These are really rich. Almost too much so. And I don’t mean to deter you, because what could be bad about butter, caramel, peanuts and chocolate? Just make sure you have a big glass of milk next to you while eating.
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Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Tomorrow my sister is leaving to study abroad in Italy for four months. I don’t think I have words to express my jealousy, except that I’m using her as an excuse to get my mom to tag along with me and visit. I figured I’d see her off with a good American dessert that she didn’t ask for and probably won’t eat because it isn’t banana bread. But it’s a good parting dish, comparable to the level of deliciousness of baked goods that she will eat for breakfast in the next few months as she tries to order something in Italian and receives something else, so much better.
I didn’t want anything too rich since I’m recovering from eating everything as of late. I had my doubts because the batter was insanely thick and I had a difficult time spreading it, but I put it in the oven anyway, and it came out puffy, golden and delicious with a crust along the top from the caramelized sugar. 
It’s light and buttery with just enough chocolate. It’s insanely good.
Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Coffee Cake
via SmittenKitchen
Cake
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick, 4 ounces or 113 grams) at room temperature
1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
3 large eggs, separated
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
3 cups (375 grams) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon table salt
Filling and Topping
2 cups or 12 ounces semi- or bittersweet chocolate chips or coarsely chopped chocolate bars
1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-x-13-inch baking pan. If not nonstick coated, cover the bottom with a rectangle of parchment paper. Set pan aside.
In a large bowl, cream butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together into a separate bowl. Alternately mix in sour cream and then dry ingredients into butter mixture until both are used up and the batter is smooth and very thick. In a medium bowl, beat eggs whites until stiff, then fold into batter.
In a small dish, whisk together sugar and cinnamon for filling and topping.
Spread half the cake batter in the bottom of prepared pan. Sprinkle with half of cinnamon-sugar mixture and 1 cup of chocolate chips. Dollop remaining cake batter over filling in spoonfuls. Use a rubber or offset spatula to gently spread it over the filling and smooth the top. Sprinkle batter with remaining cinnamon-sugar and remaining chocolate chips. With the palm of your hand, ever-so-gently press the chocolate chips a bit into the batter. No need to submerge them, you just want to make sure they adhere bit.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, rotating halfway through, until a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
salted chocolate caramels
I’m bringing in the new year with caramels. Literally. What other way is there to do it?
It’s going to be a good year, I can feel it. I am going to college. I got a job (interview, but I’ve never gotten so close to getting one). I made this chocolate bark last week that was insane. And this weekend, I got a free magazine subscription, did two physics labs, and made these caramels. The only problem (besides my personal struggle to pass physics) is that I can’t get them off of the wax paper, which is making it increasingly difficult for me to eat them and type simultaneously. My personal bias aside, I have never tasted better candies in my life.
I had no problems making them. They are easy. And delicious. And you need a candy thermometer to cook them so you’ll need to fork over about 5 dollars which is completely and utterly worth it for a tray of salted chocolate caramels in your own kitchen.
Also, I want to learn to drive. I have been trying to find out how online, but it seems the internet (along with my parents) isn’t keen on the idea of me behind a wheel. I thought I could avoid learning how to navigate the new york subway system but apparently I’ve just been set back 17 years. Meh.
Salted Chocolate Caramels
from Gourmet
2 cups heavy cream
10 1/2 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (no more than 60% cacao if marked), finely chopped
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon pieces
2 teaspoons flaky sea salt such as Maldon
Vegetable oil for greasing
Line bottom and sides of an 8-inch straight-sided square metal baking pan with 2 long sheets of crisscrossed parchment.
Bring cream just to a boil in a 1- to 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan over moderately high heat, then reduce heat to low and add chocolate. Let stand 1 minute, then stir until chocolate is completely melted. Remove from heat.
Bring sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt to a boil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil, uncovered, without stirring but gently swirling pan occasionally, until sugar is deep golden, about 10 minutes. Tilt pan and carefully pour in chocolate mixture (mixture will bubble and steam vigorously). Continue to boil over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until mixture registers 255°F on thermometer, about 15 minutes. Add butter, stirring until completely melted, then immediately pour into lined baking pan (do not scrape any caramel clinging to bottom or side of saucepan). Let caramel stand 10 minutes, then sprinkle evenly with sea salt. Cool completely in pan on a rack, about 2 hours.
Carefully invert caramel onto a clean, dry cutting board, then peel off parchment. Turn caramel salt side up. Lightly oil blade of a large heavy knife and cut into 1-inch squares.
Posted in candy, chocolate
Tagged candy, caramel candy, chocolate, chocolates, salted chocolate caramel, salted chocolate caramel candies
1 Comment
pumpkin cheesecake, cookie dough truffles, chocolate gooey butter cake, and my sister cooked.
