Snow Witches                     January, 2016.

The weather outside might be frightful, but baking is delightful when it snows!

If you love the creaminess of white chocolate, you will love these bars. The only tricky part is melting white chocolate. Make certain you microwave on low power and check every 20 seconds. When the chocolate is almost melted, take out and stir constantly to finish the melting process. Or, see directions below for melting on a stove top.

• Ingredients
• 6 ounces coarsely chopped white chocolate or ¾ cup high-quality white chocolate chips
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
•  

• Directions
• Grease a 9" square baking pan with butter.
• Dust with flour and shake out the excess.
• Preheat the oven to 350 ℉.
• Melt the white chocolate in a small saucepan inside a slightly bigger saucepan over boiling water.
• Stir constantly. Remove the small saucepan from the heat before the white chocolate is completely melted. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted.
• If the chocolate has burn marks, it cannot be saved. Start again!
• Set aside melted white chocolate to cool for about 5 minutes.
• Beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla together in a large mixing bowl until smooth.
• Add the cooled (melted) white chocolate and mix until well combined.
• Measure the flour, baking powder, salt and sift together directly over the bowl with the batter. Mix until well combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean or only with crumbs. The top should be cracked and light brown.
• Remove the pan from the oven and cool on a rack for at least 1 hour before serving.
• Makes 12 to 18 bars.