Brown Butter Shortbread with Dark Chocolate + Sea Salt

[nverland]

Brown Butter Shortbread with Dark Chocolate + Sea Salt
Prep time 20 mins Cook time 45 mins Total time 1 hour 5 mins

Ingredients

¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter
½ cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon sea salt
1½ cups all-purpose flour
3 oz. dark chocolate, chopped
Fleur de sel, for sprinkling

Directions

Lightly grease a 9½" round fluted tart pan or a 14"x5" rectangle tart with a removable bottom. If you don’t have a pan with a removable bottom you could line a 8" or 9" square cake pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang of foil on two opposite sides so you can easily lift the shortbread out of the pan.
In a small saucepan over medium melt the butter and continue to cook until it caramelizes and emits a nutty, butterscotch aroma. You will notice brown flecks in the bottom of the pan as the butter deepens in color. Be careful not to burn the butter. Remove from the heat.
In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter with the brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Add the flour and mix until incorporated. Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand for at least 2 hours or preferably overnight. Do not refrigerate.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 300°F. Bake for 45 minutes.
Let cool completely. Melt dark chocolate in the microwave and then spread evenly on the shortbread. Sprinkle with fleur de sel.