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Hermit Bars with Brown Butter Icing

Hermit Bars with Brown Butter Icing
Yields
16 servings

 

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ingredients

Spice Blend

½
cinnamon stick
2
whole cloves
1
tsp whole anise seeds
4
green cardamom pods

Bars

½
cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1
cup dark brown sugar, packed
½
cup honey
2
large eggs
1
tsp freshly grated orange zest
2 ¾
cup all purpose flour
1
tsp baking soda
1 ½
tsp spice blend
1
cup raisins
1
cup chopped pitted dates
½
cup chopped dried apricots
¾
cup chopped walnut pieces

Brown Butter Icing

3
Tbsp unsalted butter, for brown butter
cup unsalted butter
2
Tbsp honey
1 ½
cup icing sugar, sifted
½
tsp spice blend
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directions

Step 1

For spice blend, grind cinnamon stick in a spice mill (or coffee grinder used just for spices) or with a mortar and pestle. Add remaining spices and grind into a powder.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. and line a 9-inch square pan with parchment so that it hangs over the sides.

Step 3

Cream butter, brown sugar and honey until smooth. Add eggs and orange zest and beat well. In a separate bowl, combine 2 ½ cups flour, baking soda and spice blend. Stir into butter mixture to combine. Toss raisins, dates, apricots and walnuts with remaining ¼ cup flour and stir into cookie dough. Press into prepared pan. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until slightly browned.

Step 4

Melt 3 Tbsp butter in a small sauté pan and let bubble until froth subsides and butter browns. Remove from heat and strain through a coffee filter.

Step 5

Beat butter until fluffy. Gradually beat in honey, sifted icing sugar and spices until smooth. Fold in browned butter.

Step 6

Spread the icing over hermit base. Cut into squares.

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My rating for Hermit Bars with Brown Butter Icing
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