Chocolate Brownies with Caramel, Peanut Butter, and Pecans
I will preface this recipe by saying that my finished product looked/felt nothing like a brownie. I used a wooden popsicle stick to test the cooked batter and, at 45 minutes bake time, the stick was still covered in uncooked batter. I continued to let it bake for 5 minutes at a time until the brownie was thoroughly cooked (about 55 minutes). Unfortunately this resulted in the top layer being over baked and turning out incredibly hard (to the point that it broke off in pieces when I tried to cut the "brownies" out of the pan). Not wanting to waste an entire pan, I cut the "brownies" into small rectangles, "moulded" them a bit, and told everyone it was Caramel, Peanut Butter, Pecan Fudge. They loved it, it was a success.
Crust:
2 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
Caramel Filling
1 pound vanilla caramels
1/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans (I did not toast mine)
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
Brownie
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
6 oz unsweetened chocolate
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Note: To toast the pecans, place on a baking sheet in a 350-degree over for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned and fragrant.
Preheat over to 350 degrees.
To make crust: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press firmly into an ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Set aside.
To make the caramel filling: In a medium-sized saucepan over low heat, melt the caramels with the cream, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Remove from the heat and pour over the graham cracker crust. Use a spatula to spread it evenly. Sprinkle the pecans and peanut butter chips over the caramel. Set aside.
To make the brownie: In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a medium sized saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and the chocolate, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from heat, transfer to a large bowl and allow mixture to cool for 5 minutes. Add the sugar, eggs, and vanilla, and beat well. Add the dry ingredients and mic thoroughly. Pour the batter over the pecans and peanut butter chips to completely cover the caramel layer. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the pan comes out with moist crumbs attached. Do not overbake.
Cool to room temperature, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and allow to set overnight before cutting and serving.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Recipe
I wanted to share my recipes since they were such a hit at the party tonight. All of these can be found in More From Magnolia- Recipes from the World Famous Bakery and Allysa Torrey's Home Kitchen by Allysa Torrey.
Pumpkin Walnut Cookies with Brown Butter Frosting
Cookie:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts
Frosting (I doubled this recipe in order to make enough to fully cover the tops of all the cookies)
2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Garnish
Walnut halves (I left these off because I didn't end up having enough walnuts. It might be a good idea to include them if you are cooking for strangers because it's an automatic tip-off that the cookies contain nuts)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
To make the cookies: In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, allspice, cinnamon, and ginger, Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until evenly combined. Add the eggs, pumpkin, and vanilla and beat well. Add the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Stir in walnuts. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet, leaving several inches in between for expansion. The batter will seem extremely soft compared to most cookie doughs, but it will firm up during baking. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool the cookies on the sheets for 10-12 minutes, and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the frosting: Place the sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl. Set aside.
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, cook the butter until lightly browned, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat, add to the other ingredients, and beat until smooth and creamy. Cover until ready to use.
When the cookies are completely cool, spread a generous amount of frosting on each cookie, and top with a walnut half. Let the icing set before stacking the cookies or they will stick together.
According to the cookbook, these are also really good with cream cheese frosting.
Pumpkin Walnut Cookies with Brown Butter Frosting
Cookie:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts
Frosting (I doubled this recipe in order to make enough to fully cover the tops of all the cookies)
2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Garnish
Walnut halves (I left these off because I didn't end up having enough walnuts. It might be a good idea to include them if you are cooking for strangers because it's an automatic tip-off that the cookies contain nuts)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
To make the cookies: In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, allspice, cinnamon, and ginger, Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until evenly combined. Add the eggs, pumpkin, and vanilla and beat well. Add the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Stir in walnuts. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet, leaving several inches in between for expansion. The batter will seem extremely soft compared to most cookie doughs, but it will firm up during baking. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool the cookies on the sheets for 10-12 minutes, and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the frosting: Place the sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl. Set aside.
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, cook the butter until lightly browned, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat, add to the other ingredients, and beat until smooth and creamy. Cover until ready to use.
