October 5, 2008

Caramel Temptation

Tragically, having started a (gasp!) diet last Monday, I was more than apprehensive when it came to this week's Tuesday's With Dorie challenge, Caramel Peanut-Topped Brownie Cake. Would I be able to control myself with a recipe that is essentially the love child of a cake and a snickers bar? Overcompensating for my inability to indulge, I went a little overboard by making a mini cake exactly like the original recipe, and cupcakes with salted caramel frosting.


They look pretty good right?

Well....I've got to admit I found the cake a little dry. I usually underbake recipes because I prefer a fudgier texture but this cake went from jiggly and underdone to dry and overdone so quickly! I need to try this recipe again to figure out where I went wrong because it should have been fabulous. Even the cupcakes were dry and hardened to a rock-like consistency the second day. The best part of this experience was making the caramel. It took a long time to reach the right amber hue (it was dangerously close to burning when I took it off the heat) but it smelled and tasted terrific. I used half to make the Caramel Peanut Topping and used the rest to make Salted Caramel Frosting similar to the recipe found here.

This frosting is too die for! If it it weren't the the "D" word, I would have eaten straight out the bowl. Well, I did sneak a few spoonfuls- a girl's gotta have a little fun!

14 comments:

Teanna DiMicco said...

That looks so good! The cupcakes look great as well!

CM said...

Your caramel looks so good!! Love the cupcakes too- I also didn't enjoy the cake itself- it was dry and I found the flavor to be less chocolatey than I wanted, not to mention that it had turned into a giant crater before it even came out of the oven.

Engineer Baker said...

Ooo - that frosting looks delicious! Cute cupcakes.

Rebecca of "Ezra Pound Cake" said...

I totally admire your restraint. These look delicious!

Kimberly Johnson said...

Your cake and cupcakes look delicious!

Anonymous said...

I've found that going through the act of cooking or baking something helps me get the taste and flavors out of my system so I'm able to just have one serving. I've lost 40 lbs and have been at my goal weight since April. I bake a lot and make ice cream, but don't over indulge.

Tammy said...

they look very good! thanks for making my pick

kimberly salem said...

mine was dry too :( your cake and cupcakes look gorgeous!!

Peggy said...

I have no restraint. I have to eat it. I admire your restraint however. And your caramel looks delicious.

Rachel said...

Oooh those cupcakes with salted caramel frosting look delicious!

Marthe said...

I agree with you, the cake was a bit dry. Your cupcakes look soooo cute!!

Carmen Cooks said...

ooh, tuesdays with dorie on a diet sounds dangerous! :) i'm sorry your cake was dry but you are not alone as i have read that on many other twd blogs. i was lucky and mine was very moist! your caramel looks great!

Shari said...

TWD + Diet! Impossible! Your cake looks great!

Bungalow Barbara said...

My cake was dry, too. I admire your self-control! Hope you are able to have one small serving of what you make. Or at least a quick lick of the spatula...