Valentine's Day Dessert

We're having profiteroles for a treat tonight since it's Valentine's Day. We are actually going out for dinner this weekend to celebrate so we're keeping it quite simple tonight. I've already checked out the restaurant's menu and I will be having cheesecake for dessert!

Are you celebrating with something sweet? I find it difficult baking when it is only for me and my husband because there is always too much.

We ate 6 cookie dough brownies each in 24 hours the other week.... Well I had 6, I think my husband only got 4 :P That's what can happen when I bake...

Caramel Brownies x 4 / Recipes!

Todays inspiration is... CARAMEL BROWNIES. Caramel... YUM... brownies.... YUM!

Recipe below is for pic no. 3

Double Chocolate Brownie with Caramel Frosting

2 (1-oz.) unsweetened chocolate baking squares

2 (1-oz.) semisweet chocolate baking squares

1 C butter, softened

2 C sugar

4 large eggs

1 C all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 C chopped, toasted pecans, divided (optional)

3/4 C semisweet chocolate chips, divided

Caramel Frosting

Microwave chocolate squares in a small bowl at medium heat until melted. Stir chocolate until smooth.

Beat butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating just until blended.

Add flour and salt, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in vanilla, 1/2 C pecans, and 1/2 C chocolate chips. Spread batter into a greased and floured 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 C pecans and 1/4 C chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until set. Cool completely on a wire rack. Frost evenly with Caramel Frosting.

Caramel Frosting

3/4 C butter

2 C sugar

1/2 C buttermilk

12 large marshmallows

1 Tbsp light corn syrup

1/2 tsp baking soda

Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Stir in sugar and remaining ingredients. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 25-30 minutes or until a candy thermometer registers 234 degrees (soft boil stage) Remove from heat. Beat at high speed for 5-7 minutes or until frosting thickens and begins to lose its gloss.

Other pictures and more recipes here, here and here. They all sound and look GOOD.

Brownies + Cheesecake

My little sister is graduating from the equivalent of college (UK) in a few weeks and I will be baking for the occasion. I'm going to Sweden for the celebrations and am now in the process of deciding what to bake!
I'm definately making the Espresso Cheesecake Brownies (Bottom picture). My little sis loves brownies, coffee and cheesecake! So its perfect! Recipe here.

The top picture is a recipe from this week's "Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard". They are cheesecake brownies too, with a hint of coffee. I'm thinking about taking that recipe (below) and substitute the coffee for something else, probably something orange-flavoured. The thing is, one of my other sisters does not like coffee at all but loves brownies and cheesecake and I want her to have some cheesecake brownies too. She adores all things chocolate orange! :) Not sure what to use yet! Any tips?

Eric Lanlard's Cheesecake Brownies (From Channel 4's website)

Ingredients

• 150g unsalted butter
• 200g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
• 250g golden caster sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Pinch of salt
• 3 eggs
• 100ml espresso
• 100g plain flour

For marble topping

• 150g cream cheese
• 60g caster sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• rd's cheesecake brownies need no introduction

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/gas mark 3. Grease a 20cm square tin with butter and line with baking paper.

2. Melt the butter and chocolate in large heatproof bowl set over a smaller pan of just simmering water. Remove from heat once melted and leave to cool.

3. Stir the sugar, vanilla and salt into the cooled butter and chocolate mixture, then whisk in the eggs and beat until smooth. Stir in the coffee, then sieve in the flour and beat until glossy.

4. For the marbling mixture, in a bowl beat the cream cheese until smooth and then stir in the sugar and vanilla. Finally add the beaten egg.

5. Spoon the brownie mixture into the lined tin then top with the marble topping mixture, using a knife to cut through the topping mixture and create a marbled effect. Be careful not to over mix or you will lose the effect.

6. Bake for 30 minutes, covering the tin with foil for the last 10 minutes of cooking to keep the top from over browning. Remove from the oven, allow to cool in the tin then cut into squares.

Brownies and Blondies Extraordinaire

1.Toffee Coffee Brownies: Rich dark chocolate brownie, caramel chocolate spread, and coffee flavored whipped cream
2.Totally Coco Crispy Ricotta and Brownies Torte
3.Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Bottom Cheesecake
4.Magic Blondies filled with chocolate chips, coconut, walnuts, and cranberries.