Tag Archives: caramel

Brown Sugar Caramel Pear Crisp

Warm caramel pear crisp topped with a crisp oatmeal topping is perfect the cold late winter days.

Brown Sugar Caramel Pear Crisp <- new go-to winter treat

Every February I get that feeling that Spring isn’t too far away. And while in some parts of the states that is probably true, here in the Northeast we don’t get real spring weather until close to May. So to make it through that long cold stretch, we need warm, comforting dessert.

Brown Sugar Caramel Pear Crisp <- we loved this recipe!

Crisps, crumbles and cobblers never fail to disappoint. Warm sweet fruit topped with a flavorful crumbly topping, often served with ice cream… what’s not to like? Here I took advantage of the plethora of pears we had while they are still in season. They paired so well with a brown sugar caramel. If you want, you can serve the crisp with ice cream and additional caramel sauce (the recipe makes more than enough for the crisp itself). However, this was really good enough to stand on it’s own. The pears almost melt in your mouth and the oatmeal-ful topping is so satisfying.

Brown Sugar Caramel Pear Crisp - SUCH a good recipe!!

Brown Sugar Caramel Pear Crisp
 
Warm caramel pear crisp topped with a crisp oatmeal topping is perfect the cold late winter days.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: Serves 6
Ingredients
Topping:
  • 55g (~1/2 cup) oat flour* (I pulsed my oatmeal in the food processor until it was the consistency of flour)
  • 40g (~1/2 cup) old fashioned oatmeal*
  • 70g (~1/3 cup, tightly packed) light brown sugar
  • ½g (¼ teaspoon) ground cinnamon
  • 55g (1/4 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
Filling:
  • 700g sliced ripe pears (about 4 large)
  • 15g (~2 tablespoons) oat flour* (I pulsed my oatmeal in the food processor until it was the consistency of flour)
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar caramel sauce (recipe below)
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
  2. In a medium bowl, prepare topping; mix together oat flour, oatmeal and brown sugar
  3. Add butter and use fingers to combine until mixture is slightly lumpy; set aside
  4. Prepare filling; in 9-inch round shallow baking dish (like a pie plate), stir together pears, oat flour and caramel sauce
  5. Distribute topping evenly over top of fruit
  6. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until filling is bubbling and topping is lightly browned, if you see that topping has started to get to brown early, lightly cover with tin foil for remainder of baking time

Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce
 
Brown sugar-based caramel sauce adds a special element to the pear crisp!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 1 cup
Ingredients
  • 234g (1 cup tightly packed) light brown sugar
  • 113g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 118 milliliters (1/2 cup) whole milk
  • 5g (1 teaspoon) salt
Instructions
  1. Place the sugar, butter, and salt in a medium-sized heavy-duty pot over medium heat; stir until the butter and sugar have dissolved
  2. Sir in milk; increase heat to medium-high and continue to cook for four minutes (mixture should come to a boil within one minute); immediately remove from heat and stir; pour into a heat-proof bowl to cool
  3. Store in refrigerator up to one week before using; re-heat gently in microwave to loosen before using
Notes
Adapted from Recipe from The Level Headed Chef

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Apple and Pear Crisp

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Skillet Apple Crisp with Brown Butter Sauce

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Ginger Pecan Candy Crack

Crazy addicting Christmas candy in a very good way. This  sweet and salty “crack” is made with toasted pecans, ginger spiced caramel and dark chocolate.

The best candy to make for Christmas! Easy, delicious and super addicting

Last week my sister and fiancé had us over for a fun weeknight Chanukah dinner. Jess and Quoc made a delicious dinner that included perfectly crispy latkes, salmon with dill yogurt sauce and salad with roasted squash. Just ask L, he hijacked most of my salmon and ate his weight in latkes. Chanukah success! I brought a green vegetable along with some cookies (my sister thought these tasted like a chai latte).

There were also “cookies” there, though, that tasted like some sort of ginger toffee caramel hybrid.  I had one bite and then couldn’t stop going back for more. The sweet and salty flavor combination with the added ginger spice was addicting. And to torture treat myself, I made my own interpretation to share with you.

This crunchy, sweet and salty candy treat is currently calling to me from a tupperware inside my fridge. I made a big batch and take a couple of bites worth almost every time I open the door. I just can’t help myself! What I love about this treat is that it differs from the other “crack” recipes out there by having an added spice and a hefty dose of toasted pecans. Oh, and don’t let the term “candy” fool you. There are no candy thermometers used in this recipe and it’s actually pretty straightforward. The ease of making it is either really great or really dangerous, You decide.

Newest obsession: Ginger Pecan Candy Crack

Ginger Pecan Candy Crack
 
Crazy addicting Christmas candy in a very good way. This sweet and salty “crack” is made with toasted pecans, ginger spiced caramel and dark chocolate.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~5 cups
Ingredients
  • 340g (3 cups) pecans
  • 227 grams (1 cup / 2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 230 grams (1 cup packed) light brown sugar
  • 2½g (1/2 teaspoon) table salt
  • 1g (1 teaspoon) ground ginger
  • ½g (1/4 teaspoon) ground nutmeg
  • 2 milliliters (1/2 teaspoon) pure vanilla extract
  • 255 grams (1½ cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • flaky sea salt to taste (I used about ¾ teaspoon)
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper
  3. Top parchment paper with pecans and toast in oven for 8 minutes or until fragrant; set aside
  4. In a large heavy-duty saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar together, stirring over medium heat until it begins to boil; once it has begun boiling, let it bubble for three more minutes; it will thicken a bit as it cooks
  5. Remove from the heat and add the table salt, ginger, nutmeg and vanilla, and then quickly pour it over the pecans
  6. Bake the for 12-15 minutes or until all of the caramel topping is lightly bubbling (watch carefully at end of cooking to make sure it doesn’t burn burn; if it appears to be browning too much, reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees)
  7. Remove from oven and immediately cover with chocolate chips; let stand five minutes, and then carefully spread them evenly across the caramel and sprinkle with flaky sea salt
  8. Chill in refrigerator for about two hours or until firm; break into pieces by hand
  9. Store it in an air-tight container in refrigerator or cool space for best results
  10. Enjoy within one week

 

Ginger Pecan Candy Crack is going on ALL my holiday cookie trays!

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Brown Sugar Chai Spiced Caramel Fondue

A chai spiced caramel sauce perfect for holiday entertaining.

SO perfect for parties! This chai caramel sauce is perfect for dipping fruit and cookies

I’m very enthusiastically jumping onto the chai bandwagon! There’s no looking back now. (In fact, can we take a quick moment to drool over Christina’s chewy chai bars?)

In all serious, though, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be joining me. The flavors of chai are so warm and comforting. Cardamom is what really makes it special, but the clove, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper (yes, black pepper!), round it out. The spicy flavor tones end up being perfect to balance out a sweet brown-sugar based caramel.

I served this caramel fondue as a dip when we had friends over on a recent Sunday afternoon. It was able to sit out for a few hours as the flavors developed. And actually, there was a little bit leftover and it tasted even better the next day (a dream for holiday entertaining plans)! I loved dunking graham crackers into the fondue along side my almond milk latte, but I did catch some people even dunking their blondies. Yes, my friends are geniuses.

Chai Caramel Fondue! Serving this at every holiday party

Brown Sugar Chai Spiced Caramel Fondue
 
A chai spiced caramel sauce perfect for holiday entertaining.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 1¼ cups
Ingredients
  • 195g (¾ cup + 1 tablespoon) light brown sugar, tightly packed
  • 30 milliliters (2 tablespoons) water
  • 118 milliliters (1/2 cup) heavy cream
  • 9g (2 teaspoons) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
  1. Whisk together brown sugar and water in a small heavy-duty saucepan; place over medium-high heat and cook without stirring for 3-4 minutes or until a deep amber brown and bubbling; remove from heat and immediately whisk in heavy cream and butter until smooth (be careful as the hot caramel may bubble up)
  2. Stir in remaining ingredients and then briefly stir over medium heat until smooth
  3. Serve warm; for a thicker dip (and for flavor more intensified), allow to cool in refrigerator for several hours before gently reheating
Notes
Adapted from Food and Wine
Can be stored in refrigerator up to one week

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Peanut Butter Caramel Bars

Gooey peanut butter cookie bars are layered with chocolate and salted caramel for a decadent bite-sized treat.

