#65) Gooey Pecan Cake

This cake was made because my two besties are coming for supper today - my maid of honour and a high school friend, who is her bf :) Although we are all looking forward to the BBQ, this dessert will be the highlight of the meal, I think. The chocolate cake is spiced up with some cinnamon, and the pecan topping is gooey and sweet enough to cut the cinnamony taste. Looking forward to sharing this one!!!

Pecan Topping

Ingredients

3 tbsp butter (not margarine)
3 tbsp margarine
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 tbsp water
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup pecan halves

Steps

-Melt butter and margarine in a medium saucepan.
-Add brown sugar and water. Bring to a boil and keep boiling for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mixture will be smooth.
-Add chopped pecans to mixture. Add remaining pecans. Set aside.

Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sour cream

Steps

-Grease a 10-inch springform pan. To prevent leakage wrap the outside of the pan with aluminum foil. (I had some issues with leakage, so I would caution you to place to pan on a foil-lined cookie sheet before putting it in the oven. There is nothing worse than burnt sugar in the bottom of the oven!)

-Place a tine can filled with dried beans in the centre. I also lined this with foil and sprayed it.

-Preheat oven to 350°F.

-Beat butter with sugar and vanilla.

-Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.

-Combine dry ingredients. Add to egg mixture alternately with sour cream (3 additions dry, 2 additions sour cream).

-Add pecan topping to bottom of greased pan. Pour batter over top and spread out.

-Bake for 50 - 60 minutes. Let cool in pan for 30 minutes. Turn out onto cake pan, replacing any nuts stuck to the pan.

#64) German Chocolate Chewies

I know, I know... The topping on these suckers looks less than appetizing, BUT it sure does taste good!

These little things were made as a treat for a cousin of mind who has a sweet tooth just as big as mine :) They are quite similar to one of my favorite cakes, German Chocolate Cake, but the bite-sized version is even better. The brownie cookie is great on its own, with a chewy texture and chocolately flavour, but the gooey crunchy topping adds a great new twist!

Brownie Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2/3 cup shortening
1 tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 cups chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet and milk)

Steps

-Preheat oven to 375°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
-Beat together brown sugar, shortening, water, and vanilla. Add eggs. Beat well.
-Combine flour, cocoa, salt, and baking soda. Add to shortening mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.
-Drop by rounded tablespoonful and bake for 7-9 minutes.
-Cool completely.

German Topping

Ingredients

1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup white sugar
1/8 cup shortening
1/8 cup butter
2 egg yolks
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Steps

-Combine evaporated milk, sugar, shortening, butter, and egg yolks in a saucepan. Stir over medium heat until thickened.
-Remove from heat. Add vanilla, coconut, and pecans. Cool completely.
-Frost cookies.

*Makes 3 dozen cookies.

#36) Big Banana Crunch Muffins

One of the downsides to living in Labrador actually became a surprising plus today at the grocery store... The past week has been absurdly cold here, like -50°C - so cold that on Thursday and Friday the schools were closed!!! Now, how on Earth did this turn into a plus for me??? Well, fiance and me went grocery shopping today and as soon as we walked in the door there were these HUGE bags of bananas that were in terrible shape, pretty much black all over - they must have got hit with the cold on the way to the grocery store. Perfect for loads of banana recipes, right? Oh yeah, I was all over it! The best part is that these giant bags of recipe-ready bananas were only 99¢!!! Stay tuned for more banana baking :)

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup mashed banana
2 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup crushed pecans

Steps

-Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a jumbo muffin pan.
-Cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well.
-Add banana and beat well.
-Stir together dry ingredients. Add to banana mixture in three additions.
-Stir in chocolate chips and pecans.
-Divide between 6 jumbo muffin cups.
-Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.