Chocolate Caramel Cookies

You guys have heard me talk about one of my favorite mantras, right? “Bloom where you’re planted.” It basically means to take full advantage of your surroundings and season of life, sinking your proverbial roots deep to grow, flourish, and thrive no matter where it is you find yourself. I adopted this saying as my own about 8 years ago when I left my friends, life, and job in Birmingham, AL to move to my husband’s hometown of Selma. After months of feeling sorry for myself and longing for bits of my old life back, a stranger shared the Bloom mentality with me, and I was hooked. I decided right there it was time to start stretching out my roots; I wanted to bloom.

Since then, I’ve stepped into all sorts of new seasons that have welcomed me to grow in unexpected ways. Marriage, motherhood, building a home, and all the things that have come with this job have, in many ways, uprooted the comforts of an autonomous and predictable life, forcing me to find new ways to bloom. It’s challenging and not without its fair share of pain. Still, the process of taking root, connecting with others, and growing together has been a really rewarding thing. Maybe you can relate.

“Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters of our life won’t have a title until much later.” -Bob Goff

For months, I’ve been saying that I’m in a season of change. Today, I’m even more sure of it than ever before. Even without some visible shift on the horizon, I can sense that I’m edging into something new. And knowing that, having wrestled with the unrest and want of it all, I can’t help but slowly stretch out my roots in search of that something to take hold of, explore, and grow into.

Know that, for now, things here will stay the same, but I am on the hunt. I’m not sure if the shift is familial, personal, or professional; what I do know is that I want more for this space and my life in general. If you find yourself with a similar unrest, I hope you’ll take this opportunity to reflect and find any areas you may want to more fully bloom into. Although it rarely comes without growing pains, the end result is so worth it, and you certainly won’t be stretching alone. 🙂

Chocolate Caramel Cookies

These truly are out of season. In a time when we should be eating drippy frozen cones and berry-laden pies, cakes, and tortes, why on earth would I be sharing chocolate caramel cookies? The honest truth is this: They’re delicious. That’s why. Let me tell you how to make them.

To make the dough, we start by creaming butter, brown sugar, and sugar. Once softened, combined, and smooth, eggs and extract are added, followed by the dry ingredients. Cocoa powder lends the chocolate flavors and dark color here, but semisweet chocolate chips add additional richness and gooey bite. After a quick chill in the fridge, the cookies are stuffed with soft caramels (or Rolos for me!) and baked in the oven.

One thing to note about these chocolate caramel cookies is the filling. Some caramels will harden upon baking, so if you opt for those over a Rolo candy, be sure to enjoy the cookies warm. If desired, a sprinkle of sea salt on top will help to balance the sweetness and provide a salted caramel richness that is undeniably delicious. Either way, in season or out of season, I hope you’ll give these chocolate caramel cookies a try. They truly are delightful!

Happy Tuesday to you all and HAPPY BAKING!

If you like these cookies you should try:

Triple Chocolate Cookies
Chocolate Peppermint Olive Oil Cookies
Coconut Almond Chocolate cookies
Mint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
Peanut Butter Caramel Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies
White Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cookies

Chocolate Caramel Cookies

Print Recipe

These chocolate caramel cookies are cocoa scented, loaded with chocolate chips, and stuffed with a gooey chocolate caramel candy!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 10
Total Time: 120
Yield: 16 Cookies
Category: Cookies

Ingredients

¾ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1–1/3 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cups cocoa powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1–1-/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips or chunks
16 soft caramels or rolo candies

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Instructions

In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and sugar. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract and stir to combine. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add in the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir on low until combined and then stir in the chocolate chips.
Use a large cookie scoop or a measuring cup to portion our 3 tablespoon-sized balls of dough. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment and cover with plastic wrap or a tea towel. Refrigerate to firm up for 1-2 hours or overnight if desired.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and halve the dough balls. Place one soft caramel or rolo candy in between two halves of dough and then form the dough around the candy. Roll the ball to smooth and place 2” apart on a prepared baking sheet. Bake in two batches in the preheated oven until the edges are set and then centers are cookies, about 11-12 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before enjoying.

Notes

Some varieties of store-bought caramel will firm to hard when the cookies are cooled. If you opt for these kind of caramels, be sure to enjoy the cookies while warm. I prefer rolos or softer caramel candies for these cookies as you can enjoy them even when cool.

Apple Crisp Cheesecake

6 Comments / Cakes

If only every day could be a vacation day. *Le sigh*. Brett and I just got back from a quick trip to South Carolina for my birthday, and I was reminded why it’s so important to get away. It’s like a mental reset or a breath of fresh air, and if there’s anything we need in these last few months of 2020, it’s that. New perspective. I’m sure I’ll tell you all about the trip really soon, but for now, we’ll stick with dessert.

Apple Crisp Cheesecake

This apple crisp cheesecake is from Kelsey Siemens’ new book, and it is FABULOUS! Kelsey, otherwise known as the farmer’s daughter, has been a long-time social media and blog friend, and her new book is filled with all the beautiful photos of food and rural farm life that I’ve come to love about her pages. The Farmer’s Daughter Bakes features seasonal fruit-based treats from blueberry lemon curd muffins to cherry turnovers, but with fall in the air, I knew I had to opt for the apple crisp cheesecake. Let me tell you all about it.

This apple crisp cheesecake starts with a spiced graham cracker crust. Once lightly baked, top the crust cheesecake filling flavored with salted caramel sauce. Next comes spiced apples and a brown sugar crisp topped made with extra salt and just enough butter. Once all stacked together, bake until the cake is set, fragrant, and loaded with texture. Truly, it’s nothing short of wonderful.

This apple crisp cheesecake would be perfect for the upcoming holidays and will welcome any fruit you happen upon at any local apple orchards. I also think it would go terrifically with pears or even a substituted butterscotch sauce in place of the caramel! I’ll let you decide. Give Kelsey’s book a look here and do please try this fabulous recipe! I really think it’s a winner. Happy Wednesday to you all and happy baking!