When the cookies are completely cool, spread a generous amount of frosting on each cookie, and top with a walnut half. Let the icing set before stacking the cookies or they will stick together.
According to the cookbook, these are also really good with cream cheese frosting.
Friday, October 30, 2009
42 Days
I've been trying to keep this updated as much as possible, but I feel like I've missed a few things. Sorry about that! I will definitely be making another update tomorrow for Halloween.
Actually, I'm a little disappointed in Halloween. This was going to be our first Halloween as a family and Jon was really excited to dress Arianna up and take her trick or treating. We were even going to dress up (which he never does and I usually don't).
Late last week we found out that Jon would be needed elsewhere. The USS New York is being commissioned and the commitee has asked the Marines to be present with one of the Ch-53's. I am actually really excited and proud that Jon gets to be a part of this. It's a historic event and a once in a lifetime chance. As soon as he told me that they asked him to go, I encouraged it. He said he would think about it. Well, before he could make up his mind, the USMC made it for him and we were told that he would be going. We got all of his stuff together and I dropped him off at work this morning at 4am. I heard from him around noon, but he wasn't supposed to be talking on the phone so he had to let me go. I am hoping he will have a chance to call tomorrow.
The most exciting part about this is....Arianna and I get to go to New York too! Since this is such a big event, the USMC blocked off rooms at The New Yorker Hotel for military spouses at a discounted rate (a "discounted rate" in NYC is $200/night if anybody was curious). I looked at the website though and it looks like a nice place. I honestly don't care how nice it is (well as long as it's not The Roach Motel), WE'RE GOING TO NEW YORK!!!!! I am beyond excited as I've always wanted to go. We're going to leave on the 8th and drive halfway, then drive the remainder on the 9th. We'll be there until the 11th. the 10th is the Marine Corps birthday and cake cutting ceremony. So much going on and I will have a ton of pictures when we get home!
In the meantime, Arianna and I are just hanging out. She misses her daddy which is hard. She's gotten used to him coming home every night that having him not come home is confusing to her. I think she will be ok though. She knows that he's working and that we're going to see him in a few days. She is also excited about her grandma coming to visit and reminds me every day that "grandma is going to come to our new house". She's such a good girl. Tonight she helped me bake. We made Pumpkin Walnut Cookies with Brown Butter Frosting and Chocolate Brownies with Caramel, Peanut Butter, and Pecans. We're going to bring them to the Halloween party tomorrow.
Actually, I'm a little disappointed in Halloween. This was going to be our first Halloween as a family and Jon was really excited to dress Arianna up and take her trick or treating. We were even going to dress up (which he never does and I usually don't).
Late last week we found out that Jon would be needed elsewhere. The USS New York is being commissioned and the commitee has asked the Marines to be present with one of the Ch-53's. I am actually really excited and proud that Jon gets to be a part of this. It's a historic event and a once in a lifetime chance. As soon as he told me that they asked him to go, I encouraged it. He said he would think about it. Well, before he could make up his mind, the USMC made it for him and we were told that he would be going. We got all of his stuff together and I dropped him off at work this morning at 4am. I heard from him around noon, but he wasn't supposed to be talking on the phone so he had to let me go. I am hoping he will have a chance to call tomorrow.
The most exciting part about this is....Arianna and I get to go to New York too! Since this is such a big event, the USMC blocked off rooms at The New Yorker Hotel for military spouses at a discounted rate (a "discounted rate" in NYC is $200/night if anybody was curious). I looked at the website though and it looks like a nice place. I honestly don't care how nice it is (well as long as it's not The Roach Motel), WE'RE GOING TO NEW YORK!!!!! I am beyond excited as I've always wanted to go. We're going to leave on the 8th and drive halfway, then drive the remainder on the 9th. We'll be there until the 11th. the 10th is the Marine Corps birthday and cake cutting ceremony. So much going on and I will have a ton of pictures when we get home!