Peanut Butter Cookie Bars with Caramel and Chocolate layers!

Sometimes you need a dessert that makes you feel good on all levels. When it’s dreary outside or you want to eat your feelings (ahem, me.) there are only certain desserts that will cut it. You need a dessert that just screams comfort. Something decadent, almost familiar, and just plain old delicious.

For me, that’s something that is made with peanut butter and chocolate. Throw in a layer of salted caramel and, well, it just doesn’t get much better than that. These cookie bars are the solution to your bad day. Peanut butter cookie dough (with peanut butter chips!) is layered with melted dark chocolate and rich salted caramel. Then, it’s sealed together with another layer of peanut butter cookie dough. Four perfect layers, one perfect bite-sized treat.

5.0 from 1 reviews
Peanut Butter Caramel Bars
 
Gooey peanut butter cookie bars are layered with chocolate and salted caramel for a decadent bite-sized treat.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 20 bite-sized bars
Ingredients
  • 130g (~1 cup) all-purpose flour
  • 12g (1 ½ teaspoons) baking soda
  • 113g (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 258 g (1 cup) creamy peanut butter
  • 160g (~¾ cup) granulated sugar
  • 117g (~1/2 cup) packed light brown sugar
  • 100g (2 large) whole eggs, at room temperature
  • 5 milliliters (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
  • 180g (~1 cup) peanut butter chips
  • 180g (~1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ⅔ cup salted caramel (preferably homemade)
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees; line a 9x9 inch pan with parchment paper with edges coming up the sides and set aside
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda, set aside
  3. Using a mixer, in a large bowl beat peanut butter, butter and sugars on high until light and fluffy
  4. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until combined
  5. Reduce speed to low and stir in flour mixture just until combined
  6. Stir in peanut butter chips
  7. Wrap half of dough with seran wrap and place in refrigerator; press remaining dough into bottom of prepared baking pan and bake for 15 minutes
  8. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over top; let sit for ~6 minutes and then carefully spread chocolate chips so that the cookie dough layer is mostly covered
  9. Pour salted caramel over chocolate
  10. Take chilled dough out of fridge and drop tablespoon-sized chunks of dough over top
  11. Place baking pan back in oven for 25 minutes or until top is lightly browned
  12. Allow to cool completely before removing from pan and cutting
Notes
Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze wrapped well in tin foil for up to two months

A new favorite dessert recipe!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it onInstagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Upside-down Caramel Banana Coffee Cake

Dense and moist coffee-flavored cake topped with gooey caramelized bananas!

Caramel Banana Coffee Cake

Every year it’s the same challenge for my dad’s birthday: What special dessert can I make that isn’t too sweet and doesn’t include frosting (well, I did sneak in frosting one year)? Since last year’s dessert was such a hit, I decided to find another cake with a fun topping that I thought he would like.

This upside down cake definitely fit the bill! It’s sweet enough to be dessert but mild enough to be served for brunch (his kind of dessert). It’s also looks special with the beautiful layer of caramelized bananas on top. The cake itself is dense and moist (though I think using a higher fat Greek yogurt would lighten the results just a bit; I used nonfat) and so very satisfying.

Upside-down Caramel Banana Coffee Cake
 
Dense and moist coffee-flavored cake topped with gooey caramelized bananas!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 8 servings
Ingredients
  • Cake batter
  • 200g (~1½ cups) all-purpose flour
  • 5g (1 teaspoon) baking powder
  • ½g (1/8 teaspoon) salt
  • 50g (3 ½ tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 130g  (~1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon, packed) light brown sugar
  • 100g (2 large) whole eggs at room temperature
  • 30 milliliters (2 tablespoons) strong espresso or coffee (~1 tablespoon instant coffee granules mixed with 1 tablespoon boiling water)
  • 10 milliliters (2 teaspoons) vanilla extract
  • 200g (~3/4 cups + 2 tablespoons) plain Greek yogurt
  • Banana topping
  • 2 large ripe but firm bananas (do not use overly ripe bananas here)
  • 40g (~2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons) unsalted butter, melted
  • 80g (~1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon packed) light brown sugar
  • 3g (1 ½ teaspoons) ground cinnamon
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees; butter a 9-inch round cake pan and set aside
  2. Prepare cake batter; sift the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt) into a medium bowl and set aside
  3. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium high speed until light and fluffy
  4. Add the eggs, coffee and vanilla and mix on medium speed
  5. Reduce speed to low and add yogurt; add dry ingredients but do not overmix; batter will be thick
  6. Set aside cake batter and prepare topping
  7. Carefully slice bananas lengthwise (3-4 slices / banana) and use to line cake pan (keep in mind this is how the top of your cake will look)
  8. Combine melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon; carefully spread over bananas
  9. Spread cake batter evenly top and bake in center of oven for 27-32 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean from center of cake; do not overbake
  10. Allow cake to cool for 10 minutes before arefully removing from pan; serve immediately
Notes
Adapted from Nutmegs Sven

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Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Cups

Rich homemade candy  cups filled with peanut butter caramel sauce and topped with the perfect amount of flaky sea salt.

Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Cups - dying over these

I told you I had something up my sleeve for the caramel sauce. I don’t even think I need to talk too much about these little candy cups, the pictures say it all. Last minute Valentine’s Day treat perhaps?

 

4.0 from 1 reviews
Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Cups
 
Rich homemade candy cups filled with peanut butter caramel sauce and topped with the perfect amount of flaky sea salt.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 12 candy cups
Ingredients
  • 10 ounces good quality dark chocolate (I used 72%), roughly chopped
  • ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 cup Peanut Butter Caramel Sauce
  • Flaky sea salt (optional)
Instructions
  1. Line a mini muffin pan with 12 tin foil cupcake wrappers and set aside
  2. Place chocolate and butter in a medium microwave safe bowl; melt by microwaving the chocolate and butter in 30-second increments and stirring in-between
  3. Use a teaspoon to coat the bottom of each cup with melted chocolate; place muffin pan in fridge for fifteen minutes or until chocolate is set
  4. Remove pan from fridge and spoon caramel sauce into center of each cup (about 1 tablespoon); if caramel sauce has been chilled and is firm, microwave for 10-20 seconds and stir for a more workable consistency
  5. Spoon melted chocolate over caramel and around edges so that coated on all sides; sprinkle tops with flaky sea salt if desired (and it should be desired)
  6. Chill for one hour in refrigerator before serving; store in refrigerator up to one week

Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Cups... the picture says it all

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Peanut Butter Caramel Sauce

Everybody loves caramel sauce but peanut butter caramel sauce takes your traditional ice cream topping to another level!

Homemade PEANUT BUTTER Caramel Sauce! amazing

I haven’t been doing a ton of baking since L was born. I’ve been having a little trouble motivating myself and finding my creativity. In fact, when I made these cookies, I ended up taking more pictures of L than I did the cookies. Whoops! He is just too cute sometimes and I can’t help myself.

So when I saw this recipe, I was obviously excited.since I decided to make peanut butter caramel sauce the next day. My mom was here helping with L and I took about ten minutes in the kitchen to whip this up. Basically the best way to spend a few minutes away from that little monkey if I have to.

The sauce turned out pretty darn amazing… I kind of feel like I should always have a batch of it on hand. Other than eating it straight from the jar with a spoon you can do so many things with this sauce… ice cream sundaes (obviously), cake, Oreo bars….. the list goes on! AND I have a new idea coming to you later this week.