If you like this apple crisp cheesecake you should try:

Apple Crisp Ice Cream
Brown Sugar Apple Bundt Cake
Caramel Apple Pie
Apple Crisp Ice Cream
Apple Crumb Cake
Brown Sugar Cheesecake with Oatmeal Cookie Crust

Apple Crisp Cheesecake

Print Recipe

This recipe found in “The Farmer’s Daughter Bakes” is a salted caramel cheesecake with apple pie filling and a spiced crumb topping!

Author: Kelsey Siemens
Prep Time: 45
Cook Time: 60
Total Time: 180
Yield: 10 servings
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

Crust:

1–1/2 cups (150 gm) graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons (28 gm) packed brown sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon allspice
¼ cup (60 mL) melted unsalted butter

Cheesecake:

3 cups (696 gm) cream cheese, room temperature
¾ cup (150 gm) granulated sugar
½ cup (120 mL) full-fat plain Greek yogurt
½ cup (120 mL) salted caramel sauce, plus extra for serving
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs

Apple Filling:

3–4 medium tart apples, such as Elstar, Pink Lady, or Granny Smith (4 cups when prepared)
½ tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Crumb Topping:

½ cup (63 gm) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup (110 gm) packed brown sugar
¾ cup (68 gm) rolled oats
¼ cup (60 mL) melted unsalted butter

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
To make the crust, in a medium bowl stir together the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, salt, allspice, and melted butter Press firmly into a 10-inch springform pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until fragrant. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
To make the cheesecake, make sure the cream cheese us at room temperature, or even a bit softer, otherwise you may end up with a slightly lumpy batter. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the cream cheese and sugar on medium-low until completely smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the yogurt, salted caramel sauce and vanilla extract, and mix on medium until completely combined. With the mixer on low, add the eggs one at a time, until completely incorporated. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl throughout this process. Try not to overmix the batter and stop mixing once it’s smooth. Scrape the cheesecake batter onto the crust and set aside.
To make the apple filling, peel and chop the apples into ¼-inch cubes. You should have about 4 cups of apple cubes. In a medium bowl toss the apple pieces with lemon juice, flour, and cinnamon. Spread evenly over the cheesecake layer.
To make the crumb topping, in a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, brown sugar, oats, and melted butter until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle evenly over the apple layer.
Bake for 65 to 75 minutes, or until the apple pieces are easily pierced by a fork. If the crumb layer starts getting too brown while baking, cover with a sheet of aluminum foil. Remove from the oven when done and immediately run a thin knife along the edges to help it release from the pan. Allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes, release the springform pan and remove. This helps the cake cool faster. Cool the cake for at least 1 hour and then move to the fridge for several more hours or overnight before serving. Once chilled, move to an airtight container to store until ready to serve. Drizzle with additional caramel sauce, if desired. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.

Crispy Millionaire Bars

3 Comments / Cookies and Bars

You know what we’re not too good for? Homemade rice krispy treats. Look, I know we all grew up eating them, and maybe they feel kind of basic. You might be one of those people who is kinda freaked out by marshmallows, or perhaps you just hate delicious food (Who are you, anyways?). I for one LOVE Rice Krispies and, given the opportunity, would happily destroy a pan or two if you sent them my way. Today we’re paying tribute to those after-school favorites with these crispy millionaire bars: a shortbread crust filled with a soft salted caramel and topped with a crispy chocolate and rice cereal crunch. They’re a fun mash-up of two of my comforting faves, and I think you’re going to like them.

I have a friend who is basically a rice krispy all-star. If make rice treats was a sport, she would be, like, Michael Phelps or LeBron. At one point, she gave me her recipe and it was something hyper-specific that required me to count out the jumbo marshmallows one by one. I made them precisely how she told me to, and it was laughable. They were hard and sticky and not even nearly as good as hers. I want to believe I messed them up, but something tells me she just likes being the rice krispy wizard. The joke is on her anyways- I’d take eating krispies with a friend any day.

Crispy Millionaire Bars

This same friend also loves shortbread, so crispy millionaire bars are right up her alley. A buttery shortbread crust topped with salty caramelized filling and a snap-crackle-pop topping is the perfect combo of her two favorite things. Luckily, it’s a favorite of mine too, so even if I can’t make good rice krispies at least I now have crispy marshmallow bars. That’s what we call a glass-half-full kind of perspective, folks.

Making the Bars

To make crispy millionaire bars, we start with our shortbread. Softened butter is creamed with sugar until smooth, and flour and salt are added to the mix. The dry crumb comes together in a square metal pan and bakes in a preheated oven for a few minutes while you prep your filling. Although there’s many ways to make a caramel filling for this kind of bar, we’re taking the easy way out by opting for one made via sweetened condensed milk. Combined with butter, brown sugar, and a smidge of salt and corn syrup, the milk makes a thick, sweet and salty caramel that works every.single.time. Carefully pour the hot caramel over the baked shortbread and allow it to set up completely on the counter or in the fridge.

Once the caramel in your crispy millionaire bars has cooled, melt some chocolate and fold in your rice cereal. Be careful with the cereal so it stays crunchy and in tact. Spread the mixture on top of the cooled caramel and allow it all to firm up, again, in the fridge. When ready to eat, slice in into bite-sized bars and enjoy! I love to nibble on these crispy millionaire bars when they’re barely to room temperature, but be sure to store them in the fridge- the caramel is gooey and it will start to droop out if you let it.

I hope you get a chance to make these crispy millionaire bars this weekend. Maybe share them with a friend? Maybe not? Either way, get your sweet on and enjoy these treats ASAP. Happy Thursday and have a great finish to this short week! Cheers!

If you like these crispy millionaire bars you should check out:

Pretzel Millionaire Bars
Peanut Butter Brownies with Pretzel Shortbread Crust
Chocolate Caramel Pecan Tarts
Espresso Caramel Thumbprint Cookies

Crispy Millionaire Bars

Print Recipe

These crispy millionaire bars have a shortbread crust, a salted caramel filling, and a crispy rice cereal and chocolate topping! Perfect for making ahead and sharing!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 20
Cook Time: 30
Total Time: 120
Yield: 16
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the shortbread:

¾ cup (170 gm) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
½ cup (100 gm) sugar
1–1/2 cups (210 gm) all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt

For the caramel filling:

6 tablespoons (85 gm) unsalted butter
½ cup (100 gm) brown sugar
1–14 ounce can of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
¼ teaspoon salt

For the chocolate crunch:

8 ounces semisweet chocolate
¾ cup rice cereal

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Instructions

To prepare the shortbread:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and use a large sheet of aluminum foil to wrap the insides of an 8 or 9” square metal pan with overhang on the sides.
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until well combined and smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Add the flour and salt and stir just until combined into loose crumbs. Dump the mixture into the prepared lined pan and press it evenly into the bottom. Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden, about 30-35 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the caramel filling.

