Coconut Macadamia Nut Triangles

Coconut Macadamia Nut Triangles puts plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, firmly packed light brown sugar and salt at the center of a cookie recipe and finishes in about 45 minutes, enough for 24 triangle bars.

• Yield 24 triangle bars
• Ready in 45 minutes
• Prep 15 minutes
• Cook 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar (plus 1 tablespoon)
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons cold butter (cut into small pieces)
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup unsalted macadamia nuts
• ½ cup shredded coconut
• 3 ounces semisweet chocolate (melted)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 9-inch square pan with aluminum foil letting the edges hang over the pan slightly and lightly grease.
2. Combine 1 cup flour, 1 tablespoon brown sugar and ½ teaspoon salt in a bowl. Whisk together to combine. Scatter butter pieces over the flour mixture and using a pastry blender or two forks, cut in the butter until small crumbs form. (Alternately, you can use a food processor to do this.) Turn the flour butter mixture out into the prepared pan. Press the mixture into the pan in an even, solid layer.
3. Bake until the edges are golden, about 10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, combine 2 tablespoon flour, ¾ cup brown sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, egg and ¼ teaspoon salt. Beat with a wooden spoon until thoroughly blended. Stir in the nuts and coconut until blended.
5. Spread the coconut topping over the warm baked bottom crust. Return to the oven and bake until the topping is lightly browned and the edges pull away from the sides of the pan, about 15-20 minutes.
6. Let cool completely in the pan (this is important so the caramel layer doesn’t fall apart upon cutting).
7. Cut into twelve 3 by 2 ¼-inch rectangles. Cut each rectangle in half on the diagonal to make triangles. Dip one corner of each triangle in the melted chocolate and let cool on a sheet of waxed paper.

Cool the pan before you lift the squares.