Right now I’m surrounded by an impressive collection of packages of empty butter from thanksgiving. I guess that kind of implies that my Turkey Day was amazing. I cooked so much and most of it was Paula Deen inspired- she’s my new favorite person. If you haven’t already, I highly suggest you visit her on the site where I first discovered my love for her- here. Don’t ask questions.
But seriously; there was the usual as per dinner dishes, but I made all of the desserts. Chocolate gooey butter cakes. Pumpkin cheesecake. Apple crumble. And because Thanksgiving is just a glorious day of eating, I made cookie dough, sans-eggs, to be eaten in bite-sized pieces. Because really, why not? Also, my sister made cornbread. It was really good- I’m so proud- it’s her first step up from boiling water.
And I just have to take a minute and say how amazing my friends are. They make food. And bring it to me (of course I love them for other reasons but this was a particular highlight). Michela made cinnamon brioche and Anna made bread pudding with caramel sauce, packed in little containers (she insisted it was best warmed up). It was the best pre-thanksgiving stomach warm-up ever.
Pumpkin Cheesecake
from Paula Deen
I want to marry this. Seriously.
Crust:
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 stick melted salted butter
Filling:
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin
3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
1/4 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
For crust:
In medium bowl, combine crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter. Press down flat into a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.
For filling:
Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, sugar and the spices. Add flour and vanilla. Beat together until well combined.
Pour into crust. Spread out evenly and place in oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.
Double Chocolate Gooey butter Cakes
from Paula Deen
This chocolate butter cake is delicious, but tastes more like a brownie than the completely insane pumpkin gooey butter cake.
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted, plus 8 more tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted, plus additional butter, for greasing pan
1 (18.25-ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1 egg, plus 2 eggs
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 to 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Lightly grease a 13 by 9-inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, 1 egg, and 1 stick melted butter, and stir until well blended. Pat mixture into prepared pan and set aside.
In a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the remaining 2 eggs, and the cocoa powder. Lower the speed of the mixer, and add the powdered sugar. Continue beating until ingredients are well mixed. Slowly add the remaining 1 stick of melted butter, and the vanilla, continuing to beat the mixture until smooth. Stir in nuts with a rubber spatula. Spread filling over cake mixture in pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the cake; the center should still be a little gooey when finished baking. Let cake partially cool on a wire rack before cutting into pieces.
Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles
from All Recipes
Note: I didn’t use toffee baking bits- just all chocolate chips. Also, I left out the chocolate coating. I found them to be rich enough without it.
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup toffee baking bits
1 pound chocolate confectioners’ coating
Beat the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in the vanilla extract. Add flour, alternately with sweetened condensed milk, beating well after each addition. Fold in the chocolate chips and toffee bits; mixing just enough to evenly combine.
Using a small cookie scoop, make 1-inch balls and place them on waxed paper lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
Melt the chocolate coating in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each melting, for 1 to 3 minutes (depending on your microwave). Do not overheat or coating will scorch. Dip the dough balls in the chocolate coating, allowing any excess to drip off. Place on waxed-paper lined baking sheets and sprinkle the truffles with additional toffee pieces. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes. Store in the refrigerator.
pumpkin gooey butter cake
This short and sweet: I know that as a food-loving person, It’s my duty to be appalled by Paula Deen’s cooking methods. I’m supposed to tell you that I am a cook/blogger who doesn’t need butter to make food taste good. Well, guess what? Butter tastes good. Especially in these pumpkin gooey butter cakes. We can’t get enough of them. We ate them too fast to take pictures- which is why the one above isn’t even my own (I’m so ashamed!). They are, all kidding aside, one of the most delicious things I have ever made. Gooey and so so moist, with a surprisingly irresistible crust from the cake mix. Lord praise them. I love butter.
Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake
from Paula Deen
Cake:
1 (18 1/4-ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 egg
8 tablespoons butter, melted
Filling:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.
To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter, and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mix well. Spread pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to overbake as the center should be a little gooey.
Serve with fresh whipped cream.
Variations: For a Pineapple Gooey Cake: Instead of the pumpkin, add a drained 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple to the cream cheese filling. Proceed as directed above.
For a Banana Gooey Cake: Prepare cream cheese filling as directed, beating in 2 ripe bananas instead of the pumpkin. Proceed as directed above.
For a Peanut Butter Gooey Cake: Use a chocolate cake mix. Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter to the cream cheese filling instead of the pumpkin. Proceed as directed above.
