Chocolate-Dipped Hazelnut Caramel Squares

Decadent shortbread squares topped with a honey-orange caramel and hazelnuts, then partially dipped in bittersweet chocolate. These elegant cookies combine buttery, nutty, and citrus flavors with a rich chocolate finish.

24 servings

2 hr 15 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•2 cups all purpose flour
•1 cup golden brown sugar
•¼ teaspoon salt
•¾ cup unsalted butter
•⅔ cup sugar
•6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
•¼ cup orange blossom honey
•2 teaspoons finely grated orange peel
•5 ounces hazelnuts
•¼ cup candied orange peel
•8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
•1 piece candy thermometer

Cooking Instructions

1.
Preheat oven to 350°. Line 13 x 9 x 2-inch metal baking pan with foil. Mix flour, brown sugar, and salt in processor 5 seconds. Add 3/4 cup butter; using on/off turns, process until coarse meal forms. Transfer to pan; press firmly and evenly onto bottom of pan. Bake crust until golden, about 20 minutes. Maintain oven temperature.
25 min
2.
Bring 6 tablespoons butter, 2/3 cup sugar, cream, honey, and finely grated orange peel to boil in heavy small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves and butter melts. Boil until candy thermometer registers 230°F, about 6 minutes. Stir in nuts and candied orange peel.
10 min
3.
Spoon hot nut mixture evenly over crust in pan. Return to oven and bake until entire surface is bubbling, about 10 minutes. Cool 20 minutes. Using foil as aid, lift cookie from pan. Carefully peel foil from edges. Cut warm cookie into 1 1/2-inch squares. Cool cookies completely.
30 min
4.
Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper. Melt chocolate in small metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water until warm to touch. Remove bowl from over water. Dip corner or edge of each cookie in melted chocolate and place on prepared baking sheet. Chill until chocolate is set, about 1 hour. DO AHEAD: cookies can be made up to 3 weeks ahead. Store in airtight container in freezer. Bring cookies to room temperature before serving.
70 min

Ingredients

•2 cups all purpose flour

•1 cup golden brown sugar

•¼ teaspoon salt

•¾ cup unsalted butter

•⅔ cup sugar

•6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

•¼ cup orange blossom honey

•2 teaspoons finely grated orange peel

•5 ounces hazelnuts

•¼ cup candied orange peel

•8 ounces bittersweet chocolate

•1 piece candy thermometer

Cooking Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Line 13 x 9 x 2-inch metal baking pan with foil. Mix flour, brown sugar, and salt in processor 5 seconds. Add 3/4 cup butter; using on/off turns, process until coarse meal forms. Transfer to pan; press firmly and evenly onto bottom of pan. Bake crust until golden, about 20 minutes. Maintain oven temperature.

25 min

Bring 6 tablespoons butter, 2/3 cup sugar, cream, honey, and finely grated orange peel to boil in heavy small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves and butter melts. Boil until candy thermometer registers 230°F, about 6 minutes. Stir in nuts and candied orange peel.

10 min

Spoon hot nut mixture evenly over crust in pan. Return to oven and bake until entire surface is bubbling, about 10 minutes. Cool 20 minutes. Using foil as aid, lift cookie from pan. Carefully peel foil from edges. Cut warm cookie into 1 1/2-inch squares. Cool cookies completely.

30 min

Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper. Melt chocolate in small metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water until warm to touch. Remove bowl from over water. Dip corner or edge of each cookie in melted chocolate and place on prepared baking sheet. Chill until chocolate is set, about 1 hour. DO AHEAD: cookies can be made up to 3 weeks ahead. Store in airtight container in freezer. Bring cookies to room temperature before serving.

70 min