Tag Archives: Pecans

Turtle Brownies

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Yields 24

Ingredients

Brownies

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, cubed
  • 6oz semi-sweet chocolate, broken into pieces
  • 3 eggs + 1 yolk
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ¾ cup plain flour
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon espresso powder
  • 1 Tablespoon milk powder
  • 1 cup pecan pieces, toasted
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup caramel sauce (homemade or store bought)

To Finish

  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup milk
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 4oz semi-sweet chocolate
  • ½ teaspoon expresso powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup pecan pieces, toasted
  • ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup caramel sauce (homemade or store bought)
  • 1 teaspoon sea-salt flakes

Method

  1. Set your oven to 350°F and prepare a 9” x 9” baking tray with oil/baking parchment leaving an overhang each side
  2. Melt the butter and chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (or bain-marie), stirring occasionally. Once melted, remove from the heat, and allow to cool
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the eggs, egg yolk and sugar until the mixture is thickened and fluffy, then, in a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, milk powder and whisk to combine
  4. Add the cooled chocolate mixture into the egg/sugar mixture. Fold together until uniform in color
  5. Fold in the pecan pieces and chocolate chips
  6. Pour your mixture into the prepared tray and gently spread to level the surface. Place in the oven for 25-30 minutes, then remove from the oven when baked
  7. Leave to cool on a wire rack for 10 mins, then after this time use a chopstick, or cake dowel, to poke holes over the surface of the brownie, taking care NOT to poke the full way through the brownie layer
  8. Once the surface of the brownie has been poked with holes, pour the caramel sauce over the surface of the brownies and spread with a spatula to ensure the caramel gets to all of the holes
  9. Place in your refrigerator for between 1 hour to allow the caramel to soak the brownie layer and firm up
  10. After this time prepare the frosting. Remove the brownie pan form the fridge and set on a counter ready to be frosted – you’ll need to move quickly
  11. In a wide pan combine the sugar, butter and milk. Heat over a medium heat until melted, stirring to combine, then increase heat to bring to a boil. Continue to boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly
  12. After the minute, remove the pan from the heat, then quickly but carefully add the chocolate pieces and stir constantly. When then chocolate appears to be nearly fully combined, add in the salt and espresso powder and stir for a few seconds more until fully combined and uniform in color.
  13. Pour the frosting over the caramel surface of the brownie layer.
  14. AA If needed tilt to brownies to ensure full surface coverage
  15. Whilst the frosting is still setting, sprinkle the surface with the pecan pieces and chocolate chips, gently pressing if needed to ensure they stick. Return the brownies to the fridge for at least another hour to allow the frosting to set
  16. After this time, remove from the fridge and give one last drizzle of caramel over the surface and sprinkle with some sea salt flakes to finish
  17. These brownies are exceptionally rich and decadent so keep than in mind when slicing. I usually divide into 12, and then cut in half again to give 24 brownie “bars” in total
  18. Serve and enjoy!

Schmoo Torte

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Makes 1 gateau, serves 8-12

Ingredients

Cake

  • 12 large egg whites, at room temperature
  • a pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 1/3 cups white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup cake flour
  • 1 ½ cups ground, toasted pecans
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

Frosting & Filling

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream, chilled
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Caramel Sauce

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

To Assemble

  • ½ cup ground toasted pecans
  • Toasted pecans for garnish

Method

Cake

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F
  2. Add the egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar to the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment
  3. Whip on low speed until combined and then turn the mixer to high and whip until stiff peaks form
  4. Turn the mixer to medium and mix in the vanilla extract and sugar (adding only 1/4 the sugar at a time), just until combined
  5. In a separate bowl, combine the ground pecans, cake flour and baking powder. Whisk until well combined and remove any large lumps of pecans
  6. Fold in the pecan mixture very carefully with a rubber spatula in two or three additions. Work carefully so as not to deflate the mix
  7. Add the batter to an Angel Food Cake pan and bake at 350 degree F for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean
  8. Cool upside-down until completely cool, and slice into three even layers, horizontally, with a serrated knife

Frosting & Filling

  1. Whip the cream, powdered sugar and vanilla on high speed until stiff peaks form. Set aside
  2. Spread the frosting between the layers of the cake and after you stack the layers, spread the remainder of the frosting over the whole cake

Caramel Sauce

  1. Melt the butter in a medium pot over medium heat
  2. Add the brown sugar and heavy whipping cream, whisking over the heat until smooth and until the mixture reaches a boil
  3. Boil for 2 minutes, whisking constantly
  4. Add the vanilla and remove from the heat, allowing it to cool completely before drizzling it over the top of the cake

To Assemble

  1. Press the ground pecans into the side of the cake, all the way around
  2. Add pecans to the top of the cake in a circular design
  3. Refrigerate the cake in the fridge for 2 hours before serving
  4. Remove and let come to room temperature for 20 minutes. Drizzle with the caramel sauce before slicing. Any additional caramel sauce may be served over individual slices