To prepare the caramel filling:

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, cook the butter and sugar together, stirring occasionally until the butter has melted. Add the sweetened condensed milk and corn syrup and bring the mixture to a boil. Begin stirring continuously and cook for 5 minutes, or until the mixture has turned lightly golden and has thickened to a mayonnaise consistency. Remove from the heat immediately and stir in the salt. Pour the mixture over the shortbread and set aside to cool completely. You can expedite this process by refrigerating it.

To prepare the chocolate crunch:

Once the caramel layer has set, place a large bowl over a slightly small saucepan filled with 1” of water. Place the pan over medium-low heat and add the chocolate to the bowl, stirring regularly to gently melt it. Be sure to not let the chocolate overheat or it may seize. Once melted and smooth, fold in the rice cereal and then spread the mixture over top of the set caramel layer. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars and serving.

White Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cookies

“Make a habit of trying new things.”

At home, we did some stretching in the literal sense too. Baby number three (It’s a girl! Wait, no, It’s a Boy!) grew and arrived in 2019 and we all scooted closer to make room for the precious new life that was introduced to our world. My husband’s business shifted gears, we settled into a new home, and life looks entirely different than it did this time last December. Growth, in every sense of the word, was all over our year, and while there were some pains in that growing I’m hoping that some of what we learned along the way had a chance to seep in.

I’m not sure what my word for 2020 is. I don’t yet have a clear picture of what I want life to look like, but I’m eager to bring some of that growth from 2019 along for the ride. In the meantime, thank you sweet readers for walking through this past year with my family.

My hope is that, via stories and recipes, you found yourself well-fed this year. Maybe you welcomed new friends to your table or worked up the nerve to braid your first babka. Maybe you laughed on a day when you felt like crying or finally felt confident enough to whip an egg white. Whatever the case, I’m grateful for all of the emails and kind words from you all, because your pictures of cheesecakes and stories of successes feel like tiny victories for me. I’m happy we’ve shared cookies and pies and cocktails this year, and I’m eager for more in the coming months. It might all look a little different in 2020, but I think it’s still going to be sweet.

White Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cookies

These white chocolate caramel pretzel cookies are delicious. I took my peanut butter caramel pretzel cookies and whizzed the recipe into something nut-free and extra-sweet and salty. These white chocolate caramel pretzel cookies are rich and chewy treats loaded with caramel goodness and just enough salt to offset all the sugar. They’re rather simple and I think you’ll find them to be a crowd pleaser. I know I did. Check out the instructions for the how-to on these white chocolate caramel pretzel cookies below, and if you get to try them, let me know what you think! Happy New Year, friends. 2020 is going to be a ball.

If you like these white chocolate caramel pretzel cookies you should try:

Molten Carrell Chocolate Cakes

Chocolate Caramel Pecan Tarts

Peanut Butter Caramel Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Caramel Crumble Cake

White Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cookies

Print Recipe

These white chocolate caramel pretzel cookies are loaded with sweet and salty flavor as well as chewy and crunchy texture!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 15
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 24
Category: Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup (230 gm) unsalted butter
½ cup (100 gm) sugar
¾ cup (150 gm) brown sugar packed
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups (405 gm) all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
¾ cup caramel baking bits, caramel chips, or diced caramels
¾ cup white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate
¾ cup chopped salted pretzels (OR chopped pecans- your choice!)
Flaked salt

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Melt the butter over low heat on the stove, being sure to not let it boil. Pour the melted butter into a large bowl and stir in the sugar and brown sugar. Stir in the eggs and extract. Add the flour, soda, powder, and salt and fold the mixture together until combined. Add in the caramel, white chocolate, and either pretzels or pecans. Fold to combine. Use a medium cookie scoop to portion out 1-1/2 tablespoon sized rounds of dough. Roll them gently and space them out 2” apart on the baking sheets. Sprinkle with a bit of flaky sea salt if desired. Bake in the preheated oven for 11-12 minutes or until the edges are set and the cookies are baked through. Allow to cool prior to enjoying!

No-Churn Peanut Butter Caramel Ice Cream

6 Comments / Frozen Desserts

I know, I know. It’s October, and you’re getting emailed an ice cream recipe? Unfortunately, here in Alabama, it’s still 50 shades of uncomfortable hot outside, so in lieu of another recipe that requires you to fire up the oven I wanted to share a simple no-churn peanut butter caramel ice cream that is only 5 ingredients and can be made in the comfort of your air conditioned kitchen. Honestly, it sounds more than a little delicious to me, so grab a spoon and let’s dive in.

No-Churn Peanut Butter Caramel Ice Cream

What did we do before no-churn ice cream? Were we all just buying ice cream from the store? Using one of those old school hand-churning barrel devices? Were we simply not eating frozen desserts at all? I don’t want to live in a world where no-churn isn’t an option, and this peanut butter caramel ice cream situation is approximately 99% of the reason why. With a creamy peanut butter base, a salted caramel swirl, and chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs sprinkled throughout (yes, I went there), this ice cream is my sweet and salty dreams come true. Anything boasting a peanut butter and caramel combo is basically food seduction to me, and throwing it all together into an easy frozen treat is maybe the sexiest idea I’ve had all ~~summer~~ fall. Let me tell you how to make it.

Making the Ice Cream

No-churn ice cream is typically made by combining freshly whipped cream and a can of sweetened condensed milk. Don’t ask me to explain the wizard science behind this concoction, but somehow these two ingredients combined create pure magic. For this peanut butter caramel ice cream, we add a good bit of creamy peanut butter to the sweetened condensed milk before folding it into the clouds of cream. Once incorporated, we have a delicious peanut buttery mixture that would be good enough to enjoy all on it’s own but we don’t stop there. Instead, we swirl in warm drizzles of salted caramel sauce and sprinkle in crumbled chocolate sandwich cookies, so each bite is brimming with rich flavors and nibbles of crunch.

