Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

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This cake is pretty much the essence of fall. A moist spice-flavored cake with chunks of apples throughout, and a ribbon of sweetened cream cheese filling in the middle. When Tracey posted it last month for Baked by Rachel’s “An Apple A Day” event, my jaw literally dropped. I knew I had to make it immediately. I only had a 10-cup capacity Bundt pan though, and the recipe called for a 14 cup. I tried to make it using the 10-cup, scaling back the amount of cake and filling – but it just wasn’t right. Turns out the larger pans are harder to find than I though, luckily my mom came across one though – and I made the cake again. Sheer perfection!

And the praline frosting? I was thinking I wouldn’t like it – that it would be gritty. Wrong, on all counts! It was smooth and thick, and complemented the cake perfectly. Not to mention the gorgeous presentation it lended. Will definitely be making this one at least a couple times more before apple season is out! Enjoy!

Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

For the cream cheese filling:
1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the cake:
1 cup finely chopped pecans (plus extra for garnish, optional)
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups peeled and finely chopped apples (Gala, Honeycrisp, Rome)

For the praline frosting:
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 350º.

To prepare the filling: Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended and smooth. Add egg, flour, and vanilla; beat just until blended. Set aside.

Toast the pecans in the 350º oven for about 8 minutes, until fragrant.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, both sugars, the cinnamon, salt, baking soda, nutmeg and allspice together. Add the eggs, oil, applesauce and vanilla and mix with a rubber spatula until just until combined. Fold in the toasted pecans and chopped apples until evenly distributed.

Spoon two-thirds of apple mixture into a greased and floured 14-cup Bundt pan. Spoon cream cheese filling over apple mixture, leaving a 1-inch border around edges of pan. Swirl filling through apple mixture using a paring knife. Spoon remaining apple mixture over the filling.

Bake at 350º for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack, and cool completely (about 2 hours).

To make the praline frosting, bring 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup butter, and 3 Tbsp. milk to a boil in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly; boil 1 minute, whisking constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Gradually whisk in powdered sugar until smooth; stir gently 3 to 5 minutes or until mixture begins to cool and thickens slightly. Pour immediately over cooled cake.

Source: Southern Living, September 2011 via Tracey’s Culinary Adventures

Blackberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake

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There are few things in this world that are better than a slice of cake for your breakfast. Especially one like this – a moist yellow cake,  studded with plump blackberries, and topped off with a delicious buttery crumble infused with lime zest? You had me at cake.

Coffee cakes are a great option for any gathering really, be it brunch or as a dessert after dinner. I love the fact that it only uses a couple of bowls, making for super easy cleanup. It’s been a busy week around here; cupcake orders to fill, doctors appointments, field trips – but I was craving something sweet.

Happened across some gorgeous blackberries at the store, and remembered a coffee cake that the lovely Annie had posted a while back. Modified it a little using the blackberries, and it turned out gorgeous! If you’re looking for something special for your breakfast table this weekend, look no further. Have a good weekend, everyone!

Blackberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake

For the crumb topping:
½ cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp lime zest
4 tbsp. (2 oz.) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1/2 cup sliced almonds

For the cake:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups fresh blackberries

Preheat the oven to 350? F.  Lightly grease and flour and 10-inch springform pan.  To make the crumb topping, combine the flour, sugar and lime zest in a small bowl and mix to combine. Pour in the melted butter and mash with a fork until the mixture is crumbly. Set aside.

To make the cake, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.  In a 2-cup measuring cupl, whisk together the eggs, sour cream and vanilla until well blended. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the liquid ingredients.  Fold together gently until evenly combined and no streaks remain, being careful not to over mix.  Pour the  the batter into the prepared pan in an even layer.  Dot the top of the batter with the blackberries. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the berries. Sprinkle sliced almonds over the crumble.

Bake until the topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 38-42 minutes.  Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 20 minutes.  Remove the sides of the springform pan.  Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into wedges.