Homemade PEANUT BUTTER Caramel Sauce! new favorite ice cream topping

 

Peanut Butter Caramel Sauce
 
Everybody loves caramel sauce but peanut butter caramel sauce takes your traditional ice cream topping to another level!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 1¼ cups
Ingredients
  • 160 grams / 5⅝ ounces (3/4 cup) granulated sugar
  • [45] milliliters / 3 tablespoons water
  • 117 milliliters / 4 fluid ounces ( ½ cup) heavy cream
  • 29 milliliters / 1 fluid ounces (2 tablespoons) milk (any type)
  • 2 grams (1 teaspoon) coarse or flaky sea salt
  • 77 grams / 2 ¾ ounces (¼ cup) creamy peanut butter (not all natural)
Instructions
  1. Combine the sugar and water in a medium* heavy-duty saucepan and cook over high heat, whisking until the sugar dissolves
  2. Let boil for several minutes without stirring until the mixture becomes a deep amber color, watching closely so it doesn’t burn; Once the caramel begins to darken, the rest of the process happens very quickly (see photos above for caramelization process)
  3. As soon as most of the sugar water mixture is a deep amber, whisk in the cream (be careful as mixture will bubble up) and remove from heat immediately
  4. Whisk in milk and sea salt
  5. Place pot back over low heat and quickly whisk in peanut butter; remove from heat as soon as combined
  6. Serve warm or store covered in refrigerator up to two weeks**
Notes
Adapted from my salted caramel and this peanut butter caramel
*If doubling, use a large pot and allow extra time for caramelization
**For thicker sauce, chill in refrigerator for a few hours before using or serving; re-heat gently before serving

Homemade PEANUT BUTTER Caramel Sauce! To die for.

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Smoked Sea Salt Chocolate Fudge Caramel Cookies

Rich and fudgy chocolate cookies filled with caramel and dark chocolate chips and seasoned with smoked sea salt.

Smoked Sea Salt Chocolate Fudge Caramel Cookies- super rich and decadent!

Are you still adding to your cookie baking list for the holidays? I hope so, because these babies are very deserving of a spot.  The cookie itself is ultra rich and like a fudgy brownie in the center.  Outside there is a slice crisp around the edges.  To top that off, the flavor of the chocolate is dark and almost sinful but balanced with sweet caramels and flaky smoked sea salt.  And by the way, they are pretty easy too.  They bake up consistently EVERY time I make them.  And bonus, you don’t have to chill the dough at all. These cookies will be ready for your enjoyment within an hour from start to finish.  If you are making big batches for holiday gifts, just double the recipe below!

Smoked Sea Salt Chocolate Fudge Caramel Cookies-these need to happen

Smoked Sea Salt Chocolate Fudge Caramel Cookies
 
Rich and fudgy chocolate cookies filled with caramel and dark chocolate chips and seasoned with smoked sea salt.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~2 ½ dozen cookies
Ingredients
  • 113g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
  • 170g semi-sweet chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 200g unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 160g (~1 cup + 3 tablespoons) all-purpose flour
  • 2g (3/4 teaspoon) baking powder
  • 2g (1/2 teaspoon salt)
  • 150g (~3 large whole) eggs at room temperature
  • 215g (~1 cup) granulated sugar
  • 235g (~1 cup, packed) light brown sugar
  • 10 milliliters / 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 227g (1 cup) semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
  • 160g (1 cup) caramel bits
  • Smoked sea salt
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees; line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside
  2. Place semi-sweet and unsweetened chocolate with butter in a microwave-safe bowl
  3. Microwave the ingredients for a minute and stir; microwave again for 30-second increments until everything is almost melted; stir the remaining lumps until smooth (alternatively, you can melt the butter and chocolate in a heavy duty pop over medium heat stirring constantly); set aside
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, and salt) and set aside
  5. In the large bowl of a stand mixer, combine eggs, sugars and vanilla; beat on high speed for about 5 minutes or until mixture is light and pale in color
  6. Reduce the speed of your mixer and add in melted chocolate
  7. When that is well-combined, stir in flour mixture but do not over-mix; stir in chocolate chips and caramel bits
  8. Use a large cookie dough scoop and place dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, 1-2 inches apart; lightly sprinkle top of cookie dough with smoked sea salt
  9. Bake cookies for 12 minutes and set aside on a wire rack to cool
Notes
Recipe can be doubled
Store cookies at room temperature up to 5 days in a ziplock bag or freeze for up to two months


Smoked Sea Salt Chocolate Fudge Caramel Cookies-they taste as good as they look!

Yes, they are as good as they look.

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.


This post contains affiliate links.

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Soft Batch Apple Butter Cookies with Caramel Icing {Guest Post}

Today I have a special guest post from my friend Rachel. She is generously sharing this recipe for Soft Batch Apple Butter Cookies as a favor while I take some time to be with my family. Be sure to head over to her blog and check out some of her other amazing recipes like Apple Cinnamon English Muffin Bread, Whole Wheat Buffalo Chicken Pizza (all of her pizzas look so good!), Cinnamon Graham S’more Cupcakes and Apple Cinnamon Poptarts to name a few…

Apple Butter Cookies (a special guest post from Baked by Rachel)

When Lauren asked me to guest post for her while she was on maternity leave, I couldn’t have been happier to help out. And being Fall, I knew I had to share something with a fun seasonal twist!

I have a bit of an obsession with all things apple, so since I’ve already made a basic vanilla and pumpkin soft batch cookie, apple was clearly next on the list!

Apples and cookies seem to be a rare combination, but it works so well, especially when you use apple butter. No need for eggs here. And there’s no risk of wondering if the apples will be too firm or too soft.

No chunks or lumps here. Smooth, soft and flavorful apple butter cookies that stay soft! They’re just like your favorite Lofthouse style cookie with the flavors of Fall! Let’s not forget the sweet caramel icing, it’s a must and the perfect finish to these apple butter cookies!

4.0 from 1 reviews
Soft Batch Apple Butter Cookies with Caramel Icing {Guest Post}
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Ingredients
  • Cookie:
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup cinnamon apple butter
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • 2¼ cups all purpose flour
  • Frosting:
  • 1¼ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 tablespoon caramel syrup
  • 2 tablespoon water
Instructions
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugars. Mix in apple butter and vanilla, followed by salt, baking powder and flour. Continue mixing until no streaks remain.
  2. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour or until completely chilled.
  3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  4. Shape dough into golfball sized balls, flatten to ½-inch thickness. Bake for 10-11 minutes. Allow cookies to rest for 1-2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
  5. In a medium bowl, mix together powdered sugar and butter. Mix in caramel syrup and water to desired spreading consistency. Frost cooled cookies and immediately top off with sprinkles.
  6. Allow frosting to set or enjoy immediately.
  7. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to a week.
Notes
A Baked by Rachel original recipe.

Be sure to add these fun cookies to your plans soon!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Salted Caramel & Peanut Oatmeal Cookies

Big, chewy oatmeal cookies full of crunchy peanuts and chewy caramel.

Salted Caramel & Peanut Oatmeal Cookies

So I actually had to make this cookie recipe twice. The first time, I was working off of a different recipe of mine that I cut in half. Easy enough. Well, except I think my pregnancy brain got the best of me and I forgot to cut the oatmeal in half. While I was adding it to the dough I kept thinking, this just doesn’t seem right. But I forged on, not wanting to waste all of the ingredients, and baked the dough anyway. To be honest, the cookies actually weren’t too bad. They were definitely heartier and not as moist as they should have been, but the flavors were great.

Salted Caramel & Peanut Oatmeal Cookies
 
Big, chewy oatmeal cookies full of crunchy peanuts and chewy caramel.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 15 large cookies
Ingredients
  • 113g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
  • 117g (~1/2 cup tightly packed) light brown sugar
  • 55g (~1/4 cup) granulated sugar
  • 55g (1 large whole) eggs
  • 5 milliliters (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
  • 65g (~1/2 cup) all-purpose flour
  • 4g (1/2 teaspoon) baking soda
  • 2g (1/4 teaspoon) salt
  • 160g (~1 ¾ cup) oatmeal (I prefer old-fashioned oats)
  • 110g (~3/4 cup) unsalted chopped peanuts
  • 110g (~2/3 cup) caramel bits caramel bitsor chopped caramel squares
  • Flaky Sea Salt
Instructions
  1. Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt; set aside
  2. Beat butter and sugars in an electric mixer on high until light and fluffy
  3. Mix in eggs and vanilla on medium speed; scrape sides and bottom of bowl with a spatula
  4. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture
  5. Once combined, stir in the oatmeal; then stir in peanuts and caramel bits; do not overmix dough
  6. Chill dough in refrigerator for 2 hours (or up to 24 hours), the longer the better
  7. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
  8. When ready to bake, use a large cookie dough scoop to place cookie dough balls (about ¼ cup each) on top of parchment paper, 2-3 inches apart; sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt
  9. Bake cookies 15-17 minutes or until cookies are golden brown; they should look slightly underbaked in the center
  10. Set aside to cool on wire racks before eating

Salted Caramel & Peanut Oatmeal Cookies
This time around, though, I double checked what I was doing and the result was wonderful. The oatmeal cookies are nice and chewy and the sweet and salty flavors are spot on. It kind of feels like a Payday jumped into an oatmeal cookie and a star was born. These cookies are addicting.