I like to spoon my prepared ice cream into metal loaf pans to firm up in the freezer, but any plastic Tupperware or freezer-safe dish works just fine. If you’re like me, you’ll likely end up eating a good bit of the ice cream before it even makes it to the freezer, and there’s no judging that either. It’s just that good.

If you need help in the homemade caramel department, be sure to check out my tutorial here. I like to keep a jar in the fridge for emergency (aka ice cream) situations. In the future I plan to do a mini tutorial describing how to create your own no-churn flavors at home, because the possibilities are endless. In the meantime, check out the recipes that are already on my site at the links below. Happy baking, err, ice cream-ing, and be sure to pop by next week for two new recipes!

If you like this no-churn peanut butter caramel ice cream you should try:

No-Churn Sugar Cookie Ice Cream

No-Churn Coffee Cookie Dough Ice Cream

Samoa Ice Cream

No-Churn Cherry Chip Ice Cream

No-Churn Honey Salted Almond Ice Cream

No-Churn Peanut Butter Caramel Ice Cream

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

This 5 ingredient no-churn peanut butter caramel ice cream is loaded with salted caramel sauce and chocolate cookies, and requires no ice cream machine!

Author: Kate
Prep Time: 5
Total Time: 240
Yield: 1 qt
Category: ice cream

Ingredients

2 cups (480 gm) heavy whipping cream
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2/3 cup-1 cup creamy peanut butter (see notes)
12 chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
1/4 cup prepared caramel sauce

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Instructions

In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the heavy whip on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. In a separate bowl, whisk together the condensed milk and peanut butter. Fold half of the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture and then fold the remaining whipped cream and crushed cookies into the mixture. Layer 1/4 of the mixture into the bottom of a large loaf pan or ice cream container and drizzle on some of the caramel sauce. Repeat this process three more times and then use a knife to swirl the caramel and ice cream together. Freeze until solid and enjoy!

Notes

One cup of peanut butter will make for an intensely peanut buttery ice cream. The flavor is delicious but it is more difficult to fold together and you will find that the ice cream freezes more firm. 2/3 cup of peanut butter will yield a more mellow flavored, softer ice cream. Find the balance that works best for you!

Chocolate Caramel Pecan Tarts

7 Comments / Pies and Tarts

Greetings to you all from baby land! We’re two weeks in with our new little guy, and I’m thrilled (read: shocked! amazed! perplexed!) to tell you that we’re actually doing so well. I’m not sure what I anticipated this time to be like, but we’ve had such an outpouring of love and support that this transition has been mind-blowingly sweet.

Here in the South, people go all out when you have a baby. There’s gifts and baby snuggling and offers to babysit the bigger kids, of course, but hands down my very favorite perk (outside of the baby itself, duh) is all of the food people bring you. Casseroles, baked goods, snacky treats, and booze show up at your door more frequently than the UPS guy on Amazon Prime delivery day. People bring you lasagnas and pot pies and tossed salads like your milk production depends on it, and this kind of generosity is one of those Southern hospitality things that I love so much. Since I’ve had fewer meals to make, I had time to create a new treat to share with you all today: chocolate caramel pecan tarts.

Chocolate Caramel Pecan Tarts

Sweet and salty is my all-time favorite, and the combination of chocolate, salted caramel, and a buttery pecan and graham cracker crust is just the ticket. Made with Diamond Nuts pecans, these little tarts are a show-stopper and definitely qualify as one of those desserts that people will be talking about for a long time. Although they may appear to be complicated, there’s plenty of shortcuts and make-ahead options that will simplify the baking of these little treats.

Making the Tarts

To prepare them, we start by crushing graham crackers and finely chopping pecans. Sugar, salt, and melted butter are added to the crumbs and the sand-like mixture is pressed into the bottom of mini tart pans with removable bottoms. The bottomless pans make for easily removal so that your tarts look tidy and seriously professional. Bake the crusts for a few minutes at 350 degrees and get started preparing the ganache.

Equal parts dark chocolate and warm heavy cream are stirred together. A thick pourable chocolate can be layered into the bottom of the baked shells. Once the ganache has had a chance to set, the chocolate caramel pecan tarts are ready for their second layer, salted caramel sauce. You can make your sauce homemade (I prefer this recipe!) or purchase it from the store. I love homemade caramel and almost always have a jar in my fridge; if this intimidates you, just opt for the store-bought. Spoon a couple of tablespoons on top of the set ganache and allow to caramel to cool to room temperature.

Serving the Tarts

At this point, the chocolate caramel pecan tarts can rest in the fridge or even freeze. When you’re ready to serve them, bring them to a cool temp and top with a creamy dollop of whipped cream. A sprinkle of toasted pecans finishes out these chocolate caramel pecan tarts and they’re ready for serving. These little treats are a sweet and salty delight your guests will seriously enjoy.

I’ve had the most fun working with Diamond Nuts this past year. It’s incredibly easy to support and brag on a brand you love and trust. Their partnership has been one I’ve loved sharing with you. I’ll leave some links below so that you can give their products a try in your own home. If you’re looking for a recipe to try right away, I hope you’ll give try these. The pecans are the stars of the show, and this crust is one to use in other recipes as well. If you make time to bake them for yourselves, let me know what you think in the comments below! As always, thank you for supporting brands that make Wood and Spoon possible.

For more nutty recipes like these chocolate caramel pecan tarts you should try:

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars

Vegan Oatmeal Cookies

Sweet and Savory Rugelach

Pecan Apple Dutch Baby

Honey Cake with Figs and Whipped Cream Cheese

Chocolate Caramel Pecan Tarts

Print Recipe

These chocolate caramel pecan tarts are sweet and salty minis with a pecan graham cracker crust, chocolate ganache, salted caramel sauce, and whipped cream topping.

