Mascarpone Chocolate Toffee Bars

I can't think of a better way to dress up store bought cookie dough than with chocolate, toffee, nuts and mascarpone cheese.  I love the chocolate/cheese layer in these cookies.  They are easy to make and you might just forget you used store bought cookie dough.  They are also pretty, I cut my squares into triangles for something different.  

This recipe comes from Giada De Laurentiis.  

Vegetable cooking spray

1 pound refrigerated sugar cookie dough 

2 (1.4 ounces) chocolate~toffee candy bars, coarsely chopped, divided 

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1 cup mascarpone cheese, at room temperature

1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a 7x10 3/4-inch nonstick baking pan with vegetable cooking spray.  Lay a 6x18-inch piece of parchment paper in the pan, allowing the excess paper to overhang the sides.  Spray the parchment paper lightly with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, combine the cookie dough, 1/2 of the chopped chocolate~toffee candy pieces and vanilla extract.  Using damp fingers, gently press the dough into the prepared pan.  Using the tines of a fork, prick the dough all over.  Bake for 12 to 14 minutes until the crust is lightly browned.  Cool for 15 minutes.

Place the chocolate chips and vegetable oil in a medium bowl.  Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until the chocolate has melted.  Cool the chocolate mixture for 10 minutes.  Whisk in the mascarpone cheese until the mixture is smooth.  Using a spatula, spread the chocolate mixture over the cooled crust.  Sprinkle the remaining chocolate~toffee candy pieces and sliced almonds over the chocolate mixture.  Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until the chocolate layer is firm.

Peel off the parchment paper and cut into 2-inch bars.  Serve at room temperature.

*To toast almonds, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees oven for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly browned.