Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Pumpkin Brownies ~ Fall Comfort


Well, at least to a majority. I know some folks who don’t like chocolate.
It’s hard to wrap my head around that sentiment. But, to each his own.

It’s all about pumpkin in the fall season. Found a recipe that encorporates pumpkin into brownies.
My opinion of this recipe? I LOVED it.
I look forward to baking this again and again and again. (SMILING)

You can make your own pumpkin puree, but canned pumpkin is just as good.
I’m the first one to bake from scratch instead of using a cake mix.
However, at times I will take the short cut IF there is no difference in taste or texture.
Yes, canned and fresh pumpkin yield the same result in taste and texture.
I use the Libby’s brand.
So, here we go with the recipe.

Pumpkin Brownies ~ Fall Comfort
Adapted by Carmen Ortiz of Baking is my Zen

Yields: 16 servings

Ingredients
¾ cup flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup butter, melted
1 ½ cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 eggs
¼ cup cocoa powder
½ cup chocolate chips
½ cup pumpkin puree
½ cup walnuts, chopped
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon cloves (I use pumpkin spice)
½ teaspoon nutmeg (I use pumpkin spice)
Directions
1.      Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.      Line an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
3.      dry ingredients: In a small bowl mix together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
4.      wet ingredients: In a large bowl combine butter, sugar, and vanilla; beat in eggs one at a time with a spoon (I use a wisk).
5.      Gradually add dry ingredients to wet and stir until batter is well blended. DO NOT OVERMIX.
6.      Divide batter into 2 separate bowls:
BOWL 1: Blend in cocoa powder and chocolate chips.
BOWL 2: Blend in pumpkin puree, walnuts, cinnamon, (cloves and nutmeg-I use pumpkin spice instead).
7.      Pour ½ of chocolate mixture in pan followed by ½ of pumpkin mixture.
8.      Repeat layers: Pour ½ of chocolate mixture in pan followed by ½ of pumpkin mixture
9.      Smooth out the top with spatula. Gently swirl two batters together. (I don’t swirl the batter).
10.  Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
11.  Cool pan of brownies on cooling rack.
12.  Remove from pan.
13.  Cut into bars or shapes and enjoy.


RECIPE PHOTO TUTORIAL
BY CARMEN ORTIZ OF BAKING IS MY ZEN
Pumpkin Brownies ~ Fall Comfort
Adapted by Carmen Ortiz of Baking is my Zen

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.

dry ingredients: In a small bowl mix together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

wet ingredients: In a large bowl combine butter, sugar, and vanilla;

beat in eggs one at a time with a spoon (I use a wisk).

Gradually add dry ingredients to wet and stir until batter is well blended. DO NOT OVERMIX.
Divide batter into 2 separate bowls:

BOWL 1:
Blend in cocoa powder and chocolate chips.

BOWL 2:
Blend in pumpkin puree, walnuts, cinnamon,
(cloves and nutmeg-I use pumpkin spice instead).

Pour ½ of chocolate mixture in pan followed by ½ of pumpkin mixture.
TIP: I use an ice scooper to add batter to the pan.
Repeat layers: Pour ½ of chocolate mixture in pan followed by ½ of pumpkin mixture
Smooth out the top with spatula. Gently swirl two batters together. (I don’t swirl the batter).
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool pan of brownies on cooling rack.
Remove from pan.

Cut into bars or shapes.

Enjoy!

Just had a bite!
Pumpkin and Chocolate ~  Delish!

Peace in baking,

Carmen


Baking is my Zen…sweet nibbles for the soul

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

SALTED PUMPKIN CARAMELS ~ Fall Comfort


Below are the seven pumpkin dessert recipes posted to my blog this week:



STAND UP TO CANCER…

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink is everywhere!
Remember to donate, volunteer or do a fundraiser to show you care.
Do something to help raise support to stand up to cancer.

As the song (sung by various artists) goes, “Just Stand Up”.
Singers include Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige,
Rihanna, Fergie, Natasha Bedingfield, Miley Cyrus,
Leona Lewis, Carrie Underwood, Keyshia Cole,
Ashanti, Ciara, and Nicole Scherzinger.
You can see photos of the RIDE for a CURE event

Today’s recipe uses an ingredient that is a harvest comfort…pumpkin.
When I discovered that Pumpkin Caramels existed, I was more than pleased.
Being that I love pumpkin AND desserts, combining these together bought a smile to my face.

If you don’t like pumpkin in your caramels, you can check out my blog post for
Honey Cream Caramels, which also includes a photo tutorial.
The recipe is from the book The Sweet Melissa Baking Book by Melissa Murphy.

I found a recipe for Salted Pumpkin Caramels on a website called FOOD52. Excellent site!
See the video by Merrill and Amanda of food52.com as they make Salted Pumpkin Caramels.

OTHER BLOGGERS who made Salted Pumpkin Caramels:






 

Salted Pumpkin Caramels
Adapted by Carmen Ortiz of Baking is my Zen


Makes 64, 1-inch caramels

INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
2/3 cup pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup clover honey
1/4 cup water
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut in chunks
1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
3/4 teaspoon fleur de sel  (I used more-I like salt)

DIRECTIONS
1.      Bake the sunflower seeds in a 350 degree oven for about 7 minutes. (or dry toast in a skillet)
2.      Remove sunflower seeds from oven . Set aside.
3.      Line the bottom and the sides of an 8-in square pan with parchment paper.
4.      Spray with oil (PAM) or butter the parchment on the sides of the pan. I (very lightly) spray the bottom of the parchment-lined pan and the bottom of the pan. Wipe excess with paper towel.
5.      Evenly spread out the roasted sunflower seeds on the parchment lined pan.
6.      In a saucepan, combine heavy cream, pumpkin puree and spices.
7.      Heat the mixture, but do not boil. Set aside.
8.      In a second heavy bottomed pan, with sides at least 4 inches high, combine the sugar, syrup, honey and water.
9.      TIP: To prevent syrup from sticking to cup: lightly spray measuring cup with oil spray. Add corn syrup into cup. Use same application with honey.
10.  Stir until sugars are melted.
11.  Let it boil until it reaches 244 degrees (the soft ball stage on a candy thermometer).
12.  Carefully add the cream and pumpkin mixture.
13.  Slowly bring this mixture to 240 degrees (using a candy thermometer) for about 30 minutes.
14.  Stir frequently once it reaches 230 degrees to keep from burning.
15.  As soon as it reaches 240 degrees, remove from the heat.
16.  Stir in butter and (lemon juice-optional).
17.  Stir vigorously until butter is fully incorporated.
18.  Pour mixture into prepared pan.
19.  Cool for a few minutes before sprinkling salt over top.
20.  Allow caramels to set at least 2 hours. (best to set overnight)
21.  Grease kitchen knife with oil spray or butter.
22.  Wipe excess oil or butter off with paper towel.
23.  Carefully cut the caramels into 1-inch squares.
24.  Wrap individually in waxed paper.
25.  Store in airtight container.


PHOTO RECIPE TUTORIAL
BY CARMEN ORTIZ OF BAKING IS MY ZEN

Salted Pumpkin Caramels
Adapted by Carmen Ortiz of Baking is my Zen

DIRECTIONS
Bake the sunflower seeds in a 350 degree oven for about 7 minutes. (or dry toast in a skillet)
Remove sunflower seeds from oven . Set aside.

Line the bottom and the sides of an 8-in square pan with parchment paper.
Spray with oil (PAM) or butter the parchment on the sides of the pan. I (very lightly) spray the bottom of the parchment-lined pan and the bottom of the pan. Wipe excess with paper towel.

Evenly spread out the roasted sunflower seeds on the parchment lined pan.

In a saucepan, combine heavy cream, pumpkin puree and spices.
Heat the mixture, but do not boil. Set aside.

In a second heavy bottomed pan, with sides at least 4 inches high,
combine the sugar, syrup, honey and water.

TIP: To prevent syrup from sticking to cup:
lightly spray measuring cup with oil spray.
Add corn syrup into cup.
Use same application with honey.

Stir until sugars are melted.
Let it boil until it reaches 244 degrees (the soft ball stage on a candy thermometer).

Carefully add the cream and pumpkin mixture.

Slowly bring this mixture to 240 degrees (using a candy thermometer) for about 30 minutes.
Stir frequently once it reaches 230 degrees to keep from burning.
As soon as it reaches 240 degrees, remove from the heat.

Stir in butter and (lemon juice-optional).
Stir vigorously until butter is fully incorporated.

Pour mixture into prepared pan.
Cool for a few minutes before sprinkling salt over top.

Allow caramels to set at least 2 hours. (best to set overnight)

Grease kitchen knife with oil spray or butter.
Wipe excess oil or butter off with paper towel.
Carefully cut the caramels into 1-inch squares.

Wrap individually in waxed paper.

Makes 64, 1-inch caramels

Store in airtight container.

So good...can't have just one!

Peace in Baking,

Carmen
Baking is my Zen...sweet nibbles for the soul 




DO NOT USE MY PHOTOGRAPHY WITHOUT PERMISSION

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY (UNLESS INDICATED) IN THIS BLOG BELONGS TO CARMEN ORTIZ OF BAKING IS MY ZEN.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY PHOTOGRAPHY WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.

Thank You.

~ Carmen Ortiz - blogger (Baking is my Zen)