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 20
Cook Time: 10
Total Time: 60
Yield: 4
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the crust:

9 full (140 gm) graham cracker sheets, finely crushed
¾ cup (90 gm) pecans, finely chopped
¼ cup (50 gm) sugar
½ teaspoon salt
7 tablespoons (100 gm) unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
1 cup (240 gm) heavy whipping cream
¾ cup salted caramel sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla
Extra pecans for garnish

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Instructions

To prepare the crust:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add the graham cracker sheets, pecans, sugar, and salt in a medium sized mixing bowl, stirring to combine. Pour in the melted butter and stir until the mixture comes together in a wet sand consistency. Pat the crumbs into the bottom and up the sides of 4-4”” tart pans and bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until set. Allow to cool while you prepare the filling. Note that if your crust goes into the oven warm, it could slouch while baking. You can carefully (don’t burn yourself!) press the crumbs back up the sides when done baking as needed, or just chill the crust prior to baking.

To prepare the filling:

Place the chopped chocolate in a small bowl. Gently heat 1/2 cup of the cream on the stove or in the microwave until it’s about to start bubbling. Pour the cream over the chocolate and cover the bowl with plastic wrap for 5 minutes. Remove the plastic wrap and whisk to combine the two. Pour 1-1/2 heaping tablespoons into the bottom of each slightly cooled crust and place in the fridge to chill.
When the ganache has firmed up, gently warm the caramel to a spreading consistency and spread 3 tablespoons into each tart, completely covering the ganache below it. Place in the fridge to set.
When ready to serve, whip the remaining ½ cup cream with the sugar and vanilla until medium peaks form. Spoon large dollops on each tart and garnished with toasted chopped pecans. Enjoy!

Honey Peach Pie

9 Comments / Pies and Tarts

Another week, another dessert. That’s how we do things around here. If you live anywhere near the South, you know our peach season took a mini hit this year, but even so, the summer fruit favorite is beginning to pop up everywhere in all it’s juicy, fuzz-covered glory. To celebrate the unofficial fruit of the South (I just declared this on my own, BTW), we’re making this honey peach pie. Let’s chat the ins and outs.

Honey Peach Pie

For starters, we have an all-butter pie crust. While my usual pie dough has a smidge of shortening in it, I absolutely LOVE using an all-butter crust when I want extra-rich flavor. This crust does not disappoint. Filled with Kerrygold butter and a smidge of sugar and salt, this crust is a terrific vehicle for a pie fillings of fresh peaches, brown sugar, and… honey caramel? Yep, there’s a honey caramel in here. This is a recipe adapted from Jeni Britton Bauer’s honey butterscotch sauce that she uses to top her ice cream, and it is divine. The filling truly sings of honey here, so be sure to use a variety that you really enjoy the flavor of.

To finish things off, we have a brown butter crumble. You know I’ll top just about anything with crumble and will jump at the chance to brown butter, so this pie topping is actually an all-time fave of mine.

Making the Pie

To make this honey peach pie, we start by prepping all of the elements of the pie. I like to begin by making my pie dough so that it can chill while I prep the other ingredients. You can even make the dough up to a week in advance! Next, whip up the honey caramel sauce so that it can chill in the fridge as well, and then finish it all off by making the brown butter crumble. Once the prep work has been done, you take a few hours or even a day or two off before actually assembling the pie!

When you’re ready to bake your honey peach pie, start by filling a 9-10″ tart pan with a removable bottom with the pie crust. I like to roll my crust out several inches larger than the diameter of the tin on a floured surface and then roll the dough back onto my floured rolling pin. From there, simply unroll the dough into the pan and then trim the edges and crimp as desired. Toss the sliced peaches with the dry ingredients and immediately place in the pan with the drizzle of honey caramel. Top with the crumble and brush the crust with a beaten egg. This honey peach pie takes about 45 minutes to bake and another couple of hours to set, so be patient for best results.

How to Serve It

When you’re ready to serve this summer treat, make sure you have some ice cream or whipped cream on hand. I opted to top the whole things with extra slices of peaches and blueberries, but this was totally for aesthetic purposes. The tart is loaded with fruit and needs no further attention, just a few friends with empty forks so that you can dive right into this fruity stunner.

I’m sharing today’s recipe in collaboration with my favorite friends at Kerrygold. Both in the all-butter pie crust and brown butter crumble, quality butter is essential for this pie, so I trust Kerrygold to provide excellent product I can trust! Their butter has slightly lower water content than the average stick you’ll find at the grocery store which means more flake to every bite. Trust me on this one. As always, thank you for supporting brands that make Wood & Spoon possible and thank you for reading along! Happy Tuesday and Happy Baking!

If you like this honey peach pie you should check out:

Peach Lattice Pie

Peaches and Cream Biscuits

Peach Crumb Muffins

Peach Semifreddo

Honey Peach Pie

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

This honey peach pie has an all-butter crust, a honey caramel and peach filling, and a brown butter crumble topping!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 45
Cook Time: 60
Total Time: 180
Yield: 1 Pie
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the crust:

1–1/4 cups (175 gm) all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (115 gm) unsalted butter, cold
1 cup ice water
1 tablespoon bourbon

For the honey caramel filling (Adapted from Jeni Britton Bauer):

1 cup (200 gm) sugar
2/3 cup honey
1–1/4 cup (300 gm) heavy whipping cream
4 tablespoons (55 gm) unsalted butter
Pinch of salt

For the brown butter crumble:

6 tablespoons (85 gm) unsalted butter
½ cup (100 gm) brown sugar
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup (140 gm) all-purpose flour

For the filling:

1 egg
1–1/2 pounds of ripe peaches
1–1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Pinch of salt

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Instructions

To prepare the crust:

Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Use a pastry cutter or the backs of two forks to cut in the butter until pea-sized clumps exist throughout. Add the bourbon to the water and drizzle in a 1/3 cup of the mixture (sans ice) and use a fork to bring the dough together. Continue adding small bits of water until the mixture comes together enough for the dough to pull away from the bowl. The dough should be smooth- not sticky or crumble. Try not to overwork it. Pat the dough into a small disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the fridge at least two hours.