 

Salted Caramel & Peanut Oatmeal Cookies

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

Vanilla Bean Bourbon Nectarine Bundt Cake (with vanilla bean caramel drizzle)

The summer’s best nectarines are cooked with vanilla bean and bourbon then folded into a delicious cake batter.  Of course the vanilla bean caramel sauce doesn’t hurt!

Vanilla Bean Bourbon Nectarine Bundt Cake (with vanilla bean caramel drizzle)

Summer’s stone fruits are really peaking where we are.  I’ve had some super delicious peaches and nectarines in the last few weeks… I just can’t get enough of them.  As with any fruit I love, I stock up and then have a million ripen at once.  Earlier this summer I solved that issue with muffins, and then a few weeks ago I made this really delicious bundt cake.  The cake is full of super sweet ripe nectarines, but peaches would work just as well.  The caramel sauce poured generously over the top seals the deal.  I actually was on the verge of burning my caramel and that extra darkness really happened to work with this cake.  Between the vanilla bean, the bit of bourbon and the juicy flavorful summer fruit, this cake is a real win.

The summer’s best nectarines are cooked with vanilla bean and bourbon then folded into a delicious cake batter. Of course the vanilla bean caramel sauce doesn’t hurt!

 

Vanilla Bean Bourbon Nectarine Bundt Cake (with vanilla bean caramel drizzle)
 
The summer’s best nectarines are cooked with vanilla bean and bourbon then folded into a delicious cake batter. Of course the vanilla bean caramel sauce doesn’t hurt!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 16 – 20
Ingredients
  • For the nectarines:
  • 60 milliliters (¼ cup) bourbon
  • 1 whole vanilla bean (Madagascar bourbon if you have them!)
  • 14g (1 tablespoon) unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 14g (1 tablespoon) granulated sugar
  • 680g (~5) ripe but still firm nectarines (567g (4 cups) chopped; peeling optional)
  • For the cake:
  • 395g (~3 cups) all-purpose flour
  • 3g (1/2 tablespoon) ground cinnamon
  • 2g (1 teaspoon) nutmeg
  • 5g (1 teaspoon) baking soda
  • 5g (1 teaspoon) salt
  • 227g (1 cup) unsalted butter melted and cooled
  • 80 milliliters (1/3 cup) vegetable oil
  • 235g (~1 cup tightly packed light brown sugar)
  • 105g (~1/2 cup) granulated sugar
  • 150g (~3 large) whole eggs at room temperature
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Grease and flour a 12 or 14 cup bundt pan; set aside
  3. Pour the bourbon into a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat; bring to a boil for one minute; reduce the heat to medium; add the inside of vanilla bean (do not discard pod), butter and sugar; cook and stir until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved
  4. Add pod from vanilla bean and nectarine; let cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally until nectarines are softened and most of liquid has evaporated
  5. Remove from heat and set aside; discard vanilla bean pod
  6. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; set aside
  7. In the large mixing bowl of an electric mixer beat together the butter, oil, sugars and eggs for 3 minutes on low to medium speed; add vanilla extract and mix until combined
  8. Scrape sides of the bowl with a spatula and carefully add the dry ingredients while mixer is on low speed just until combined
  9. Remove bowl from mixer and fold in the cooked nectarines; do not overmix
  10. Pour batter into prepared bundt pan and bake for 44-48 minutes, or until cake is lightly browned and a knife inserted into the cake comes out clean
  11. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack; set aside to cool while preparing caramel
Notes
Adapted from this Apple Bundt Cake

 
Vanilla Bean Caramel Sauce
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 1 cup
Ingredients
  • 160g (~3/4 cup) granulated sugar
  • ½ vanilla bean (Madagascar bourbon if you have them!)
  • 45 milliliters (3 tablespoons) water
  • 120 milliliters (1/2 cup) heavy whipping cream
  • 30 milliliters (2 tablespoons) milk, any type
  • 2½g (1/2 teaspoon) sea salt
Instructions
  1. In a heavy duty saucepan, combine granulated sugar, seeds scraped from vanilla bean, and water
  2. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly until sugar is dissolved
  3. Continue to cook for a few minutes until caramel reaches a deep amber (do not stir)
  4. Remove from heat and immediately whisk in heavy cream
  5. Stir in milk and sea salt
  6. Drizzle liberally over apple cake or refrigerate until ready to serve
  7. Make ahead tip:
  8. Caramel sauce can be made up to one week ahead of time.  Heat it gently over the stove or in microwave just prior to pouring over cake and serving
  9. Cake best enjoyed within 24 hours of baking

Vanilla Bean BOURBON Nectarine Bundt Cake - hello!

 

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats with Mocha Ganache

Rice Krispie treats are all grown up with the addition of salted caramel and a rich mocha ganache.  Make this special treat for Super Bowl or your next gathering and watch the Rice Krispie treats disappear!

Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats with Mocha Ganache

Last Monday we talked the how-tos on making salted caramel.  Just a few ingredients and no thermometer; the basics really aren’t that hard.  Now that we have that covered, I figured you could use some new recipes for the salted caramel that you won’t want to stop making (and eating).

Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats with Mocha Ganache

These sweet and salty rice krispie treats are a fun and easy no-bake treat to make.  They might be the perfect pick-up treat for the Super Bowl in a few weeks.  The salted caramel krispie treat base is slightly gooey so they are best stored in the refrigerator.  The mocha ganache is rich and really makes them something special.  I liked them with and without the ganache topping, though.

Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats with Mocha Ganache

Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats with Mocha Ganache
 
Rice Krispie treats are all grown up with the addition of salted caramel and a rich mocha ganache. Make this special treat for Super Bowl or your next gathering and watch the Rice Krispie treats disappear!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 24 servings
Ingredients
Mocha Ganache
  • 10 ounces dark chocolate (I used 70%), coarsely chopped
  • 4 fluid ounces cup extra-strong brewed coffee (4 fluid ounces hot water + 1 heaping
  • teaspoon + of instant coffee)
  • 5 ounces (10 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature and sliced
Rice Krispie Treats
  • 1½ ounces (3 tablespoons) unsalted butter
  • 1 10-ounce bag mini marshmallows
  • 6 fluid ounces (3/4 cup) salted caramel sauce
  • 7 cups Rice Krispies cereal
  • Flaky sea salt for sprinkling
Instructions
Mocha Ganache
  1. Set up a double boiler; bring water to a simmer in medium pot over
  2. low-medium heat
  3. Place heat-proof bowl of chocolate over the pot
  4. Pour the coffee over chocolate
  5. Continuously stir until chocolate is melted and smooth
  6. Remove bowl from heat and whisk in the butter until creamy
  7. Set ganache aside to cool, stirring occasionally
Rice Krispie Treats
  1. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray; set aside
  2. In a large saucepan over low heat, melt butter
  3. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted
  4. Remove from heat and stir in caramel sauce until well combined
  5. Stir in Rice Krispies
  6. Use a greased spatula to press mixture down into prepared baking dish
  7. Spread mocha ganache evenly over top of treats and sprinkle with flaky sea salt
  8. Chill in refrigerator for one hour or until set
  9. Cut and serve; leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in refrigerator up to one week
Notes
Heavily adapted from Brown Eyed Baker

 

Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats with Mocha Ganache

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it onInstagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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White Chocolate Cinnamon Bun Rice Krispie Treats

White Chocolate Cinnamon Bun Rice Krispie Treats

Rice Kripie Toffee Fudge Candy Bars

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Vanilla Cookie Krispie Treats

Vanilla Cookie Krispie Treats {Gluten-Free}

 

How to Make Salted Caramel Without a Candy Thermometer

This basic recipe for salted caramel is all you need for the perfect sauce or dessert component.

How to Make Salted Caramel Without a Candy Thermometer

I’ve decided that January will be salted caramel month on the blog.  There are a few recipes that I’ll be sharing over the next few weeks that incorporate one of my favorite dessert components, but I didn’t want to dive into them without going over the basics.  This salted caramel sauce recipe is easy to make, even if you don’t have a candy thermometer!  It only requires a few basic ingredients, your stove, a heavy duty pot and a whisk.   The sauce is perfect for topping ice cream, fruit crisps, pies and other desserts but it also is great for enhancing things like cookies and cakes.  After you try it once, you might never go back to store-bought caramel!

