Caramel almond squares

Our friends Brett and Sarah recently had a baby and I was busting to meet her. My immune system, however, had other ideas and decided to deal me a large helping of Evil Flu.

So several weeks later and we were just about to meet this precious little bundle … then their older daughter was unwell.

Another week ticks by, then Miss7 develops pneumonia… Am I ever going to meet this baby?!

I am super doper baby crazy, even though that shop is shut. Even Miss7 remarks on how I always gasp and place my hand on my heart automatically when I see a tiny baby – something I didn’t know I did, until she pointed it out.

Segue to a treat I could take to meet the baby that was portable and easy to eat. When I saw Margaret Fulton’s recipe for pecan caramel slice I was sold. I used sliced almonds as a recent trip to Costco saw me buy a half kilo bag of the things #impulsePurchase.

In the end the Hungry Dad took these caramel almond squares to his office where they were apparently devoured in no time.

And I still am yet to meet this baby.

GATHER:

1 cup plain flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

90 grams butter, at room temperature, diced

1 egg

1 cup flaked almonds

Caramel:

60 grams butter, diced

1/3 cup golden syrup

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons self-raising flour

LET’S GET TO IT:

Preheat oven to 180C and grease and line a shallow rectangular baking tray, roughly 25cm x 19cm.

In bowl of food processor blitz together flour, baking powder and butter until it looks like coarse breadcrumbs. Add egg and blend until just combined into dough – this will take seconds.

Press dough into tray – it will seem that there isn’t enough dough but there is – until even. Use the bottom of a drinking glass to help distribute dough evenly.

Bake for 15 minutes, remove from oven, then scatter over the almonds.

In the meantime melt butter for caramel in a medium saucepan over low heat until melted.

Remove from heat and stir in golden syrup, sugar and flour until combined, then pour over the nut-covered base.

Bake for another 15 minutes, then allow to cool completely before cutting into squares.

Tags: afternoon tea, almond, baking, bars, caramel, cooking, dessert, food, nuts, recipe, slice, squares, sweet