To prepare the honey caramel filling:

Combine the honey and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Stop stirring and continue cooking, stirring occasionally. As the mixture heats it will foam, make big clear bubbles, and then make tighter fine bubbles. Continue swirling the pan occasionally and watch as the caramel begins to slowly darken. Once the center has slightly darkened to a brownish shade, remove from heat immediately and carefully and slowly drizzle in the cream, stirring all the while. Add the butter and salt and stir until melted and combined. Place the mixture in a heat-proof bowl to chill in the fridge.

To prepare the brown butter crumble:

In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat stirring regularly. Continue stirring as you brown the butter. It will sizzle, foam, and then you’ll see small golden specks forming around the bottom and sides of the pan. Continue stirring to prevent the butter from burning until the mixture is fairly golden and smells deliciously nutty. Remove from heat immediately to a heat-safe bowl. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt and stir to combine. Add the flour and fold until the mixture forms large clumps. Place the mixture in the fridge to chill slightly while you assemble your pie.

To prepare the pie:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Roll the dough out on a floured surface using a floured rolling pin until it is 2” larger than your 9” tart pan with a removable bottom on all sides. Roll the dough back onto your rolling pin and unroll it into the tart pan. Carefully press the dough into the corners of the pan and trim off any excess around the edges leaving a 1” overhang on all sides. Fold the edges into the tart pan to create a thicker crust that extends about ¼” over the sides of the pan. Crack the egg into a bowl and, without breaking the yolk, use a pastry brush to brush a thin layer of egg white all over the dough on the bottom and sides of the pan. Place the crust in the freezer to set for 15 minutes.
In the meantime, peel and core your peaches and slice them into ¾” slices. Toss with the cornstarch, brown sugar, and salt. Pour the filling into the prepared tart pan. Pour 1 cup of the of the honey caramel over the peaches. You can slightly rewarm to liquid consistency as needed. Sprinkle the brown butter crumble on top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes and then decrease the heat to 350. Bake for an additional 40-45 minutes or until the pie is set, golden, and bubbling under the crust. Allow to cool for 2-3 hours prior to cutting. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Peanut Butter Caramel Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies

12 Comments / Cookies and Bars

Today’s recipe has zero shame. This is the kind of over-the-top cookie that might feel like a little much to some people, but to me, it’s drool-worthy. I’m 100% Team Salty Sweet and these peanut butter caramel pretzel chocolate chip cookies hit the nail on the head of every flavor I want in a dessert. I think you’re going to love them too, so let’s talk about how to make them.

Peanut Butter Caramel Pretzel Cookies

We start by stirring melted butter and peanut butter together until smooth. Add in the sugars and stir until creamed well. Next comes the eggs and vanilla extract followed by the dry ingredients- flour, salt, and leavening. When it’s all well combined, stir in the bits of pretzels, chocolate chunks, and caramel chips until everything is combined. Scoop rounds of dough (I use this cookie scoop!) and top each one with a pretzel twist or a few broken crumbs, allowing them to bake until the edges are set.

A Few Notes:

These peanut butter caramel pretzel chocolate chip cookies are chewy, barely taste of peanut butter, and have a sweet and salty balance that is to die for. The salty pretzels and peanut butter offset the sweet caramel bits and chunks of chocolate that ooze throughout, and they stay delicious for several days after making. A few things to note on the ingredients: First, be sure you’re using the mini salted pretzels. It doesn’t matter if they’re the sticks or the twists, but don’t use the giant pretzel rods, okay? Second, for the caramel chips, we really mean caramel chips. Not giant caramel chews or mini baking bits that you use for melting. Finally, use whatever chocolate here that you prefer. You can sub in chocolate chips as well, but I like the difference in texture and look a chopped bar adds. I use 70% chocolate baking bars here.

Over the next coming weeks you’ll have a multitude of opportunities to bake and share cookies. After all, Christmas gatherings, class parties, and little festive plates set out for Santa and his reindeer really only beg for one thing. These peanut butter caramel pretzel chocolate chip cookies will be the showstoppers of them all. Equal parts beautiful and delicious, these cookies are unique yet entirely a crowd-pleasing option that everyone will jump for. Give them a try during your weekend baking and let me know what you think! Happy Friday, y’all!

If you like these peanut butter caramel pretzel chocolate chip cookies you should check out:

Pretzel Millionaire Bars

Espresso Caramel Thumbprint Cookies

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Brookies (Brownie Cookie Bars)

Toffee Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Caramel Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies

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★★★★★

4.5 from 2 reviews

These peanut butter caramel pretzel chocolate chip cookies are chewy treats loaded with sweet and salty favorites!

Author: Kate
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 20
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 30
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

3/4 cup (170 gm) unsalted butter
½ cup creamy peanut butter
1–1/2 cups (300 gm) light brown sugar
½ cup (100 gm) sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2–3/4 cups (385 gm) all-purpose flour
1–1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1–1/2 teaspoons salt
8 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
1 cup (170gm) caramel baking chips
½ cup crushed pretzels, plus more larger pieces for sticking on top of your cookies, if desired

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Melt the butter over medium heat on the stove. Stir regularly and remove the pan from heat immediately once all is melted. Pour into a large mixing bowl and whisk in the peanut butter. Add the brown sugar, sugar, and vanilla extract, stirring to combine. Add the eggs and whisk to incorporate.
Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the mix immediately and fold to combine. Don’t waste a lot of time as the mixture will be harder to work with as it sits and cools. Fold in the chocolate, caramel chips, and pretzels.
Scoop 1-1/2 tablespoon-sized scoops (I use a large cookie scoop) of dough on the baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Roll the dough in your hands to smooth and stick random pretzel chunks on the top of the dough balls if you want visible pieces after baking. Bake in the preheated oven 10-11 minutes or until the edges are set. Allow to cool briefly before eating!

Molten Caramel Chocolate Cakes

26 Comments / Cakes

Molton Caramel Chocolate Cakes by Wood and Spoon. These are rich dark chocolate Lava cakes with a homemade salted caramel sauce in the center. Each individual dessert prepared in ramekins are baked until the gooey centers are melted and the cake is baked. Each treat is served with fresh whipped cream. Find the recipe and learn more about this fancy decadent dinner party finisher at thewoodandspoon.com by Kate Wood

If the title of this post didn’t stop you dead in your tracks, we cannot relate.

