Caramel Swirl Bars

These are ooey gooey delicious.

 

  • 1  1/2 cups sifted flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • pinch of salt
  • 1  1/2 cups packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
  • 1 pkg. (14 oz. bag) caramels, wrappers removed
  • 1/4 cup half and half

Sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt and set aside.
Mix together the sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla and pecans until well blended. Fold in the flour mixture and reserve 1 cup of the batter. Spread the remaining batter in a greased, foil-lined cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 15 minutes or until firm.

In the microwave, melt the caramels and half and half in a bowl for 2-3 minutes until melted. Cool for about 5 minutes and the mixture becomes thickened. Pour over the baked layer in the pan, spreading to 1/2 of the edges.

Drop the reserved batter by spoonfuls over the caramel layer. Draw knife through to give a marbled effect.

Bake for 20 minutes until the center is set. Cool on a wire rack and cut into bars.

Caramel Cheesecake with Pecans

These are the kinds of desserts I like…to make….to eat…whatever.

 

  • 2 pkgs. cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup berry sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla
  • 2 large eggs
  • 24 caramels
  • 2 tbsp. milk
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 graham cracker crust…store bought will do nicely.

In your electric mixer, cream the cheese, sugar and vanilla until well blended (no lumps). Add the eggs and again beat until smooth.

Melt the caramels in the milk, stirring until completely smooth and pour over the crust.

Top the cream cheese mixture over the pie and bake in a 350 oven for 35-40 minutes until almost set. Cool and refrigerate overnight.

OMG this is good. Wow! Now, where did I hide the ice wine?…later

Silk Chocolate Cheesecake

I know I said earlier that I wanted to make a lemon dessert for our dinner, but ran across this one and it is such a proven winner, I changed my mind. I have talked about this one, but not posted the recipe…..until now.

Once you make this and try it, you will make it over and over again.

  • 1  1/4 cup toasted, finely chopped pecans
  • 2 tbsp. melted butter
  • 2 tbsp. brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup berry sugar
  • 32 caramels, unwrapped – have fun! Melted
  • 3 tbsp. cream
  • 3 pkg. cream cheese
  • 3 eggs
  • 8 squares Baker’s dark chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
  • 1/2 cup toasted pecan halves
  • jar of Caramel sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Draw out a circle of parchment paper to cover a 9 inch spring form pan.  Combine the pecans, melted butter, brown sugar and carefully spread over the bottom of the pan, on top of the parchment paper.

Peel the wrap off the caramels and with the cream, put in a bowl over a pot of simmering water to completely melt.  Stir occasionally to make sure it is smooth.  Pour this over the pecan mixture in the pan and cool completely.

Beat the softened room temperature cream cheese, berry sugar and eggs on low to completely blend and add to the melted chocolate.  Pour over the cooled caramel layer.  Wrap the pan with tin foil up to and including the sides of the pan and place in a larger pan filled 2/3 full with boiling water.  Bake for 45-50 minutes. Run a knife around the edge to loosen and cool completely. Cover and place in the fridge overnight.

When ready to serve, drop a generous spoonful of caramel sauce on the plate and set a slice of the cheesecake on top, making sure it stands up.  Drizzle in a zigzag pattern with some caramel sauce across the top and add a couple of pecans.  If you don’t think this is enough, put a dollop of whipped cream on the side.

Note: The water bath will prevent the cheesecake from splitting and cracking. Just sayin’.

Also note…I have been baking for over 40 years and for the first time, I tried to take  a shortcut and put the caramels in a microwave safe bowl and melt them. It almost set our house on fire. The smoke was horrible and, of course, it broke the bowl. Never again