Raspberry Danish Murder (Hannah Swensen #22)(91)

Set the pan with your baked crust on a cold stovetop burner or a wire rack to cool. It should cool approximately 15 minutes, so set the oven timer for that length of time.





After your crust has cooled approximately 15 minutes, place the microwave-safe bowl with the mixture of caramel topping, chocolate chips, and whipping cream in the microwave.





Heat the caramel mixture for 1 minute at HIGH power. Let the bowl sit in the microwave for an additional minute and then try to stir the caramel, cream, and chocolate mixture smooth with the heat resistant spatula or a wooden spoon. If you cannot stir the mixture smooth, heat it for an additional 20 seconds at HIGH power, let it sit in the microwave for an equal length of time, and then try again. Repeat as often as necessary, alternating heating and standing times until you achieve a smooth mixture.





Once your chocolate caramel mixture is melted, add the half-teaspoon of vanilla extract and stir until smooth. DO NOT ADD THE SALT YET.





Hannah’s 4th Note: At this point, I always want to dip a spoon into all that rich goodness and taste. Resist that urge. You’ll be able to scrape out of the bowl after you’ve added the mixture to your baking pan.





Pour the chocolate caramel mixture over the baked crust as evenly as you can. Spread it out with the heat resistant spatula so that it reaches the very edges of the pan.





Here comes the salt! Sprinkle the two teaspoons of sea salt or Kosher salt over the chocolate caramel layer in the pan.





Take the remaining sweet dough out of the refrigerator and unwrap it. It has been refrigerated for 35 minutes or more and it should be thoroughly chilled.





With your impeccably clean fingers, crumble the dough over the caramel layer as evenly as you can, leaving little spaces for that yummy chocolate caramel to peek through.





Return the pan to the oven and bake at 325 degrees F. for 25 to 30 additional minutes, or until the caramel layer is bubbly and the crumble crust is golden brown.





Take the pan out of the oven, turn off the oven, and place the pan on a cold stovetop burner or a wire rack to cool. Resist the urge to cut just one Chocolate Caramel Bar Cookie to taste it. It will still be molten hot for at least another 25 minutes.





When your Chocolate Caramel Bar Cookies are completely cool, cut them into brownie-size pieces, place them on a pretty platter, and serve them to your guests. I can practically guarantee that everyone will rave about them!





Chapter Twenty-seven


“I’m here!” Norman walked up to The Cookie Jar booth at twelve noon, the exact time that Hannah and Michelle had asked him to come.

“Oh, good!” Hannah said, beaming at him. “Where did you park your car?”

“Right by the back door in the spot for deliveries. Sally said there wouldn’t be any more deliveries today so I could park there. Just teach me the ropes and I’ll handle the booth alone so you two can go to lunch. Sally has a great buffet lined up in the dining room.”

Hannah and Michelle exchanged glances. “It’s okay. I don’t need lunch right now,” Michelle said.

Michelle’s response made Hannah smile. The sisterly radar was working, and they were definitely on the same wavelength. “Neither do I,” she told him. “Michelle and I have something more important than manning the booth for you to do if you’re willing.”

“I’m willing,” Norman said, without even asking what it was.

“Could you drive back to The Cookie Jar to pick up the extra cookies that they baked for us? We’ve already gone through over half of our supply, and the doors don’t close until five.”

“I can do that. But how about your lunch break?”

“We’ll take it once you get back and we unpack the cookies. It’s not like there’s nothing to eat here.”

“That’s true,” Norman agreed, looking around at the display of partially-filled cookie jars. “I’ll head for town then.”

“Wait a second!” Hannah called out as Norman turned to go. “How about a go-cup with coffee for the road?”

“Great idea!” Norman stood by the counter until Hannah filled a cup of coffee and clamped on the lid. “Thanks for thinking of that, Hannah. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

The noon rush hadn’t hit yet, and the two sisters relaxed for several minutes on the stools that Sally had brought for them. Michelle erased several items that were sold out from the menu she’d written, and Hannah wiped down the counter and put out more sugar, cream, and low-calorie sweetener. Now that there was no line, she was beginning to realize how tired she was from the morning’s work, and she looked around at the decorations that Sally, Brooke, and Loren had done so beautifully.

Two huge Christmas trees sat in all their lighted splendor just inside the door to the convention hall entrance, one on either side. Tinsel hung from the branches, multicolored ornaments were strategically placed for maximum effect, and brightly hued mini lights created a lovely glow that captured the spirit of the season to come. She was just wondering how Sally and her crew had moved such huge trees inside when she heard a soft giggle.