I love a dessert that is unabashedly sweet and decadent. Those after-dinner treats are, in my opinion, reserved for something that feels like a treat. I want to indulge and to enjoy. Anytime someone tells me that they don’t have a sweet tooth, I immediately lose the ability to trust their judgment. If you don’t dessert, who are you?

One of my biggest disappointments in many of today’s restaurant dessert menus is that they’re just so weird. Like, you’ll glance over the menu, just dying for that deliciously familiar taste of a warm chocolate chip cookie, and all that there is to be found on the menu is a cheese plate. Some obscure savory dessert. Or a dish so fussy, so off-the-wall and imaginative that no one can pronounce the ingredients, let alone muster up the appetite to eat it. If I’m being honest, the one thing I typically want most after supper is a next-level awesome version of something I already love. Give me all of the skillet brownies and caramel sundaes and bourbon bread puddings, okay? There is no shame in appreciating the classics.

One of my dear friends is celebrating a birthday today and these molten caramel chocolate cakes are for her. Together, she and I have experienced some really beautiful dining experiences, and the one thing we almost always agree on is dessert. We always want chocolate. We always want caramel. If there is a sweet and salty element or a warm sauce, we’re on it. If it’s got a streusel topping or a shortbread crumble, we’ll take it. But don’t come at us with your black pepper flavored ice cream and diet desserts. Just don’t.

Molten Chocolate Cakes

These molten caramel chocolate cakes are decadent. There’s something so seductive and indulgent about a dessert bubbling over with even more dessert. Treats like these feel over-the-top and special in the very best kind of way. This is a dessert worth celebrating over.

Making the Caramel

To make these molten caramel chocolate cakes, we start with the caramel. You’ll need a really good caramel sauce to stuff inside the cakes. You can check out my post on homemade salted caramel sauce for tips on how to do that yourself, or you can invest in a quality jar from the store or specialty food market. I like to make my sauce myself and keep the leftovers in the fridge for a rainy day.

Making the Cakes

Once you have a chilled caramel sauce, we can start on the batter. Chocolate and butter are melted together on a warm stove. Meanwhile, eggs and sugar are combined in a bowl until pale and fluffy. Add the chocolate mixture and a bit of flour to the egg mixture, folding to incorporate it together. Spoon the batter into some well-greased and floured ramekins (I use these and these!) and top with a teaspoon of the cold caramel sauce. Cover the caramel with a small bit of remaining chocolate batter and bake the molten caramel chocolate cakes until they just barely jiggle in the center.

Fresh from the oven, these cakes should pop out on an inverted plate with no problem. If you notice your first cake doesn’t want to come out easily, just run a thin knife around the perimeter to loosen the edges from the dish. Carefully flip the cakes out onto individual plates and serve with fresh whipped cream (more on that here!) or ice cream. If you’re feeling extra jazzy, you can spring for extra caramel sauce, but I promise you’ll have plenty in your cake!

Indulge in something worth indulging in this weekend. You deserve it. Happy Thursday and Happy Baking! We will see you next week!

If you like these molten caramel chocolate cakes you should check out:

Chocolate Caramel Crumble Cake

Toffee Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies

Homemade Chocolate Truffles

Espresso Caramel Thumbprint Cookies

Molten Caramel Chocolate Cakes

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 4 reviews

These melton caramel chocolate cakes are rich and decadent lava cakes filled with homemade salted caramel sauce. Perfect for fancy suppers and after-dinner treats!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 30
Cook Time: 15
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 6
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

1/2 cup (113 gm) unsalted butter, plus more for ramekins
6 ounces dark (I use 70%) baking chocolate, chopped
3 large eggs
½ cup (100 gm) sugar
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for ramekins
pinch of salt
3 tablespoons caramel sauce, cold
Prepared whipped cream or ice cream, if desired

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease the inside of 6 (6 ounce) ramekins or cocottes with a thin layer of butter and dust the inside with all-purpose flour. Shake any excess flour out and set aside while you prepare the cakes. (See notes for variation here)
On the stove over very low heat, melt the butter and chocolate together. Be sure to stir the mixture until melted thoroughly to avoid burning the chocolate on the stove. Once smooth, remove from the stove and set aside to cool slightly while you finish preparing the cakes.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sugar and beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light and slightly viscous, about 2-3 minutes. Fold in the chocolate mixture with a rubber spatula and then fold in the flour and salt. Divide most of the batter among the 6 floured dishes and then spoon a teaspoon of caramel sauce in the center of each cake. Spoon the remaining batter on top to cover the caramel and then bake in the preheated oven for about 9 minutes, or until the cake only barely jiggles in the center when wiggled. Carefully remove the ramekins from the oven and allow to rest for 1 minute. Place a small dessert plate on top of each ramekin and invert them to turn the cakes out onto the plate. If your first cake sticks a bit, you can carefully run a thin knife around the perimeter of the cakes to ensure they turn out okay. Enjoy immediately with whipped cream, a dusting of powdered sugar, or ice cream.

Notes

If you slather the ramekins too thickly with butter and flour your cakes may have a thin crust on them. To prevent an off-white crust you can keep you butter and flour mixture thin or sub 1/3 of the flour for cocoa powder.
Check out the link in my post for the recipe and how-to for homemade caramel sauce!

Adapted from Jean-Georges Vongerichten

Turtle Ice Cream & MONTH OF CHOCOLATE

20 Comments / Frozen Desserts

Turtle Ice Cream by The Wood and Spoon Blog by Kate Wood. This is a creamy chocolate ice cream adapted from jenny Britton Bauer, swirled with salted caramel sauce, hot fudge, and toasted pecans. This ice cream is super creamy, rich, sweet and salty. The toasted nuts add crunch that makes this ice cream a simple delicious homemade treat. Find the recipe on thewoodandspoon.com

Y’ALL. It’s already here, and I’m so excited that I could almost pee my pants. We’re celebrating something way better than Christmas morning, the first day of school, or even a second date with a major hottie, because today marks the beginning of MONTH OF CHOCOLATE.

