 8x8" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Pour caramel mixture over chocolate chips. Crumble remaining oatmeal mixture over caramel. Return to oven and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting.

I would recommend making these the night before you need them.  It takes awhile for the caramel to set and cool down!  You will want to serve these at room temperature!  This recipe is great for doubling to a 9x13 pan.  But BEWARE...they are so good, unless you have somewhere to go, I don't recommend having that much of a temptation in your home!