Tag: brown sugar

CARAMEL CRUMB BARS


For the dough:
16 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature,  (2 sticks)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
 
For the filling:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

Directions:
1.  Position a rack on the lowest level of the oven; preheat to 350
degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with
nonstick foil.

2.  For the dough: Combine the 16 tablespoons of butter, the sugar and
salt in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer. Beat on
medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture is soft and light.
Add the vanilla extract and mix to incorporate.
3. Reduce
the speed to low, then gradually add 2 1/4 cups of the flour and beat
until well incorporated to form a smooth dough. Use a spatula to scrape
down the bowl and paddle.
4.  Remove the bowl from the
mixer; transfer three-quarters of the dough into the prepared pan. Use
the palm of your hand to press the dough down lightly and evenly. Chill
the dough-lined pan while you make the topping: Work the remaining 1/4
cup flour into the remaining dough with your fingertips so that it forms
small crumbs. Set aside at room temperature.
5.  For the
filling: Combine the butter, corn syrup, brown sugar and condensed milk
in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Allow the
mixture to boil gently, stirring often, for about 10 minutes, until the
mixture starts to thicken and darken slightly. Pour into a
stainless-steel bowl to cool for 5 minutes.
6.  To assemble:
Pour the cooled filling on top of the chilled dough, then scatter the
crumb mixture evenly over the top. Bake for about 30 minutes, until the
filling bubbles gently and is a deep caramel color and the dough and
crumb topping are baked through.
7. Cool in the pan on a
wire rack for 15 to 20 minutes, until lukewarm. Use the foil
to lift the slab of baked dough out of the pan and onto a cutting board
before it has cooled completely. Cut the slab into roughly 2-inch
squares.
Recipe adapted from Nick Malgieri

Whole Wheat Espresso Gazed Mini Doughnuts (baked, not fried)

I bought one of those mini doughnut pans, can you tell?  I got it on a whim, but the truth is, I’ve always turned up my nose at the thought of baked doughnuts, mini or otherwise.  I’m a native East Coaster, and we take our doughnuts very, very seriously.  I mean, why mess with an already perfect food?  I imagined them tough, dry, and not doughnut-like at all.  But hey, we all make mistakes, and in fact, I can’t tell the difference at all between these and regular fried doughnuts.  If anything, I like these better.  Soft and pillowy, not too sweet, with a subtle hint of nutmeg and cardamom. I love them!

I finished my first batch of soft, whole wheat doughnuts in two ways because I couldn’t make up my mind.  First I popped the warm doughnuts, fresh out of the pan, into a bag filled with confectioner’s sugar and gave them a good shake. 

The whole wheat flour and brown sugar gives the interior a warm toffee color. The fresh nutmeg gives them that unmistakable ‘doughnut’ taste.  These are classic, and they beg to be dunked in a cup of good strong coffee.

I went a different route with the second batch.  I made a thick espresso glaze and dipped the doughnuts in head first.  The result was the perfect mid morning bite. 

I do have a definite competitive streak, and sometimes it flares up when I go into a Starbucks.  Their mini doughnuts always tempt me, but I know if I order
them I’ll be disappointed.  They’re dry, and don’t taste anywhere near as good as they look.  That’s a sin in my book, and tantamount to throwing down the gauntlet.

This is the way mini doughnuts should taste, and my espresso glaze is so much better than pink frosting with sprinkles.  

Whole Wheat Mini Baked Doughnuts
makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen mini doughnuts
oven to 325F
dry ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cups light brown sugar (packed)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp cardamom (you can substitute cinnamon, or leave it out)
wet ingredients:
2 large eggs, beaten
1 cup milk, cream, or half and half
1 Tbsp vanilla paste (or regular vanilla extract)
1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

  • Whisk together the dry ingredients, making sure the brown sugar is completely dispersed and there are no lumps. 
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well.
  • The easiest way to fill the little doughnut wells in the pan is to pipe it.  Spoon the batter into a large baggie and cut a hole in one corner.  
  • Lightly spray the doughnut pan with cooking spray, and then pipe the batter into the doughnut wells, filling each about 2/3 to 3/4 full.  (or according to the instructions that came with your particular pan)
  • Bake for 9 minutes until the doughnuts spring back when touched.
  • Cool briefly and then remove the doughnuts from the pan.  
  • Shake the warm doughnuts in a bag filled with confectioner’s sugar, or glaze with Espresso Glaze.

Espresso Glaze
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp instant espresso powder
several Tbsp milk or heavy cream

  • Dissolve the espresso powder in 2 Tbsp of the milk or cream.  Let sit for a few minutes to allow the powder to dissolve.  Mix in the sugar, and enough additional milk or cream to get a glaze consistency.  There is no right or wrong to this— go thicker if you want a heavier, frosted look, go thinner for a more translucent glaze effect. 

Notes:  Don’t forget the nutmeg, it’s the flavor that makes a doughnut taste like a doughnut.  Trust me.

These were very very good.  I’m a baked mini doughnut convert.

PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS

…Because a holiday platter is not complete until you ad the peanut butter blossoms!


  • 48 HERSHEY’S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates

  • 1/2 cup shortening

  • 3/4 cup REESE’S Creamy Peanut Butter

  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar

  • 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

  • 1 egg



  • 2 tablespoons milk

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • Additional granulated sugar



Directions


1. Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates.


2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large
bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar;
beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together
flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.


3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on parchment lines cookie sheet.


4. Bake 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each


cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.


Makes about 48 cookies.

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