Source: adapted from Williams-Sonoma, via Annie’s Eats

Caramel Toffee Crunch Cheesecake

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Do you love cheesecake? Do you love caramel and toffee? Then, my friends, this cheesecake is for you. I spotted it on Pinterest a while back, and after wiping the drool from my keyboard, knew I had to make it. But, I kept on putting it off for one reason or another – and never got around to it. Thankfully, last Sunday (after making a fresh batch of caramel sauce) this cheesecake popped into my head. I had no other choice but to make it! And, oh my heavens. It’s almost too much…

Almost. To begin with, the graham cracker crust is covered with a layer of chocolate before adding the cheesecake. Caramel sauce is added to the cheesecake batter to add some color and flavor complexity. Let me just say that when I added that gorgeous caramel sauce to the bowl of the mixer, and watched the paddle swirl it in – I think I heard angels singing. And for the topping, crushed Heath bits are mixed with caramel sauce to throw a little crunchy texture into the mix. Finally, for a little extra decoration, a whipped cream border is piped along the edge.

This cheesecake is perfect for all the special occasions we have coming up in the next couple months, in the form of the Holidays. I highly encourage you to not wait as long as I did to make it! Have a great weekend, everyone.

Caramel Toffee Crunch Cheesecake

For the crust:
3 cups graham cracker crumbs  (about 2 packages crushed graham crackers)
1/2 cup toffee bits
pinch salt
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), melted
1 1/4 chocolate chips

For the cheesecake:
3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/4 cup caramel sauce
4 eggs, room temperature

For the topping:
1 cup whipping cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
2/3 cup caramel sauce
1/2 cup toffee bits, plus more for garnish

For the crust, preheat the oven to 325º. Combine everything except the chocolate chips in a large bowl. Press into a 9-inch springform pan. Push all the way up the sides and press in firmly using the bottom of a drinking glass or measuring cup. Sprinkle with the chocolate chips. Set the springform pan on a baking sheet. Bake for about five minutes or until the chocolate chips are melty. Smooth them out with an offset spatula. Put in freezer to chill while you prepare filling.

For the filling; in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment cream cheese, sugar, and sour cream on medium speed for 3 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and caramel sauce, and mix on medium speed for another minute. Reduce speed to low and add the eggs, one at a time, and mix until combined. Pour into chilled crust. Wrap the springform pan with a couple of wet dishtowels (this helps the cheesecake to cook more slowly and evenly). Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes. The center will still be jiggly. Remove from the oven and cool on a cooling rack on the counter for 2 hours before placing in refrigerator. Refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.

To top the cheesecake; in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar, and continue whipping on high until stiff peaks form.

In a medium bowl, combine the caramel and 1/2 cup of toffee. Place toffee mixture on top of the chilled cheesecake, and carefully spread out using an offset spatula. Pipe some whipped cream along the edge and garnish with more toffee bits.

Source: adapted from Yammie’s Noshery

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes

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I’d had my heart set on making these cupcakes when Annie posted them last year. Sadly, pumpkin season fizzled out before I had the opportunity to make them last fall. So, I made sure that they were at the top of my “most bake” list for this year! So glad that I did too, because they are wonderful.

A hefty dose of espresso powder goes into the cupcake batter, to really give the strong coffee flavor that I crave when I hear the word “latte”. Then, to add all those warm and inviting flavors to the party – like pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Topped all off with a whipped cream frosting and a drizzle of caramel sauce? How can you say no?

So now you can have your Pumpkin Spice Latte, and eat it too. I hope that everyone enjoys these as much as we did! They pretty much make the b est breakfast ever (just sayin’). We’re looking forward full of pumpkin festivities this weekend. Hopefully, we’ll be brewing our pumpkin ale on Sunday, provided that we can find Sugar Pumpkins. So, keep your fingers crossed for us on that front. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tbsp. espresso powder
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. grated nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. salt
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup buttermilk
4 large eggs
½ cup coffee or espresso, for brushing

For the frosting:
2¼ cups heavy cream, chilled
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar

For garnish:
Ground cinnamon
Caramel sauce

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, espresso powder, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Stir together and set aside. To the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachement, add the pumpkin, granulated sugar, brown sugar, buttermilk and oil. Mix to combine. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. With the mixture on low speed, add the flour mixture in two additions, mixing just until incorporated.

Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Transfer the pans to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the cupcakes from the pans. While the cupcakes are still warm, brush them two or three times with the coffee or espresso, allowing the first coat to soak in before repeating. Let cool completely.

For the frosting, place the heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip on medium-low speed at first, gradually increasing to high speed. Blend in the confectioners’ sugar gradually. Whip until stiff peaks form, being careful not to over-beat. Use a pastry bag fitted with a decorative tip to frost the cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and drizzle with caramel sauce. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate.

Source: adapted from Annie’s Eats