Name: Mocha Toffee Cashew Bars
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 1/2 hr
Yield: Makes about 4 dozen bars
Ingredients: 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup packed brown sugar; 1 large egg yolk; 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla; 3 tablespoons instant-espresso powder* dissolved in 2 tablespoons boiling water; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 8 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), finely chopped; 3/4 cup salted roasted cashews (4 oz), chopped

You might be tempted to bake 2 sheets of bars at a time in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Don't give in to this urge—they must go in the middle of the oven to cook through and brown evenly.

Cooks' note:

· Cookies keep, layered between sheets of wax or parchment paper and chilled in an airtight container, 2 weeks.

Available at supermarkets and some supermarkets.

Recipe notes

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