How to Make Caramel Sauce

How to Make Salted Caramel Without a Candy Thermometer
 
This basic recipe for salted caramel is all you need for the perfect sauce or dessert component.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 1 cup
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons milk (any type)
  • ½ tablespoon coarse or flaky sea salt*
Instructions
  1. Combine the sugar and water in a medium** heavy-duty saucepan and cook over high heat, whisking until the sugar dissolves
  2. Let boil for several minutes without stirring until the mixture becomes a deep amber color, watching closely so it doesn't burn; Once the caramel begins to darken, the rest of the process happens very quickly (see photos above for caramelization process)
  3. As soon as most of the sugar water mixture is a deep amber, whisk in the cream (be careful as mixture will bubble up) and remove from heat immediately
  4. Whisk in milk and sea salt; serve warm or store covered in refrigerator up to two weeks***
Notes
*If looking to make a basic caramel sauce without the extra salt flair, reduce to ½ teaspoon
**If doubling, use a large pot and allow extra time for caramelization
***For thicker sauce, chill in refrigerator for a few hours before using or serving; re-heat gently if desired

 

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Over 25 Recipes Using Salted Caramel

Over 25 Recipes Using Salted Caramel

Salted Caramel & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

Salted Caramel & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

Salted Caramel Oreo Bars

Salted Caramel Oreo Bars

Vanilla Bean Apple Bundt Cake

This moist cake is loaded with chunks of apples.  The vanilla bean in the cake and the caramel sauce enhances the flavor in a wonderful way.

Vanilla Bean Apple Bundt Cake with Vanilla Bean Caramel Sauce

After tasting my mom’s version of Audra’s apple cake over the Jewish holidays, I couldn’t wait to put a spin on it myself.  My mom substituted butter for some of the oil and frosted it with cinnamon buttercream.  It was heavenly.  Of course I couldn’t leave well enough alone.

Vanilla Bean Apple Bundt Cake with Vanilla Bean Caramel Sauce

I made this cake almost a month ago but wanted to save it as the big Thanksgiving week post!  So if you have already finalized your dessert menu for Thursday, you might want to make some room because this cake needs to happen.

Vanilla Bean Apple Bundt Cake with Vanilla Bean Caramel Sauce

So many apples, moist cake, vanilla bean throughout AND in the caramel sauce… it is a winner.  I definitely ate more than my share but it was completely worth it.  Matt, actually, has not stopped talking about it.

Vanilla Bean Apple Bundt Cake with Vanilla Bean Caramel Sauce

And if you can’t figure out a way to make this happen for Thanksgiving, add the recipe to your list of desserts to make asap.  Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Vanilla Bean Apple Bundt Cake with Vanilla Bean Caramel Sauce

Vanilla Bean Apple Bundt Cake
 
Vanilla Bean Apple Bundt Cake Serves 16 – 20 Adapted from the Baker Chick
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 16 – 20 servings
Ingredients
  • For the apples:
  • 1½ pounds (~3) granny smith apples (4 cups peeled and chopped)
  • ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 whole vanilla bean
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • For the cake:
  • 13⅞ ounces all-purpose flour (~3 cups)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 8 ounces (1 cup / 2 sticks) unsalted butter melted and cooled
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • 8¼ ounces (~1 cup tightly packed light brown sugar)
  • 3¾ ounces (~1/2 cup) granulated sugar
  • 2 x-large eggs + 1 x-large yolk OR 3 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat over to 350 degrees
  2. Grease and flour a 12 or 14 cup bundt pan; set aside
  3. Cut the vanilla bean open and scrape the seeds from inside into a large skillet with 1 tablespoon of butter; place skillet over stove on medium heat and stir until butter is melted
  4. Add pod from vanilla bean, apples, and tablespoon of sugar; let cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until apples are softened
  5. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; set aside
  6. In the large mixing bowl of an electric mixer beat together the butter, oil, sugars and eggs for 3 minutes on low to medium speed; add vanilla extract and mix until combined
  7. Scrape sides of the bowl with a spatula and carefully add the dry ingredients while mixer is on low speed just until combined
  8. Remove bowl from mixer and fold in the apples; do not overmix
  9. Pour batter into prepared bundt pan and bake for 33-37 minutes, or until cake is lightly browned and a knife inserted into the cake comes out clean
  10. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack; set aside to cool while preparing caramel
Notes
Adapted from the Baker Chick
Make ahead tip: Prepare cake up to two days ahead of time and wrap tightly with seran wrap.

Vanilla Bean Caramel Sauce
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 1 cup
Ingredients
  • 5⅝ ounces (~3/4 cup) granulated sugar
  • ½ vanilla bean
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 4 fluid ounces (1/2 cup) heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons milk, any type
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
  1. In a heavy duty saucepan, combine granulated sugar, seeds scraped from vanilla bean, and water
  2. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly until sugar is dissolved
  3. Continue to cook for a few minutes until caramel reaches a deep amber (do not stir)
  4. Remove from heat and immediately whisk in heavy cream
  5. Stir in milk and sea salt
  6. Drizzle liberally over apple cake or refrigerate until ready to serve
Notes
Make ahead tip:  Caramel sauce can be made up to one week ahead of time. Just heat it gently over the stove or in microwave just prior to pouring over cake and serving

 

Vanilla Bean Apple Bundt Cake with Vanilla Bean Caramel Sauce

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Salted Caramel & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

Salted Caramel & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

I may be on vacation this week eating and drinking my way through Napa, but I’d still stop everything if I had more of these ice cream bars to eat.  These Salted Caramel and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars were an upgrade or shall I say “how can I make an amazing dessert the best it can be?” to the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars I made last summer.  By adding a layer of gooey salted caramel and swapping a hard chocolate shell for a soft layer of chocolate ganache I made something that I find myself craving again and again.

This recipe is actually one that I developed months ago and have been dying to share.  To make this heavenly dessert yourself, flip through the beautiful new Foodie Crush Magazine!

Salted Caramel & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

Peanut Butter Cake with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Icing & Chocolate Ganache for a SURPRISE virtual shower!

Peanut Butter Cake with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Icing & Chocolate Ganache

When Erin emailed me about participating in Caroline’s virtual baby shower I could not say yes fast enough. Caroline is one of my favorite bloggers and I’ve loved seeing her excitement about the soon-to-come baby over the last several months. It is so obvious that she and Logan are going to be amazing parents.

Peanut Butter Cake with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Icing & Chocolate GanachePeanut Butter Cake with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Icing & Chocolate Ganache

Deciding on a dessert to make in honor of Caroline wasn’t all that hard because I know she loves peanut butter and chocolate almost as much as I do. Plus, I’ve been drooling over the peanut butter cake in the Joy the Baker Cookbook for months now! An even better coincidence, I was able to bring this cake for my brother-in-law’s birthday a couple of weeks ago. He is also a peanut butter and chocolate lover. Smart people.

Peanut Butter Cake with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Icing & Chocolate GanachePeanut Butter Cake with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Icing & Chocolate Ganache

The cake has a lot of components but they all came together really well.  A peanut butter cake that was light and moist, not dense like I would have expected (it also had just the right amount of peanut butter flavor, not overwhelming at all) was the perfect base.  The salted caramel cream cheese icing could have been eaten by the spoonful and the rich chocolate ganache brought it all together very nicely.  I don’t usually mess with nuts in my cakes, but I decided to sneak in a layer of chopped honey roasted peanuts to add a contrasting texture.  The additional peanut flavor didn’t hurt either!

