This week’s Tuesdays with Dorie recipe was selected by Wee Treats by Tammy. The full recipe can be found on her site or by purchasing the ever popular book Baking: From My Home to Yours
The cake portion was very easy to make and didn’t require any fancy materials. Just a few bowls and a whisk to whip up the cake.
I decided to make two mini-cakes using my two small springform pans. I don’t have a large springform pan anymore. It was stolen when I took a cheesecake to the school’s Christmas party. And I’m still bitter about it…
So I popped the two cakes in the oven and fed Bo some dinner. Then, after Bo went to bed and the cakes were cool, I made my first batch of homemade caramel. And it was yummy!!
The first step is to combine sugar, water, and corn syrup in a heavy bottomed pan. Then, let it boil until it starts to turn a deep amber color. Once the color starts to appear add cream and butter. I can feel my arteries clogging…
The next step is to combine the peanuts and the caramel to make the topping and poor it over the cake. Yum!
My caramel slid down the side of my springform pan, so I don’t have any pretty pictures of the finished product. But it does look as good as it tastes — ooey and gooey! I took one of the mini-cakes to school to share with the lunch crew and the yearbook girls and we had the other cake last night for supper.
We had to hack into the cake using the blunt end of a plastic spoon during lunch, but it still tasted good. My mom liked the cake and said that the top tasted like a Pay-Day candy bar. Mike agreed with Mom but felt like it would have been better over a more fudgey brownie. Mike and I both prefer more fudge-like brownies instead of cakey ones. Bo had a few bites of the cake (sans peanuts and caramel) and really loved it. What’s not to love about chocolate cake??
Overall, I probably won’t make the cake again, but the caramel topping is definitely a keeper. Apples dipped in that peanut and caramel topping would be a pretty amazing fall treat!
Ooo – this topping would be fabulous with apples. Great idea!
Oh brother, that cake looks sinful. And I can see that the topping could have many uses. Yum!
I will have to try that caramel topping! Yum!
I love apples dipped in caramel, delicious! Your cake looks fabulous. 🙂
I am SO making that caramel with apples. And thank goodness I wasn’t the only one who thought this cake couls have been better. Whew.
Can’t wait to see the pie you created tomorrow!
Well, it looks delicious. And there are few better combinations than caramel and apples.
I have been wondering if i will still be able to bake as much when/if I have babies! Now I know I can! thanks for making my pick!
Ooh, I have a bunch of the caramel left over, but I hadn’t thought of eating it with apples. Great idea! I had to laugh at the image of you digging in with a plastic spoon. =) I took most of my cake to my daughter’s daycare, and I think that’s pretty much what they did.
your cake looks delicious 🙂 darn those springform pan thieves. i agree the cake part should have been moister.
I liked the topping best, too! I agree about wanting a more fudgy cake.
Your cake looks great, I agree: it was a bit too dry!!
Apples and caramel are a great idea!! Especially after such a rich cake!