Month of Chocolate

Do you guys remember all the chocolate shenanigans we partook in last year? There were homemade chocolates and a white chocolate layer cake. There was a hazelnut mocha cream pie and two minty desserts: sandwich cookies and a mint brownie ice cream cake. We played with cocoa powder and dark chocolate bars, mini chocolate chips and fudgy ganache. Basically it was a sticky-sweet month of decadent chocolate desserts, and those few short days were so glorious that it had to be a tradition in the making. So people, today we start the second annual #monthofchocolate, and yes, it’s okay to cry real tears of joy. I know I am.

Turtle Ice Cream

Before you get too hot and heavy on all this chocolate business, let’s chill out with one of the best homemade ice creams I have ever had the pleasure of shoveling down my gullet. It’s turtle ice cream, a rich and creamy chocolate ice cream swirled with toasted pecans, hot fudge sauce, and salty-sweet caramel. Perfectly sweet with just a teensy bit of crunch, and every bit as decadent as a chocolate ice cream should be. Let’s chat about how to make it.

For the best turtle ice cream, we need the best sauces to mix into it. To make my favorite homemade caramel, we cook sugar and water in a saucepan until it has bronzed to an amber hue. Next, warm cream is added to transform that caramelized sugar into a gooey sauce. Once combined, the caramel is finished with a bit of butter and a helping of salt.

My favorite hot fudge sauce is even easier to make. Cream, corn syrup, brown sugar, cocoa powder, salt and chocolate are melted together in a saucepan until boiling. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes and then add the butter, vanilla, and even more chocolate. Allow both sauces to cool before adding to your ice cream, or, better yet, make them a day or two in advance. They will keep well in the fridge.

Making the Ice Cream

The base for this turtle ice cream is adapted from Jeni Britton Bauer’s genius recipe. Cream, milk, and evaporated milk are cooked with sugar and corn syrup until boiling. Cocoa powder is added next, followed by a cornstarch slurry that will thicken up the turtle ice cream. Continue to cook the mixture until thick and bubbly, and then add the remaining ingredients: chopped bittersweet chocolate and salt.

The mixture needs to chill completely before we attempt to process it in the ice cream machine, so to speed up the process, I like to use Jeni’s ice bath method. Pour the hot cream mixture into a gallon-sized plastic bag and fill the sink or a giant bowl with ice water. Submerge the plastic bag in the icy water to cool the mixture in about 30 minutes. Once completely chilled, the mixture is ready to be processed in an ice cream machine.

Churning the Ice Cream

You can follow the manufacturer’s instructions to freeze the ice cream base into a chocolatey oasis. For reference, my machine usually requires 20 minutes. Just whiz it in your machine until it is the consistency of fro-yo and then layer in your ingredients. I add a quarter of the ice cream to the pan and then sprinkle on the pecans. Drizzle spoonfuls of each sauce in next, and then repeat the process until all of the ice cream has been sauced up. Swirl it all together with a knife and then freeze the container in a cold part of your freezer for about 6 hours, or overnight.

This turtle ice cream is a sweet and salty tribute to chocolate, the perfect way to start the #monthofchocolate festivities. Be sure to pop by here every week for the rolls, bars, and other delightful confections that you won’t want to miss out on. Give this turtle ice cream a try and let me know what you think! HAPPY CHOCOLATE DREAMING, Y’ALL!

If you like this turtle ice cream you should check out:

Honey Salted Almond Ice Cream

No-Churn Mocha Brownie Fudge Ice Cream

Samoa Ice Cream

Chocolate Caramel Crumble Cake

Espresso Caramel Thumbprint Cookies

Turtle Ice Cream

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

This turtle ice cream has a creamy chocolate base, toasted pecans, and swirls of hot fudge and salted caramel sauce. Sweet, salty, nutty, and delicious.

Author: Kate
Prep Time: 35
Total Time: 400

Ingredients

1 cup (240 mL) whole milk
5 teaspoons cornstarch
3 ounces (85 gm) bittersweet chocolate
¼ teaspoon salt
1–1/2 cups (360 mL) heavy whipping cream
1 (12 ounce) can regular evaporated milk, not nonfat
¾ cup (150 gm) sugar
¼ cup (80 gm) light corn syrup
1/3 cup (25 gm) cocoa powder
1/3 cup (30 gm) toasted pecans, finely chopped
¼ cup hot fudge sauce, melted but not too hot
¼ cup salted caramel sauce, melted but not too hot

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Instructions

Combine two tablespoons of the milk with the cornstarch in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside while you prepare the rest of the ice cream, but re-stir this mixture occasionally. Chop the bittersweet chocolate and place in a medium sized mixing bowl with the salt. Make an ice bath in a large bowl or your kitchen sink big enough for a gallon-sized plastic bag.
Combine the remaining milk, whipping cream, evaporated milk, sugar, and corn syrup in a medium sized (at least 4 quart) saucepan. Place over medium-high heat, and bring to a boil, stirring regularly. Add the cocoa powder and whisk to combine, continuing to cook for an additional 4 minutes. To mixture will foam and bubble up, so be sure to keep stirring to keep smaller pans from overflowing! Pull the pan from the heat and whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Place back over heat and continue to cook, stirring with a spoon or a spatula, for about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
Slowly drizzle the hot cream mixture over the chopped chocolate and salt, stirring regularly. Once all is combined and smooth, pour the contents of the bowl into a gallon-sized plastic bag. Place the sealed bag in the prepared ice bath and allow to chill until cold.
Once the mixture is chilled, pour the contents of the bag into a prepared ice cream processing machine. Make sure that your ice cream bowl is adequately chilled. Process the ice cream according to manufacturer’s instructions until thick and fluffy, like the consistency of soft-serve ice cream. Spoon ¼ of the ice cream into a loaf pan or a container large enough to freeze the ice cream in. Drizzle with ¼ of the hot fudge and caramel and sprinkle with pecans. Repeat this process 3 more times until all the ice cream, sauces, and nuts have been used. Use a knife to swirl in the mix-ins and cover your loaf pan with a sheet of foil. Place the pan in the freezer to firm up, about 6 hours or overnight. Allow the ice cream to sit out for 5 minutes prior to scooping and ENJOY!