10/7/08

TWD: Caramel Peanut- Topped Brownie Cake


YAY! This is my first Tuesdays with Dorie post! I have been wanting to join this group of bakers for awhile- I always get really excited on Tuesdays because they all post such beautiful pictures of their weekly bake from Baking from My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan. Well last week I went out to Barnes and Noble and (using my husband's gift card which he received for his birthday-bad wife!) purchased my very own copy of the exquisite and very heavy cookbook.


This week's recipe was selected by Tammy of Wee Treats by Tammy and you can find the recipe for Caramel Peanut-Topped Brownie Cake on her blog. I, like so many other TWD bakers, was pretty nervous when I saw that this week's recipe involved homemade caramel as the star component of the cake. I watched my mom make caramel once for a caramel pie and I all that I remember is that it involved a water bath, a candy thermometer, and a lot of sweating. Well, I am happy to report that this was nothing like that!


The cake was very easy and straightforward to throw together. It really tastes and feels like a brownie- it is a little drier though- but I feel like that is on purpose so that it can support the weight of all of those peanuts covered in caramel (it also soaks up a bit of the hot caramel- heaven!).
Here's the big surprise- the caramel part was easy too! Now I'll be honest- I watched the sugar like HAWK! I never left the stovetop. And it took about 27 minutes (not 5-10 as Dorie suggests) to turn to the desired deep amber color.


I was so pleased with the flavor, texture, and lovely color! The cake got rave reviews from everyone who tasted it- I will definitely be making this again- it would be great to serve for dessert at a dinner party.

11 comments:

Wandering Coyote said...

That's impressive! It looks so decadent. I know caramel can be intimidating, but once you get used to it, it's OK. Just make sure you always have some ice around in case you get a burn because caramel burns are like acid burns - trust me! You're daughter certainly seems to approve of your new cookbook!

Rosie said...

Emily Rose this is one very impressive cake! You really have done a great job and kudos to you sweetie - well done!

Love the pic of your little princess :)

Rosie x

hoagiefest 2020 said...

Welcome! This group is incredibly friendly, and they're an endless source of information regarding both baking and miscellany.

Your daughter is adorable! D'awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

I've seen Candy Corn Hershey's Kisses at Target and my local supermarket (called Giant). They've been incredibly hard to find, and I haven't even seen the OTHER limited Fall flavors. I live ten minutes outside of Hershey, PA, and they don't even have them in their main store/tourist center, Chocolate World.

Marthe said...

Your cake looks delicious!! Welcome to TWD!

Nickki said...

Welcome to TWD! I'm glad you enjoyed the cake. I loved it too and I agree, it would be brilliant for a dinner party :)

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

I've been to a few blogs that made this cake for TWD, you did an amazing job on yours!

Emily said...

Haha, what kind of stove does Dorie use anyway? I've had to increase time on her recipes a few times.

Great book though! Have fun with TWD. The cake looks awesome.

Prudy said...

Yours came out so well! Congratulations! Your baby is just too too adorable.

Bungalow Barbara said...

Congratulations! Your cake is lovely and your little "cookbook reader" is lovelier still. Welcome to TWD!

Anonymous said...

Your cake looks great! The caramel through everyone off!

Cherie
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