Monday, January 23, 2006

Mondays with Maida - Butterscotch Walnut Bars


Page 104 in the old book / page 144 in the new book

These were fine - very sweet, but otherwise unremarkable. Some people were crazy about them, but I think most were unimpressed. I was put off right from the start by the fact that the cookies contained butterscotch morsels. It's not that I have anything against them, it's just not the type of thing I expect to encounter in a Maida Heatter book.

Once again, these were very easy to make and didn't require greasing the pan or using a mixer. Because I was using that cheapo, dark, "non-stick" pan again, I lowered the temperature and reduced the cooking time slightly. I think I got them out before they were overdone, but I think I was just in the nick of time!

The shortbread crust on these cookies (made with brown sugar) is barely noticeable beneath the ultra-sweet topping which includes both corn syrup and butterscotch morsels. Thank goodness there is a generous amount of walnuts to tame the sweetness somewhat! The melted mixture of butterscotch morsels, corn syrup, and butter was an alarming shade of orange... ugh.

Here's the panel...

Terri: "These are very 'butterscotchy' and particularly good if you like butterscotch and nuts. Very sweet and rich in taste. Rating - 4.0"

Denny: "I'd give them a 3. I don't like butterscotch much, but it was good and crunchy, maybe a tad too sweet. Rating - 3.0"

Laura: "Tasty and delicious. However... I like walnuts and I like butterscotch. Somehow the combo of the two didn't work for me. Rating - 3.0"

Phil: "Comparable to the peanut brittle bar yet sweeter and more chewy while not as dentally challenging. The strong butterscotch flavor coupled with walnuts, several varieties of sucrose, plus butter was a winning combination for this sweet tooth. Rating - 4.6"

Overall rating by the panel - 3.7

Next week - Cinnamon Almond Cookies

Nutrition Facts

4 comments:

Sam said...

oh my they look delicious.
I must resist, I must resist.

Cerebrum said...

Only Phil would be able to use the term: "several varieties of sucrose" without making me go: What?!? I love those comments!:-)

Anonymous said...

These look gorgeous! When I finally get my baking tins unpacked I must try this recipe - I LOVE walnuts. Oh, and just letting you know that you've been tagged for the Wierd Meme (www.bibliocook.com/archives/2006/01/weird_meme.html). Best of luck!

Cathy said...

Hi Sam - thanks! In my opinion though, these are resistable, and there are so many better options in the book!

Hi Zarah - I think you're not alone!

Hi Caroline - thanks! Oh dear, I don't have a very good record with those memes. I'll mull it over, but I think my little kitchen has become the Bermuda Triangle of memes!