Posted in Bars, cake, dessert, Pastry
Tagged butter cake, Cake, gooey butter cake, paula deen, pumpkin cake, pumpkin gooey butter cake
1 Comment
snickerdoodle cupcakes
I measure my seasons by the arrival of different drinks at Starbucks. Yesterday when I saw the Eggnog Latte and Peppermint Mocha on the menu, I knew that winter is coming— though it also marked another important day! I honestly don’t know whether I should be proud or ashamed of this, but I obtained “gold status” at Starbucks, which basically means nothing except that I have a slight obsession. The drinks make me feel festive, and as I reeled over all of my cookbooks looking for something to inspire me, I realized there was not one thing I wanted to make from them. I know that is slightly hard to believe, seeing that I have at least two dozen, but the heart wants what it wants, and my food moods are very particular. I went to Barnes and Noble and sat myself down with a pile of cookbooks and my computer, and eventually settled on a cupcake cookbook. I never make cupcakes— I don’t know why. They’re God’s way of saying sorry for our stomachs’ not being able to fit normal sized cakes — so he gave us little ones instead. I was actually surprised about how creative the cupcake flavors are — I have a lot to catch up on.
The cake tastes like cinnamon. The frosting does too. It’s a super-moist spiced cupcake that makes you think of Christmas. Just crumble some snickerdoodle cookies over the top and they’re perfect. 
The recipe is coming, I promise!
pecan sticky buns
I don’t really do Halloween. I have bad experiences associated with the holiday, usually involving being carted around by my dad who tried to get me to trick or treat while I embarrassingly resisted. No offense dad. The day would always end up with us at a restaurant, eating dinner and people-watching as if we were standing behind a glass window. If there wasn’t the opportunity for candy, I really would have given up on the holiday much sooner. Clearly I have an inclination towards baked goods, but when I do eat candy I love me some reese’s, snickers, and m&ms. I sort through bowls and bowls for them. I have been known to just buy the whole darn halloween pack with my favorites so I don’t have to be picky. Things haven’t changed much over the years.
Before my transition from baked goods to candy, I was craving one last thing. The sticky sticky buns from Flour Bakery. Don’t ask me why- the heart wants what it wants. When I looked up the recipe, though, it seemed to be overly involved, and maybe I just wasn’t in the mood to make something that elaborate, but I ditched that plan and looked for another recipe. I can’t honestly say this recipe is quick and simple. It took longer than I wanted it to and annoyed me every step of the way, as I wanted to leave my house but couldn’t because the dough was rising, ready to be rolled, rising again, and ready to be baked. These buns were such a pain.
But they are so, so good. The dough is heavenly, and it makes a huge difference to make it homemade. It tends to harden a bit after the first day, but nothing a quick zap in the microwave can’t fix and more, making it bubbly and delicious. I don’t even need to sell you on the caramelized pecans, do I?
Mmmm!
Ultimate Sticky Buns
from Bon Appetit
Dough
1 cup warm water (105°F to 115°F)
4 teaspoons dry yeast
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup dry nonfat milk powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 large eggs
4 1/4 cups (or more) all purpose flour
Glaze
1 1/4 cups (packed) golden brown sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
1/4 cup water
2 cups pecan halves
4 teaspoons sugar
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
For Dough:
Mix 1/4 cup warm water, yeast, and pinch of sugar in small bowl. Let stand until foamy, about 8 minutes. Using electric mixer, beat remaining sugar, butter, milk powder, and salt in large bowl until well blended. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Mix in remaining 3/4 cup warm water and yeast mixture, then 3 cups flour, 1 cup at a time. Using rubber spatula, mix in 1 cup flour, scraping down sides of bowl frequently (dough will be soft and sticky). Sprinkle 1/4 cup flour onto work surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour if sticky, about 8 minutes.
Butter another large bowl. Add dough; turn to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise in warm area until doubled, about 2 1/2 hours.
For Glaze:
Butter two 10-inch round cake pans with 2-inch high sides. Beat brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter, honey, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in medium bowl to blend. Spread half of glaze in bottom of each prepared pan. Sprinkle 1 cup pecans over each.
Punch down dough. Divide dough in half. Roll each dough piece out on floured work surface to 12×9-inch rectangle. Brush any excess flour off dough. Spread remaining butter over dough rectangles, dividing equally. Mix 4 teaspoons sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over rectangles. Starting at 1 long side, tightly roll up each rectangle into log. Cut each log into 12 rounds. Place 12 rounds, cut side down, in each prepared pan, spacing evenly. Cover with plastic wrap. (Can be made 1 day ahead; refrigerate.) Let buns rise in warm area until almost doubled, about 1 hour (or 1 hour 25 minutes if refrigerated).
Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake buns until deep golden brown, about 30 minutes. Run small knife around pan sides to loosen sticky buns. Turn hot buns out onto platter. Cool about 30 minutes and serve.
Posted in breakfast, cake, dessert, nuts, Pastry
Tagged cinnamon buns, dessert, pecan sticky buns, sticky buns, ultimate sticky buns
4 Comments
