Recipe: Marcarpone Chocolate Toffee Bars

Yum! Ghiradelli double chocolate chips Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: We watch a lot of Food Network's Giada at our house and we thought this an awesome recipe!

Mascarpone Chocolate Toffee Bars

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Prep Time: 18 min
Inactive Prep Time: 2 hr 25 min
Cook Time: 30 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 21 bars

Ingredients

Vegetable cooking spray

1 pound refrigerated sugar cookie dough (recommended: Pillsbury)

2 (1.4-ounces) chocolate-toffee candy bars, coarsely chopped, divided (recommended: Skor)

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (recommended: Ghirardelli)

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1 cup (8 ounces) mascarpone cheese, at room temperature

1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted * see Cook's Note

Directions

Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 7 by 10 3/4-inch nonstick baking pan with vegetable cooking spray. Lay a 6 by 18-inch piece of parchment paper in the pan, allowing the excess paper to overhang the sides. Spray the parchment paper lightly with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, combine the cookie dough, 1/2 of the chopped chocolate-toffee candy pieces and vanilla extract. Using damp fingers, gently press the dough into the prepared pan. Using the tines of a fork, prick the dough all over. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes until the crust is lightly browned. Cool for 15 minutes.

Place the chocolate chips and vegetable oil in a medium bowl. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until the chocolate has melted. Cool the chocolate mixture for 10 minutes. Whisk in the mascarpone cheese until the mixture is smooth. Using a spatula, spread the chocolate mixture over the cooled crust. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate-toffee candy pieces and sliced almonds over the chocolate mixture. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until the chocolate layer is firm.

Peel off the parchment paper and cut into 1 1/2 by 2-inch bars. Serve at room temperature.

*Cook's Note: To toast almonds, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly browned.