Peanut Butter Cake with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Icing & Chocolate Ganache

It seems I’m not the only blogger excited for Caroline!  Be sure to check out the other posts to see what other treats were involved at the shower:

Drinks:

Healthy Food For Living – Carrot Cake Colada

Bran Appetit – Strawberry Mint Sparkling Lemonade

Savory:

Baked Bree – Pancetta and Chive Quiche

Simply Whole Kitchen – Mini Quinoa Bites with Goat Cheese Pesto

Pastries:

Food Doodles – Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Filled Whole Wheat Cream Puffs

Kevin & Amanda – Baby Cinnamon Buns

Desserts: 

Baked by Rachel – Mini Lemon Lime Cheesecakes

Bake Your Day- No Bake Lemon Cheesecakes with Lemon Blueberry Sauce

Eat Good 4 Life – No Bake Mini Raspberry Cheesecakes

Fearless Homemaker – Angel Food Cupcakes with Whipped Vanilla Cream

Itzy’s Kitchen – 10 Grain Chocolate Chip Cookies

Texanerin Baking – 100% Whole Grain Chocolate Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Peanut Butter Cake with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Icing, Chocolate Ganache & Honey Roasted Peanuts
Serves 12-16

2 8 or 9-inch layers of peanut butter cake cooled (recipe below)
1 batch of salted caramel cream cheese frosting (recipe below)
1 batch of chocolate ganache cooled (recipe below)
1 cup honey roasted peanuts, roughly chopped plus additional for garnish

To put together cake, place 1 layer of peanut butter cake on a large flat plate (if you are traveling with the cake, it helps topout a little frosting underneath so that I does not slide)
Level bottom cake layer with a cake leveler or serrated knife
Top with about a cup of frosting and spread evenly; sprinkle chopped peanuts over frosting
Level second cake layer and then place it over frosting and peanuts
Frost top and sides of cake evenly with remainder of frosting
Drizzle chocolate ganache over cake as desired and sprinkle with a few extra peanuts as a garnish
Allow ganache to set about an hour before slicing and serving cake
Store leftover cake in refrigerator up to three days

Peanut Butter Cake
Source: Joy the Baker Cookbook

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
Grease two 8 or 9-inch round pans; line bottoms of the pans with parchment paper and then grease and lightly flour entire pans; set aside
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside
Cream peanut butter, butter and sugars in the large bowl of an electric mixer on medium-high speed for several minutes until light and fluffy; scrape sides of the bowl with a spatula and continue to beat for another minute
Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on medium speed until combined between each addition; scrape sides of the bowl again
Put mixer on low speed and slowly add half of the flour mixture; stop mixer and add buttermilk then mix on low just until combined; add remaining flour and mix on low speed just until mixture is almost combined; remove bowl from stand and fold batter with a spatula just until smooth
Divide batter evenly between pans and lightly tap on counter to remove air pockets
Bake cake for 15 minutes and then turn each pan 180 degrees; continue to bake for 10-15 minutes or until a knife or toothpick comes out of the center clean
Allow cake layers to cool in pans 10 minutes until carefully removing from pan and allow to completely cool on a wire rack

Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
Adapted from this Salted Caramel Buttercream

Ingredients:
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese
3 3/4 cup powdered sugar*
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup salted caramel sauce

DIrections:
Beat cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer on high speed for several minutes or until light and creamy
Add sugar, a cup at a time, mixing on low speed between each addition; increase speed to high and mix until fluffy
Add vanilla and caramel sauce mixing until well-combined and frostilists light and creamy
*If  consistency is too wet for cake add additional sugar 1/2 cup at a time and beat well until frosting reaches desired consistency

Chocolate Ganache
Source: Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey

Ingredients:
4 ounces semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon light corn syrup

Directions:
Put chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set aside
Put remaining ingredients in a heavy saucepan and place over medium-high heat; stir constantly until butter is melted
When cream mixture comes to a boil and bubbles begin to rise on entire surface, remove from heat and pour over chocolate
Allow chocolate to sit for one minute then stir to combine until smooth and creamy
Allow to cool before pouring over cake; if not using immediately, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to a week

Peanut Butter Cake with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Icing & Chocolate Ganache

Caramel Apple Cake Trifle and Giveaway!

Caramel Apple Cake Trifle

I don’t know about you, but I am swimming in leftovers.  The thing is, I can’t decide if it is a good or bad thing.  I have plenty of food to get us through the next few days.  But really, how much turkey can one person eat?  If only I could get sick of cookies the way I could get sick of turkey.  It just doesn’t seem to happen.

But even with half of a chocolate pecan pie left, a bowl of caramel sauce, dozens of cookies in my freezer, and a tight pants, I always am ready to bake something new.  After many Thanksgiving-related hours spent in the kitchen cooking, baking and cleaning, though, I welcome something easy.  Something where I don’t have to pull out my mixer, wait for butter to soften or open up a few cookbooks.  Something that only requires a few more minutes of active time on my feet.

Caramel Apple Cake Trifle

That is where this layered beauty comes into play.  While I don’t always advocate box mixes and canned fruit, there really is a time and a place.  And when you come up with something that incorporates those shortcuts, is creative, and looks impressive, no one has to know that a box mix was involved.  Usually your friends will be too busy asking for seconds to even think about it.

For this trifle, I used one of Dunkan Hines new decadent cake mixes.  I chose the Apple Caramel flavor because, how could a cake that is gooey and moist be bad?  It can’t.  Even by itself the cake tastes pretty good, but layered with Comstock apple pie filling, cinnamon flavored cool whip, cheesecake pudding and gingersnap crumbs it is even better.

And better news for you, I have some cake mixes to give away!  Two readers will win coupons for four free Dunkan Hines products (details below).
Caramel Apple Cake Trifle
Serves 8

Ingredients:
1/2 of a prepared Dunkan Hines Apple Caramel Cake
1 15.75-ounce can Comstock apple pie filling
1 8-ounce container of cinnamon flavored cool whip (if you can’t find that, fold cinnamon into regular cool whip to taste)
1 prepared 1-ounce container cheesecake pudding mix
1/2 cup gingersnap crumbs (about 8 cookies)

Directions:
Cut cake in to 1-inch cubes
Layer ingredients in a large trifle dish or bowl as follows: cake, pie filling, cool whip, cookie crumbs, pudding
Repeat layers again and top with extra cookie crumbs
Best served immediately; cover with saran wrap and store trifle in refrigerator up to 4 days

Caramel Apple Cake Trifle

Giveaway Details:

The giveaway is open through Wednesday, November 30 at midnight est.  The giveaway is open to anyone and there are three ways to enter (please leave a separate comment for each entry):

1) Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment below, anything you want!

2) Follow Keep It Sweet on Twitter

3) Like Keep It Sweet on Facebook

Disclaimer:  I received the coupons for Dunkin Hines cake mix and Comstock pie filling as a part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program.  All of the opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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Salted Caramel and Brownie Cheesecake Bars

Salted Caramel and Brownie Cheesecake Bars 14

This dessert has been haunting me since it came out of the oven.  I took photos yesterday morning and it was all I could do not to devour the entire pan, sliver by sliver.  These cheesecake bars are not for me so unfortunately (or fortunately) I was forced to keep my mouth shut after a quality control taste.

Salted Caramel and Brownie Cheesecake Bars 8

A thin layer of brownie crust topped with creamy salted caramel and a silky cheesecake layer makes these bars impossible to resist.  The salted caramel layer also adds a depth of flavor that forces you to try another bite.  Need another dessert for Thanksgiving or really something delicious just because? Make these.

Salted Caramel and Brownie Cheesecake Bars 9

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Salted Caramel & Brownie Cheesecake Bars

Brownie Layer:
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Cheesecake Layer:
2 8-ounce blocks reduced fat cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Caramel Layer:
1 11-ounce bag of caramel bits
1/3 cup milk (any type)
1 teaspoon sea salt

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

Line a 13×9 pan with parchment paper; set aside

Melt chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan over low to heat, stirring constantly

Remove from heat

Stir in sugar

Stir in eggs and vanilla

Whisk in flour until smooth

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for ~8 minutes or until center is glossy and edges start to look cooked

While brownie layer is cooling, prepare cheesecake filling

Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees

Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer using the whisk attachment; beat on high until cream cheese is smooth and creamy

Beat in sugar

Mix in eggs

Stir in flour

Stir in vanilla and set aside

Place caramel bits and milk in a microwaveable bowl

Heat in microwave 30 seconds at a time, stirring between each, until completely melted and smooth

Pour caramel over brownie layer; sprinkle salt over that

Pour cheesecake batter over brownie and caramel

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until edges begin to come apart from sides of pan and cheesecake is set

 Brownie recipe adapted from Bakers

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Salted Caramel and Brownie Cheesecake Bars 7

A reminder that the cheesecake blog party is less than two weeks away.  Send me your favorite links!

