The fourth week theme for I Heart Cooking Clubs, featuring chef Giada De Laurentiis, was Chocolate Cravings, so I chose Giada's Espresso Caramel Bars recipe from Giada At Home cookbook, pages 181-182. You can also find the recipe here.
Those who have been cooking/baking with me awhile know by now that chocolate is not my favorite ingredient by a long shot. It is, however, a favorite ingredient around here with the guys, so I am always happy to try something new along those lines that I think they might enjoy. They are coffee drinkers as well, so combining the flavors of coffee and chocolate with a well-loved ingredient like caramel, seemed like just the sort of treat they would enjoy. They did indeed.
It went together quickly, although there were three separate components to make, the chocolate topping, the caramel middle (I absolutely love making homemade caramel), and the cookie-like crust. Apparently, it was delicious and I will definitely be making this one again.
The next week's theme was Out of Italy, come join in, just leave your link at the I Heart Cooking Clubs site.