Fudgsicle Bars with Caramel and Spanish Peanuts

Name: Fudgsicle Bars with Caramel and Spanish Peanuts
Yield: Makes 9 bars
Ingredients: 9- by 9-inch baking pan; Heat-proof rubber spatula; 6 large egg yolks; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; Large pinch kosher salt; 4 cups heavy cream; 4 ounces dark chocolate (58 to 62 percent cacao), chopped or broken into 1-inch pieces; 2 tablespoons instant coffee granules; 1/2 cup Spanish peanuts; 1 1/2 cups Caramel Sauce , or good-quality store-bought caramel sauce

By Emily Luchetti and Lisa Weiss

May 25, 2011

This is a childhood favorite reinvented for grown-up tastes. You've got the texture of a Fudgsicle but with the flavor of rich dark chocolate, salty peanuts, and sweet caramel, all combined in a dessert pretty enough to make people think it came out of a professional kitchen.

It's important that the Fudgsicle bars soften at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving, otherwise they'll be too hard to cut into. The flavor comes forward when the dessert warms a little. Don't forgo the ice-water bath. You need to cool the custard quickly to keep it from overcooking.

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