Chocolate Caramel Apple Bars {Guest Post}

apple bars4 small

I am so excited to share another wonderful guest post with you today!  Rachel is a blog friend turned real-life friend and she is here to share her recipe for Chocolate Caramel Apple Bars (how good does that sound?!).  This is a huge help to me because I am in the process of moving apartments.  I’m so excited for our new place but wow is it a lot of work.  In the meantime, enjoy Rachel’s post and be sure to check out her blog for other delicious recipes like Pizza Dip, Layered Oreo Cake Bars, and her Banana Bread Smoothie.

Hi Keep it Sweet readers! I’m Rachel! I blog about all things food over at The Avid Appetite and all things life over at The Peach & The Pit. I am so excited to be guest posting here today. Lauren was one of my first real ‘blog’ friends and I am so happy that we found each other! She keeps my stomach rumbling with her amazing and super creative dessert recipes and I always look forward to her posts each week.

When I first thought about guesting over here on Keep it Sweet, I knew that I would have to come up with a delicious and decadent dessert recipe that would be worthy of standing next to Lauren’s delectable creations. And since I know she loves chocolate, that obviously had to be a key ingredient.

I have long had a love affair with appley things. For as long as I can remember, anything with apples was instantly my favorite dessert. Pies, tarts, coffee cakes, crumbles, you name it. When I started thinking about a recipe to share with you, I knew that combining my love of apple, cinnamon and caramel with Lauren’s love of chocolate would surely be a winner. Right?

Right?!

Well let me tell you about them and perhaps you’ll agree. Ooey gooey apple and caramel scattered atop a layer of semisweet chocolate, then sandwiched between crumbly oat goodness and topped with even more sticky caramel sauce is what these bars are all about. And if that’s wrong, I don’t want to be right. You won’t either; trust me on this one.

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[print_this]Chocolate Caramel Apple Bars
*bar base adapted from Betty Crocker Cooky Book’s Date Bars
3/4 C shortening, such as Crisco
1 C brown sugar
1 3/4 C all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 C old fashioned oats
1 C semisweet chocolate chips
2 tart baking apples (such as Granny Smith), peeled, cored and diced
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 ½ C caramel topping or sauce (such as 1 jar Smucker’s caramel flavored ice cream topping)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 13×9″ pan with foil (one strip lengthwise, one strip widthwise), letting the foil hang over the edges. Grease well. Mix the shortening and sugar together in a bowl. I used my stand mixer, but a hand mixer (or even by hand) would work too.
In a mixing bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda and salt. Beat into the shortening & sugar mixture. Stir in the oats. Press 2/3 of the mixture into the greased, foil-lined pan.
Next, peel, core and chop the apples. Mix with the sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
Then, melt the chocolate (I do it via microwave) and carefully spread over the oat dough. It won’t be perfect, and that’s ok! Pour the apples evenly over the chocolate. Drizzle 1 cup of the caramel sauce all over the apples. Gooeyness!
Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over top and drizzle the remaining caramel sauce over that.
Bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cool and set. To cut up, remove from pan by using the foil as handles. Peel away and cut into bars. Gooey, decadent, stretchy pants-inducing bars.[/print_this]

I hope you enjoy these! I can’t wait to make them again and again!

News on the next blog party:  The theme is CHEESECAKE! and it will be posted on Tuesday, November 29th.  Send me your links by the 28th to keepitsweetlcl at gmail dot com.

Brownies for Breakfast?

Peanut Butter Caramel "Baked Brownies"

Do these brownies look gooey enough to you?

Peanut Butter Caramel "Baked Brownies"

They did to me too…

Peanut Butter Caramel "Baked Brownies"

…at 8:30 this morning.

What, you don’t eat brownies for breakfast?  Yeah, me neither.  I actually eat a wonderfully healthy breakfast every morning; think yogurt, oatmeal, fruit and peanut butter in some combination or another.  It is actually my favorite meal and I’m always a little sad when it’s over.

But back to the brownies.  I made this evil baked good last night (sorry, I’m not usually that mean to my desserts).  I woke up this morning ready to cut and photograph them to find out that about 75% of my work was underbaked….. uhoh.

Peanut Butter Caramel "Baked Brownies"

I started cutting the brownies and found that the fudgey inside was getting stuck on the side of the knife.  So I did what any normal person would do, I tasted them.

Peanut Butter Caramel "Baked Brownies"

And then I tasted them again.

And then a taste turned into a slice and into another slice…. and before you know it more brownies than I care to admit had disappeared.  Not my finest moment.  But hey, at least I can vouch for the recipe!

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Peanut Butter Caramel “Baked Brownies”

Serving Size: 36

Ingredients

  •  1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  •  2 tablespoons dark unsweetened cocoa powder (use a good one like Valhrona)
  •  1 teaspoon salt
  •  11 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate coarsly chopped (I used 60% cocoa)
  •  1 cup, 2 sticks, unsalted butter cut into slices
  •  1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
  •  1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  •  1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  •  5 large eggs at room temperature
  •  2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, separated
  •  1 7-ounce bag caramel candies
  •  3 tablespoons creamy salted peanut butter

Cooking Directions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
Grease a 13×9 pan lined with foil; set aside
Whisk together flour, cocoa and salt in a medium bowl; set aside
Place large heat-proof bowl over a pot of simmering water; in that bowl combine chocolate, butter and espresso powder
Stir mixture until completely melted and turn off burner
Leaving the bowl over the pot of water, whisk in sugars
Move bowl to counter and once at room temperature, whisk in 3 eggs
Whisk in remaining eggs and 2 treaspoons of vanilla, do not overbeat
Gently fold in flour mixture until just combined
Pour brownie batter into prepared pan and set aside
In a microwave-proof bowl, combine caramels, peanut butter and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Microwave for 1 minute and stir; microwave for additional 30-second increments until melted, stirring in-between
Drop spoonfulls of caramel mixture over brownie batter
Use a knife to swirl caramel through brownies; Don’t worry about it looking pretty, the caramel will sink into the brownie and that is ok
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a knife comes out clean being careful not to overbake

Notes:

I found the brownie recipe on Apples and Twinkies; it is originally from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito

Caramel filling from Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey cookbook

I baked the brownies for 25 minutes but I think 30-35 minutes would result in a perfectly baked brownie

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Peanut Butter Caramel "Baked Brownies"

Have you ever eaten dessert early in the morning?

Brownie Cheesecake Insanity

Let’s talk about this dessert.

Let’s talk about how many emails my mom and I exchanged regarding the details of this dessert.

Ok, let’s not, because it is a little embarrassing.  Let’s just say I started craving cheesecake around 7am every day over the course of a week or so.  No big deal.

We can’t help ourselves.  What is more fun to talk about than how you are about to gain 10 pounds your next dessert creation?

Cheesecake. Caramel. Brownie. Ganache.  Cashews. This is my life.  Sorry I’m not sorry.

After salivating over seeing this masterpiece on Sprinkle Bakes, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.  So many delicious components in one place, her recipe is genius!

But I do want my pants to fit, and trust me that isn’t easy these days.  So we brainstormed and we emailed and we emailed some more until we found our perfect balance of insane decadence and self-control.  I’m talking self-control with ingredients, not eating.  One step at a time.

What my mom ended up creating was almost perfection.  I may have to recreate it soon because I don’t have step-by-step photos or even a full photo for you.  Ok, or I just want to eat it again.

[print_this]Brownie Cheesecake Insanity

Inspired by Sprinkle Bakes

Ingredients:

1 batch of brownies baked in an 9-inch cake pan (we used No Pudge)

½ batch of Low Fat Banana Cheesecake without the crust prepared in an 9-inch cake pan

1/3 cup caramel sauce of choice

½ cup chopped cashews or cashew clusters

1 batch Chocolate Ganache & Gananche Frosting

Directions:

Remove cooled cheesecake from pan and freeze for 1-2 hours

When cheesecake is ready, remove cooled prepared brownie from pan and place on a serving plate

Drizzle caramel sauce over brownie and top with chopped cashews

Top that layer with cheesecake and put dessert in freezer

While dessert is freezing, prepare Ganache as directed.

