Slum Dog Millionaire's Shortbread

Directions

1. First, make the coconut cream. Preheat your oven to 325F. Spread the coconut on a baking sheet and toast it in the oven until it is just light golden, 6-8 min. Remove from the oven and set aside.
2. In a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup heavy cream just to a boil. Remove it from the heat and add the white chocolate to it. Let it sit for a minute, then gently stir until the chocolate and cream are completely incorporated into each other and you have a smooth mixture. Stir in the coconut. Then, transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface (like you would with pudding). Set aside to cool for at least 3 hours or overnight.
3. Next, make the shortbread. Keep your oven at 325F. Lightly butter a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
4. In a standing mixture fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the edges every now and then.
5. Add the dry ingredients, and stir them in at low speed. Just before they are fully incorporated into the butter mixture, add in the apricots. Continue to mix just until everything is fully blended together.
6. Use your fingers to press the shortbread dough into the greased baking pan in an even layer. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until golden brown. Remove and allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
7. When the coconut cream has cooled at least 3 hours and the shortbread is cool, you can assemble the bars. First, either in the stand mixer with the paddle attachment or using a hand mixer, beat the coconut cream on medium speed until lightened in color and the consistency of frosting, about 1 minute. Spread this in an even layer over the shortbread base.
8. In a small saucepan, combine the last 1/2 cup cream and the curry powder. Bring just to a boil, then remove from the heat and dump in the milk and dark chocolate. Allow this to sit for one minute, then gently stir it until the cream and chocolates are fully combined in a smooth mixture.
9. Let this ganache cool until it is lukewarm (around 85 degrees), then pour it over the coconut cream layer, and gently spread it into an even covering.
10. Let the bars set at room temperature for at least an hour before cutting (it actually makes them much easier to cut if you stick them in the refrigerator for a while). To cut them, first cut through the top chocolate layers with a sharp knife where you're planning to cut the bars, then cut through the shortbread base. These bars should keep for about a week in the refrigerator in an airtight container. If they last that long. :) Their flavor develops and gets even better over the next couple of days.