Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Caramel Blondie #recipe + A SPRINKLING OF MURDER book #giveaway from author @DarylWoodGerber

 

 

From Daryl:

Giveaway below! Please share with a friend.

As an author, I don't feel comfortable including a recipe in my culinary mysteries unless I've tested it. This one was a bunch of fun to make because I needed to try a couple of iterations. Poor me.  

I love blondies. They're tasty "blond" brownies, relying on brown sugar instead of chocolate for the primary flavor. And in A SPRINKLING OF MURDER  I wanted to give it a twist with caramel. Great idea, right?

Well, the first batch came out way too shallow.  I made it in an 8 x 8 pan and, oops, they ended up about 1" deep.  However, they turned out delicious!  Truly delicious. More like confection. The gooey caramel and nuts gave them good structure, but they certainly weren't brownies.  (By the way, if you'd like that recipe, write me an email and I'll share with you. PICTURE BELOW)

In the meantime, please enjoy this recipe shared in the book by Brady. If you haven't read the book, Brady Cash owns the Hideout Café, across the street from Open Your Imagination.  Courtney goes into the newly renovated café one day with her friend Meaghan Brownie (who adores brownies, of course), and she's surprised to learn that Brady, an old high school friend, is the owner. Their friendship reignites.

From Brady (as written in the book's recipe):

 

The biggest trick to baking with caramel, my grandmother says, is to let the baked goods cool completely after baking. Wait, wait, wait. Two hours at minimum. Also make sure you don’t over bake these blondies. Dry blondies are no fun.

 

** I'm giving you both the regular and gluten-free versions.


Caramel Blondie

(Yield: 9 blondies)

 

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter (2 cubes), melted and cooled a tad

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup salted caramel sauce * see below, prepared ahead, kept warm

1/2 cup chopped nuts, pecans, or cashews

fleur de sel

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter or spray a 9 x 9-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

 

In a small bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

 

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in egg, vanilla, salt, and flour mixture. Mix until well combined. Spread half of the mixture in the prepared baking pan and smooth.

 

Spread salted caramel onto the blondie batter using a tablespoon, leaving a bit of space around the edges. Top with the chopped nuts.  Drop the remaining batter in spoonfuls over the caramel and spread with a spatula. Using a knife, swirl the blondie batter with the caramel. If desired, sprinkle with fleur de sel.

 

Bake 28-32 minutes until set in the middle and golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Do not over bake. Make sure you cool completely, almost 2 hours, before cutting into squares. If necessary, place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to help the caramel set.

 

Salted Caramel Sauce

 

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup water

6 tablespoons salted butter, cut into chunks

1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature

1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

In a 3-quart saucepan, add the sugar and water and cook at medium heat. Stir until combined. Do NOT stir again. If using a candy thermometer, it should read about 350 degrees. Remove thermometer.

 

Carefully add the butter and whisk until butter is melted. Remove the pan from heat and slowly pour in the cream, whisking all the time until the cream is incorporated. Whisk in the sea salt and set aside to cool.

 

Allow to cool about 5 minutes, then store in an airtight container until ready to use. Refrigerate.

 

Caramel Blondie

Gluten-free Version

(Yield: 9 blondies)

 

2 cups gluten-free flour

1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum

1 tablespoon whey powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter (2 cubes), melted and cooled a tad

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup salted caramel sauce * see below, prepared ahead, kept warm

1/2 cup chopped nuts, pecans, or cashews

fleur de sel

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter or spray a 9 x 9-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

 

In a small bowl, mix the gluten-free flour, xanthan gum, whey powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

 

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in egg, vanilla, salt, and flour mixture. Mix until well combined. Spread half of the mixture in the prepared baking pan and smooth.

 

Spread salted caramel onto the blondie batter using a tablespoon, leaving a bit of space around the edges. Top with the chopped nuts.  Drop the remaining batter in spoonfuls over the caramel and spread with a spatula. Using a knife, swirl the blondie batter with the caramel. If desired, sprinkle with fleur de sel.