In the meantime, Arianna and I are just hanging out. She misses her daddy which is hard. She's gotten used to him coming home every night that having him not come home is confusing to her. I think she will be ok though. She knows that he's working and that we're going to see him in a few days. She is also excited about her grandma coming to visit and reminds me every day that "grandma is going to come to our new house". She's such a good girl. Tonight she helped me bake. We made Pumpkin Walnut Cookies with Brown Butter Frosting and Chocolate Brownies with Caramel, Peanut Butter, and Pecans. We're going to bring them to the Halloween party tomorrow.
Notice the KitchenAid in the background, untouched. All mixing was done by hand tonight (note: do not try to cream a cold stick of butter by hand) :)
The graham cracker crust and pecans/peanut butter chips for the brownies. Arianna mixed the butter and the crumbs for the crust.
Melting the caramel to go over the graham cracker crust
After the caramel is poured and the pecans and PB chips are scattered over the top
Making the chocolate for the brownies (before the sugar and flour are added)
The finished product! (ignore all of my test holes, they took longer to bake than the recipe suggested)
Pumpkin and walnut cookies ready to be fristed tomorrow!
Tomorrow we're going to frost the cookies and make vanilla/vanilla cupcakes! I love baking!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
35 Days
We spent the evening carving pumpkins!
Scooping out the "guts"
That pattern was too big so he drew it freehand
We let her pretend to carve a smaller pumpkin
Just like daddy
Checking out the finished product. She said "It's perfect, daddy!"
Sitting outside
Sunday, October 18, 2009
29 Days
Yesterday Jon took Arianna and I to Mike's Farm in Beulaville. It's a family owned farm that they turned into a business and it's a lot of fun in the fall. They have hayrides, a bakery with homemade fudge, a small petting zoo, and a pumpkin patch.
Arianna at the petting zoo
Walking with daddy
Getting a pumpkin painted on her face. It was so cute!
At the end of the hayride there is a pumpkin patch where you get to pick a pumpkin.
Friday, October 16, 2009
28 Days
I finally went and got my military ID today! It's not as cool as Jon's with the little gold security chip and sparkly EGA, but it does give me permission to shop at the MCX. Yay, cheap stuff! I am not pleased to report though that DEERS has replaced the DMV as the Number 1 Worst Place To Get Your Picture Taken.
I'm glad I finally got it though! Monday we're going to JAG get a POA so I can take care of getting Arianna and I enrolled in Tricare without having to drag poor Jon out of work again just to sign one piece of paper. Seriously, people are NOT joking when they tell you to get a POA as soon as you get married (if you're military, that is). Very inconvenient not to have one.
On Wednesday, Arianna and I went and hung out with Stephanie. She's married to one of the guys in Jon's shop and is a very neat lady! She owns two horses that she keeps at a stable out here so she took us out to see them. Arianna thought this was very cool, she loves animals almost as much as she loves babies
Stephanie and one of the horses
When we got home, Arianna decided that she needed some "sunglasses" even thought it had been gray and raining all day. Love the imagination!
I LOVE this outfit!
I just realized that this entry is acronyms galore!
Dinner tonight: Sweet and sour pork with sauteed peppers and onions and white rice
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
22 Days
It was a good day! We didn't really have any plans so we spent the morning at home and then headed over to Morehead City for lunch at Panera Bread. It was DELICIOUS and very similar to Paradise Bakery in AZ. After lunch we stopped at another Best Buy so Jon could look at the different routers they had and make sure the one we got was a good one (it was). I drooled over the Canon 50D, but I didn't get to play with it because apparently someone dropped it and broke it yesterday. What a terrible thing to do to a 50D :(
We browsed for a little while before heading back toward Havelock to visit Brad, Lisa, and Remy. Jon works with Brad and Remy is their adorable 4 month old son. He was definitely a hit with Arianna, she loves babies.
We browsed for a little while before heading back toward Havelock to visit Brad, Lisa, and Remy. Jon works with Brad and Remy is their adorable 4 month old son. He was definitely a hit with Arianna, she loves babies.
Remy
I love baby feet
Remy and his dad
On the way home, it stated to get windy and rainy so we rolled down Arianna's window to see how she would react to it. We thought she might freak out, but she LOVED it!
Sticking her hand out the window to feel the rain
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