The first recipe I had to try simply because it was the same flavor profile of my favorite seasonal drink from Starbucks: Salted Caramel Mocha in the form of Salted Caramel Brownies. I found this recipe in Food Network magazine and when I saw it was from Ina Garten I knew it would be good. There are a few extra steps involved versus a normal brownie recipe but they are worth the time to avoid messing up the consistency. The choice of salt that you sprinkle on top is very important. Do not use regular table salt. I made the mistake of using kosher flakes thinking that would work out fine but it was the wrong kind of saltiness. Sea salt does make a big difference.
Salted Caramel Brownies**
(Prep Time: 25 min, Total Time: 1 hr, Serves: 12 large brownies)
- 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 8 ounces plus 6 ounces Hershey's semisweet chocolate chips
- 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 3 extra-large eggs
- 1 1/2 tablespoons instant coffee granules, such as Nescafe
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 5 to 6 ounces good caramel sauce, such as Fran's
- 2 to 3 teaspoons flaked sea salt, such as Maldon
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9 x 12 x 1 1/2-inch baking pan. Melt the butter, 8 ounces of the chocolate chips, and the unsweetened chocolate together in a medium bowl set over simmering water. Allow to cool for 15 minutes. In a large bowl, stir (do not beat) together the eggs, coffee, vanilla, and sugar. Stir the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and allow to cool to room temperature (it is very important to allow the batter to cool before adding the chocolate chips, or the chips will melt and ruin the brownies).
In a medium bowl, sift together 1/2 cup of the flour, the baking powder, and salt and add to the chocolate mixture. Toss the remaining 6 ounces of chocolate chips and the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour in a medium bowl and add them to the chocolate mixture. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.
Bake for 35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Don't overbake! As soon as the brownies are out of the oven, place the jar of caramel sauce without the lid in a microwave and heat just until it's pourable. Stir until smooth. Drizzle the caramel evenly over the hot brownies and sprinkle with the sea salt. Cool completely and cut into 12 bars.
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The final dessert recipe is for Old Fashioned Soft Pumpkin cookies. There used to be an administrative assistant at work that would make something like these cookies every fall and I thought they were the best things ever. When I ran across this recipe I hoped they would be similar to what she used to make and they are close enough to make me very happy.
(Prep Time: 10 min, Total Time: 43 min, Serves: 36 cookies)
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
- 1 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease baking sheets. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle Glaze over cookies.
For Glaze: Combine 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl until smooth.
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