 

Bake 28-32 minutes until set in the middle and golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Do not over bake. Make sure you cool completely, almost 2 hours, before cutting into squares. If necessary, place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to help the caramel set.

 

[Note:  the salted caramel sauce, listed above, is gluten-free.]

 



 



 


 

HERE'S THE HALF RECIPE PHOTOGRAPH.  I REALLY LOVED THESE, BUT SINCE I WAS GOING FOR A "BROWNIE" LIKE BLONDIE, I WENT WITH THE DOUBLED RECIPE IN THE BOOK.

 


GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment to enter to win a copy of A SPRINKLING OF MURDER (ebook or paper) and an adorable fairy charm. Remember to include your mail so I can contact you should you win.   

What is your favorite cookie or brownie?

A SPRINKLING OF MURDER 
now in audio, too!

You can read all about it and order it on a variety of sites via my website HERE
Plus I've posted a few pictures of my fairy gardens and I've included some trailers,
a PDF of where I buy some of my fairy garden supplies, and more.

*

Don't forget to order the 9th book in the  
Cookbook Nook Mystery series,  
in trade paperback and e-book.
You can read all about it and order it on a variety sites via my website, HERE


And here is my latest Aspen Adams novel of suspense. 
Order FAN MAIL, the second in series, trade paperback and e-book: HERE




SAVOR THE MYSTERY!
 
Friend Daryl and Avery on Facebook
Follow Daryl on Twitter
Follow Avery on Twitter
Follow both of us on Pinterest
Plus check out my website
Follow Daryl on Bookbub
Follow Daryl on Goodreads

105 comments:

  1. Dark chocolate brownie with walnuts

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have already read 2 of your books and I'm hooked cause I love a mystery. My favorite cookies are gingerbread

      Delete
  2. Lemon scones. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love my grandma's blonde brownies. While they're still really yummy, none of us have been able to make them as good as she did.
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. i love a fudge brownie topped with a peanut butter frosting beeghly1993(at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  5. If ot's Vegan, it's my favorite! Thanks for the great post!

    Cheers-
    Kelly Braun
    Gaelicark(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ginger biscuits. Perfect with tea. Yum. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love deep chocolate brownies with chocolate frosting.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love a soft, chewy snickerdoodle.
    kpbarnett1941(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's what my "flatter" blondie sort of tasted like. :)

      Delete
    2. Karen, you have won this giveaway by random selection. Congrats. I'll email you for your info. Tell a friend. !

      Delete
  9. I love chocolate chip cookies with chopped walnuts! I now make them with whole grain flours, pure, natural date sugar instead of white sugar, and applesauce instead of oil. They are a little different, but folks seem to like them!
    I would love to read this book!
    Lisacobblestone(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love lemon cookies. Will have to fix these brownies for grandson..he loves brownies.

    kfowler 4827 @gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love dark chocolate fudge-like brownies.
    scarletbegonia5858(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love carmel blondies but had no idea how to make now I am going to print this out so that hubby can help me make I am battling RSD and now it has taken my body i can hardly cook anything I am so blessed that hubby loves to cook so he won't mind making these for me. Thank you so very much for posting this recipe so that I can enjoy these. peggy clayton ptclayton2 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PT, I'm so glad your hubby can help out. Wishing you better health. :)

      Delete
  13. This sounds so good. Thanks for including the gluten free version! Thanks too for a chance to win your book and the charm! ljbonkoski @yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Chocolate brownies and lemon bars
    Kitten143 (at) Verizon (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  15. Chocolate brownies with fudge icing

    ReplyDelete
  16. My favorite cookie is chocolate chip and my favorite brownie is chocolate with caramel frosting.
    Joannlowehunter@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Those recipes look amazing!!! I wonder if I can make them Keto/Sugar free 🤔

    Jenandalana(at)Gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I made brownies for my husband using Swerve (sugar-free good for baking) and they turned out great.

      Delete
    2. Altho I'm not sure the caramel sauce will work sugar-free. Hmmm.