Remove dessert from freezer and top the cheesecake with ganache; ice entire dessert with the Ganache Frosting

Store dessert in refrigerator before serving

Notes:

The Cheesecake Brownie may be easier to slice if frozen

I recommend lining your cake tins with wax paper for easy removal of brownie and cheesecake[/print_this]

Is there a dessert that you can’t stop thinking about?

Twix Gone Wrong

For Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be fun for Matt and me to make a homemade version of one of his favorite candies, Twix Bars.  I’d seen a ton of great-looking recipes around the blog world and thought it would be a good idea to take ideas from them but make my own version.  You can see different examples of homemade Twix Bars on Mangio Da Sola, Hoosier Homemade, Chocolate and Carrots, and Not Without Salt.

I started with the Mangio Da Sola shortbread crust, easy enough

shortbread crust

I thought that using packaged caramels would be a really easy shortcut for the middle layer; I guess I forgot how hard they get so quickly

caramels

Topped the caramel with salt, because I am kind of obsessed with that combination

caramel salt layer

And then melted milk chocolate; here you really can’t go wrong

chocolate layer

The first problem was getting the bars out of the pan; the shortbread was too crumbly and cutting through the caramel was tough

done 1

I think a foil-lined pan would have been better

done 8

These would have been so much better with a layer of caramel sauce or filling, instead of melted caramel candies (unless breaking a tooth is your goal)

done 5

We tried to eat them but it just wasn’t worth it, I may have eaten the entire layer of milk chocolate off the top… wasting chocolate is just wrong!

done 6

Have you had any desserts gone wrong recently?

Salted Caramel Buttercream

I’m kind of obsessed with caramel lately, especially when there is salt involved.

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Ever since I made these bars a few months ago, caramel has been on the top of my list for delicious dessert ingredients.  There is something about the rich flavor and silkiness that keeps you going back for more.  After seeing this Caramel Sauce at Trader Joes so many times, I finally gave in and bought a jar.  In order to keep myself from eating the entire thing with a spoon, I figured I should use it in a recipe.

caramel sauce

What better way to use the sauce than in buttercream?  It creates a delicious icing that has the perfect hint of salt and caramel flavors, but not in an overwhelming way.  To keep the buttercream from being too sweet, I used cream cheese as a thickening agent.  That way, I didn’t have to use too much extra sugar.

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This Salted Caramel Buttercream would go well on top chocolate or vanilla cake, maybe with some sort of peanut butter filling.  I used it to ice some low fat vegan chocolate cupcakes.  It’s all about balance;-)

Start with room temperature butter and cream cheese

butter and cream chs

Beat them in a mixer on high for a few minutes, until light and fluffybutter cream cheese creamed

Add confectioners’ sugar carefully, when mixed in turn mixer back to high speed

add sugar

Beat in vanilla

add vanilla

Then add the caramel sauce

add caramel

Beat on high speed until all ingredients are well combined; if frosting is too liquidly, add extra sugar

caramel buttercream

Use to top cake, cupcakes or eat with a spoon

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Salted Caramel Buttercream

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened (I used reduced fat)
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar*
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce

Cooking Directions

  1. Beat butter and cream cheese in a mixer on high for a few minutes, until light and fluffy
  2. Add powdered sugar carefully, when mixed in turn mixer back to high speed
  3. Beat in vanilla
  4. Then add the caramel sauce; beat on high speed until all ingredients are well combined
  5. *If frosting is not firm enough at this point, add more powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time

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frosted cupcake 6

Have you found any new products for baking recently?

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Ice Cream Pie with a New Year’s Eve Worthy Topping

A few months ago I received a few coupons for free Stonyfield’s ice cream or frozen yogurt.  I finally used the coupons just in time for their expiration date and was inspired to use my frozen yogurts to make a New Year’s Eve dessert.  I’ll leave a full review of the yogurt for a separate post, but I am very happy with the delicious dessert I came up with.

slice 1

You are looking at layers of crunchy gingersnap crust, pumpkin frozen yogurt, and chocolate frozen yogurt topped with a salted caramel cream sauce.  I came up with the dessert because chocolate and pumpkin are some of my favorite flavors, but as soon as I created it I realized that this mimics my favorite cheesecake bar.  Ok, so it wasn’t the first time using these flavors, but I promise that it was worth the lack of creativity for an excuse to make the topping.  This Frozen Pumpkin and Chocolate Yogurt Pie with Salted Caramel Cream Sauce was a very worthy end to 2010.

slice 3

I love that the filling to this pie is fat free frozen yogurt, because it makes you think you are being really healthy. Never mind that the crust has half a stick of butter in it and the sauce is based on sugar, butter and heavy whipping cream.  Details, details.  Moderation is key, or so they say.

The pie is really easy to make.  The sauce is a little more challenging.  I simplified it after my first attempt where I ended up with rock-hard chunks of sugar and butter.  It took a lot of soaking to clean that pot!

bad caramel

First thing to do is run your gingersnap crumbs through a food processor

gingersnaps 1

Grind until the cookies are mostly fine crumbs

gingersnaps 2

Melt the butter

butter 1

And mix it with the cookie crumbs

crumbs with butter

Next, add sugar

adding sugar

When the crust is fully mixed, press it down into a 9-inch spring-form pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray

crust in pan 2

Bake for about 8 minutes or until firm

crust baked

Allow the crust to cool and put the vanilla frozen yogurt in a medium bowlvanilla in bowl

The vanilla is the base for your pumpkin layer

pumpkin ingredients

Fold in the pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice until well combined

vanilla with pumpkin

Spread pumpkin layer over crust and freeze for about 10 minutes

pumpkin layer frozen

Meanwhile, remove the chocolate frozen yogurt from the freezer so that it is softened

chocolate fro yo 2

Spread chocolate yogurt over the pumpkin and freeze covered with foil until ready to serve

chocolate layer

To make the caramel, begin by heating sugar over low to medium heat in a small sauce pan

sugar in pot

Add butter

add butter to pot

Stir butter and sugar until butter is melted and fully combined with sugar

melting butter and sugar

Reduce the heat to low and add cream

cream added

Stir continuously until mixture bubbles

sauce bubbling

Then remove pot from heat and stir in corn syrup

adding corn syrup

Add salt and stir

adding salt

The sauce will be a thick liquid that hardens as it cools; store it in the refrigerator and microwave on a low setting to re-heat

sauce done

When it is time to serve the dessert, carefully remove outside of springform pan

whole ice cream pie

Cut slices and drizzle with caramel cream sauce

slice 2

When no one is looking, steal some extra sauce for cookies, fruit, your finger…

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Frozen Pumpkin and Chocolate Yogurt Pie with Salted Caramel Cream Sauce

Sauce adapted from the Serendipity Sundaes cookbook

Serves 8-12

Pie Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups of gingersnap cookie crumbs (about 25 cookies)

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

2 cups vanilla frozen yogurt (I used Stonyfield fat free vanilla)

1/2 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie seasoning

2 cups chocolate frozen yogurt (I used Stonyfield fat free chocolate)

Pie Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

Spray a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray, set aside

To make the crust, grind up about 25 gingersnaps in a food processor until fine; set cookie crumbs aside

Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in the microwave and pour over cookie crumbs

Add 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar and mix until well combined

Pour mixture into springform pan

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until firm

Remove from oven and allow to cool

Remove vanilla frozen yogurt from freezer a few minutes before use

Place the yogurt into a bowl and fold in the pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice until well combined

Spread pumpkin layer over crust and freeze for about 10 minutes

Meanwhile, remove the chocolate frozen yogurt from the freezer so that it is softened

Spread chocolate yogurt over the pumpkin and freeze covered with foil until ready to serve

Sauce Ingredients:

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1 teaspoon sea salt

Sauce Directions:

Heat sugar over low to medium heat in a small sauce pan

Add butter; stir until butter is melted and fully combined with sugar

Reduce the heat to low and add cream; stir continuously until mixture bubbles

Remove pot from heat and stir in corn syrup

Add salt and stir

When it is time to serve the dessert, carefully remove outside of springform pan

Cut slices and drizzle with caramel cream sauce

Notes:

The sauce is best served immediately; if not, store it in the refrigerator and microwave on a low setting to re-heat at 15 second intervals stirring in-between

The sauce will firm up over the ice cream, don’t worry, that is supposed to happen!

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slice 4

I hope that everyone enjoys a happy and healthy New Year!

What dessert did you have for New Year’s Eve?