Happy National Chocolate-Covered Cashews Day!

Image details: Roasted cashews served by picapp.com

Yes, today really is National Chocolate-Covered Cashews Day! Which is fine by me since I adore both. But why stop at just chocolate-covered when you can go all out and turn the whole thing into truffle bars?

Chocolate Cashew Truffle Bars Recipe

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
7 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour, unsifted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup cashews, chopped
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Truffle topping:
9 ounces special dark or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
1 cup white chocolate chips (approx 1/2 cup after chopping)
1/2 cup cashews (approx 1/4 cup after chopping)

…

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch cake pan with nonstick foil. Set aside.

Bottom brownie layer:
Melt butter in the microwave in a heat-proof bowl.

Whisk in the chopped unsweetened chocolate, stirring until smooth. Beat in sugar until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on medium speed with an electric mixer until well-mixed. Mix in flour and vanilla. Fold in cashews and mini chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake 25 minutes. Do not overbake. Cool on a rack to room temperature before adding the topping.

Truffle Topping:
Pour 1/2 inch of water in the bottom section of a double-boiler and bring to a simmer. Place chopped dark or semi-sweet chocolate in the top section of the double-boiler and place on top of simmering water. Remove from heat and stir chocolate until melted and smooth. Set top bowl of chocolate aside.

Empty water from bottom section, add heavy whipping cream and corn syrup. Bring slowly to a boil, mixing to combine. Pour cream mixture into melted chocolate, whisking until smooth. This is the ganache. Let the ganache cool 5 to 7 minutes until it thickens to a custard consistency. Whisk in softened butter. Let cool completely to room temperature, then briskly whisk the ganache until it lightens in color.

Lift brownies from the pan using the foil. Peel down the sides. Cut the brownies into 1-inch squares and separate the squares about 1/4-inch apart.

Mix white chocolate chips and cashews together. In a hand chopper or food processor, chop until pieces are no more than 1/4-inch in size.

Pour chocolate ganache evenly over cut brownies so that it drips down the sides in between each square. Sprinkle with chopped white chocolate and cashews. Let rest at room temperature until chocolate ganache sets up.

Store chocolate cashew truffle bars in a covered container to keep them from drying out. Serve these truffle squares at room temperature for best flavor and texture.

Note: Feel free to substitute macadamia nuts, pecans, peanuts, walnuts, or other nuts for the cashews.

Yield: about 72 (1-inch) squares

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