      Delete
  18. Omgosh, those caramel blondies look amazing! Love the book cover and the fairy charm! My favorite cookie is plain old chewy oatmeal cookie! Thanks for the chance to win :) ladyofshalott03(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. My fave is chocolate chip cookies, but these look REALLY good!
    Dm _ Richards (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are my favorite right now. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.
    robsnest60(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those sound good. Do you use peanut butter chips or peanut butter in the batter?

      Delete
  21. Sounds yummy.
    Good enough that I'm not even tempted to add chocolate chips!
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  22. Peanut butter and jelly thumbprint cookies are my favorite. kapw(at)iquest(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  23. Root beer cookies, mint chocolate brownies...but this blondie looks delicious! I'm going to try it GF style. Thank you for sharing! konecny7(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Chocolate chip cookies have always been my favorite, but those blondies look really good. bella_ringer@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. blondies look real good - but brownies are a favorite here. jcook22@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. My mother makes some homemade sugar cookies at Christmas and those are my favorite. Thanks for the chance. jlb12563@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love chocolate or dark chocolate brownies with or without frosting. I also have a mocha recipe that is quite good. Such an indulgence in a small package! bobntoni@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. my favorite brownies is a fudge chocolate one with icing

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love blonde brownies with maple flavoring!! And fairies!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Any brownie with pecans or walnuts!
    lola7777_22 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Brownies with walnuts or pecans topped with a dusting of powdered sugar! Yum!
    ma(underscore)ward(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Fudge brownies
    cari.shinn@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oh my gosh! I can't have the nuts but that looks so good with the caramel! I do love warm chocolate brownies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce!
    Meg85242 (@) gmail (.) com

    ReplyDelete
  34. chocolate chip cookies. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love brownies with espresso powder in them. It really intensifies the chocolate! Thanks for the giveaway! aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  36. A chocolate iced peanut butter chocolate brownie with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups is my favorite brownie treat.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  37. White chocolate
    Kjsmietana@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I like chocolate brownies and chocolate chocolate chip cookies with nuts! lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  39. A Brookie! Brownie and chocolate chip cookie combined.

    ReplyDelete
  40. My favorite cookie is white chocolate macadamia. Thanks for the chance!
    Jess
    maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  41. My favorite cookie is Gooey Butter cookies. My daughter and I make them every Christmas ❤️

    j.polacek@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. I make brownies with a can of hershey syrup and add chocolate and peanut butter chips. Sometimes I will frost it as well. mountainsr4me@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I love snickerdoodles (and the names are half the fun)! aydiniak (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Looks delicious!!! Psychology_chick @ yahoo . com

    ReplyDelete
  45. Oatmeal butterscotch
    Tinkpatch16@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  46. A rich brownie with caramel drizzle. CraftymamaD@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  47. My sister makes the best butter cookies.
    Wskwared(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  48. I like oatmeal raisin cookies. lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  49. I am a fan of cherry chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. It's healthier because of the oatmeal, right?!?!
    tracy.condie@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  50. My favorite cookie is a Ranger cookie. cindaunruh@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. My favorite cookie is a shortbread cookie called World’s best Cookie. It has lots of butter and Raisin Bran & chopped walnuts for crunch.

    ReplyDelete
  52. My favorite cookies are my grandmas apple pie cookies! I have no clue how she did it but they was the best cookie I have EVER tried!! Kwalker1085@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  53. Chocolate brownies with walnuts are my favorite!

    jstomalis1053 (at) comcast (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  54. White chocolate and macadamia nut cookies!

    ReplyDelete
  55. The winner of this giveaway by random selection is Karen B. I'll be in touch. Congrats! To all of the rest of you, some great cookie suggestions.

    ReplyDelete
  56. I like the chocolate chips cookies. Always a classic and are so good!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Fudge brownie with caramel and toffee chips, cream cheese icing
    lindalou64(@)live(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  58. Double Chocolate brownies are my favorite
    quilting527@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete