Mini Dark Chocoloate Salted Caramel Delight

A few weeks ago we were going to a friends house for dinner. I was thinking about what dessert I wanted to take with us.  The first thing I thought about was the dark chocolate salted caramel delight.  It was so yummy I couldn't wait to make it again.  The problem was, there was only going to be four of us for dinner.  Taking a whole cake wasn't necessary.  Then I had a great idea...individual cakes in mason jars. 

These were fabulous.  They were easy to take along and serve. They fit in with a couple of beers.

My mom had also mentioned that she kept seeing my post on the cheesecake and would love to try it too.  This made it super easy to send some home with her to try.  I also think that because they have an actual lid they might last a little longer in the refrigerator.  

I only made half of the recipe and it made eight individual servings. 

Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Delight  

Adapted from: Little Sweet Baker and Kevin & Amanda

Ingredients:
Crust
1 cups Oreo cookie crumbs
3 tbsp unsalted butter
Cheesecake
1/4 cup cold whipping cream
225 grams of cream cheese
6 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
Caramel
2 tbsp butter
1/6 cup packed brown sugar
1 tbsp cup whipping cream
Ganache
1/2 cup whipping cream
4 oz dark chocolate chips (or semi-sweet)

1/2 tbsp sea salt flakes

Directions :

1. Mix the cookie crumbs with the melted butter and press onto the bottom of mini mason jars. Chill in freezer.
2. Using a handheld mixer, whip the whipping cream till soft peaks form, set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, whip together the mascarpone, sugar and vanilla until incorporated. Add the whipped cream to the mixture and blend untill smooth. Pour over the chilled crust. Place back in freezer for at least 1 hour.
4.  Combine 2 tablespoons butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until mixture begins to bubble. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Slowly whisk in 1 tbsp heavy whipping cream until smooth. Cool caramel about 15 minutes.
5. While caramel is cooling make the ganache. Place chocolate chips in a glass bowl.  In a saucepan, bring 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream to a simmer over medium-high heat. Pour over chocolate chips and whisk until smooth. Let cool to touch and pour over frozen tart.  Let it set for a few minutes, but don't let it harden too much.  Drizzle caramel over the ganache and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until ready to serve.
6. Before serving sprinkle with sea salt.

Enjoy!

Award Winning Dessert: Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Delight

Uncle Kevin and I went to an Iron Chef themed dinner party.  Everyone had to bring a dish to share using the secret ingredient that was revealed 2 days before the party. 

When the ingredient of cheese was revealed I went straight to Pinterest to find a dessert with cheese. I didn't want to go with an ordinary cheese cake.   I found this great recipe for a dark chocolate salted cheese cake using mascarpone instead of cream cheese.  As I was reading the recipe, it reminded me of a dessert I made at Christmas.  I decided to combine the two recipes to create my Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Delight.  It was a great combination.


At the party everyone created a card for their dish and the voting was done by secret ballot at the end of the night. It was a fun idea for a party.  We got to try so many different cheese dishes.  I won for best dessert and tied for best overall dish.  I was so excited. My prizes were a bottle of wine and a new colander...just what every kitchen needs.

I've already made this again for a work lunch.  I made a few changes the second time to make the process a little easier.  The great thing about no bake/frozen desserts is that they don't heat up your kitchen in the summer and can be made ahead of time if you're having a party to free up your kitchen the day of the party.    This is definitely going to become a go to dessert.  

 Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Delight  
Adapted from: Little Sweet Baker and Kevin & Amanda

Ingredients:
Crust
2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs
6 tbsp unsalted butter
Cheesecake
½ cup cold whipping cream
275 grams softened mascarpone cheese (or 250 grams of cream cheese)
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Caramel
4 tbsp butter
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/8 cup whipping cream
Ganache
1 cup whipping cream
8 oz dark chocolate chips (or semi-sweet)

1 tbsp sea salt flakes

Directions :

1. Mix the cookie crumbs with the melted butter and press onto the bottom and sides of a 9" tart pan. Chill in freezer.
2. Using a handheld mixer, whip the whipping cream till soft peaks form, set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, whip together the mascarpone, sugar and vanilla until incorporated. Add the whipped cream to the mixture and blend untill smooth. Pour over the chilled crust. Place back in freezer for at least 1 hour.
4.  Combine 4 tablespoons butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until mixture begins to bubble. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Slowly whisk in 1/8 cup heavy whipping cream until smooth. Cool caramel about 15 minutes.
5. While caramel is cooling make the ganache. Place chocolate chips in a glass bowl.  In a saucepan, bring 1 cup heavy whipping cream to a simmer over medium-high heat. Pour over chocolate chips and whisk until smooth. Let cool to touch and pour over frozen tart.  Let it set for a few minutes, but don't let it harden too much.  Drizzle caramel over the ganache and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until ready to serve.
6. Before serving sprinkle with sea salt.

 

Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes

We went away for St. Patrick's Day weekend with some friends.  It wasn't specifically for the holiday.  We always have a day in the spring that we head to a friends beach house.  Since it was a St. Patrick's Day, I decided that a special dessert was needed.  I had found this recipe on Pinterest and knew it would be a great way to celebrate.

These were a little time consuming with the batter, the ganache, and the frosting, but they were worth it.

Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes
From Brown Eyed Baker

Ingredients:

For the Cupcakes:
1 cup Guinness stout
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons baking soda
¾ teaspoons salt
2 eggs
2/3 cup sour cream

For the Whiskey Ganache Filling:
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons Irish whiskey

For the Baileys Frosting:
2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream

Instructions:

Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line 24 cupcake cups with liners.
Bring the Guinness and butter to a simmer in a heavy, medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until the mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.

Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl to combine. Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sour cream on medium speed until combined. Add the Guinness-chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and beat just to combine. Reduce the speed to low, add the flour mixture and beat briefly. Using a rubber spatula, fold the batter until completely combined. Divide the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake until a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Cool the cupcakes on a rack.

Whiskey Ganache:
Finely chop the chocolate and transfer it to a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream until simmering and pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit for one minute and then, using a rubber spatula, stir it from the center outward until smooth. Add the butter and whiskey and stir until combined. Let the ganache cool until thick but still soft enough to be piped.

To Fill the Cupcakes:
Using a 1-inch round cookie cutter (or the bottom of a large decorating tip), cut the centers out of the cooled cupcakes, going about two-thirds of the way down. Transfer the ganache to a piping back with a wide tip and fill the holes in each cupcake to the top.

Bailey's Frosting:
Using the whisk attachment of a stand mixer, whip the butter on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Reduce the speed to medium-low and gradually add the powdered sugar until all of it is incorporated. Add the Baileys, increase the speed to medium-high and whip for another 2 to 3 minutes, until it is light and fluffy.

Frost using a decorating tip or an off-set spatula.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Roll

I love peanut butter.  If a dessert has peanut butter in, I will eat it.  When I saw this recipe, I knew that I had to make it.  It is a nice twist on a Rice Krispie Treat.  As I was making these, I realized that I don't think I've ever made Rice Krispie Treats before.  I don't think I'll ever make regular ones after having these.  They were delicious.  They were also pretty quick to whip up if you need a dessert and don't have a lot of time.

The recipe came from MADE, one of my favorite blogs.

Prep:
Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Generously spray it with non-stick spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, microwave for 2 min:
1 package mini marshmallows - 10.5 oz (appx 6 and 2/3 cups)
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup peanut butter
 

                          

Stir ingredients and add:
5 1/2 cups Rice Krispies

Mix well and spread mixture on the greased waxed paper. Coat hands with non-stick spray and flatten out Rice Krispie mix until it is even and compressed. Set aside.

Melt Together: 

1 1/3 cup Chocolate Chips
3/4 cup peanut butter chips

I used a double boiler on the stove, but she recommended microwaving in 20 second intervals.  I wanted to make sure that I didn't burn the chocolate.

Spread the melted peanut butter and chocolate onto the Rice Krispie mixture.

Roll the Rice Krispie mixture horizontally into one log--lift the wax paper at one end to help. Refrigerate for appx 30 minutes. Slice and serve.

My brother was kind of hovering over me as I was making them.  I think he was disappointed I went to bed before I cut them!