This month we had to do a Caramel cake, with a caramel syrup and caramelized butter frosting. With all this caramelization, my brain got in the spirit and got caramelized as well. I managed to delete all the step by step pictures, and could only save these ones. I was so mad at myself, it was a good thing that I had a sweet cake close-by, or in my case sweet Madeleines!
Triple caramel: Caramel madeleines and vanila & honey caramels sandwiched with caramelized butter & lavander frosting!
CARAMEL MADELEINES
· 10 Tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature · 1 1/4 Cups granulated sugar · 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt · 1/3 Cup Caramel Syrup (see recipe below) · 2 each eggs, at room temperature · 1 splash vanilla extract · 2 Cups all-purpose flour · 1/2 teaspoon baking powder · 1 cup milk, at room temperature
Preheat oven to 350F. Butter one tall (2 – 2.5 inch deep) 9-inch cake pan. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter until smooth. Add sugar and salt & cream until light and fluffy. Slowly pour room temperature caramel syrup into bowl. Scrape down bowl and increase speed. Add eggs/vanilla extract a little at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down bowl again, beat mixture until light and uniform. Sift flour and baking powder. Turn mixer to lowest speed, and add one third of the dry ingredients. When incorporated, add half of the milk, a little at a time. Add another third of the dry ingredients, then the other half of the milk and finish with the dry ingredients. {This is called the dry, wet, dry, wet, dry method in cake making. It is often employed when there is a high proportion of liquid in the batter.} Take off mixer and by hand, use a spatula to do a few last folds, making sure batter is uniform. Turn batter into prepared cake pan (in my case I’ve used Madeleine’s moulds). Place pan on cookie sheet or 1/2 sheet pan. Set first timer for 30 minutes, rotate pan and set timer for another 15-20 minutes. Bake until sides pull away from the pan and skewer inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool cake completely before icing it.
· 2 cups sugar · 1/2 cup water · 1 cup water
In a small stainless steel saucepan, with tall sides, mix water and sugar until mixture feels like wet sand. Brush down any stray sugar crystals with wet pastry brush. Turn on heat to highest flame. Cook until smoking slightly: dark amber. When color is achieved, very carefully pour in one cup of water. Caramel will jump and sputter about! It is very dangerous, so have long sleeves on and be prepared to step back. Whisk over medium heat until it has reduced slightly and feels sticky between two fingers.
CARAMELIZED BUTTER & LAVENDER FROSTING
· 12 tablespoons unsalted butter · 1 pound confectioner’s sugar, sifted · 4-6 tablespoons heavy cream · 2 teaspoons vanilla extract · 2-4 tablespoons caramel syrup · Kosher or sea salt to taste · 1 tbsp lavender
Cook butter until brown, add the lavender after and let it cool. Pour through a fine meshed sieve into a bowl and discard the lavender. Pour cooled brown butter into mixer bowl. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, add confectioner's sugar a little at a time. When mixture looks too chunky to take any more, add a bit of cream and or caramel syrup. Repeat until mixture looks smooth and all confectioner's sugar has been incorporated. Add salt to taste.
GOLDEN VANILLA & HONEY MADELEINE’S CARAMELS
· 1 cup golden syrup (I’ve used ½ cup glucose + ½ cup honey) · 2 cups sugar · 3/8 teaspoon fine sea salt · 2 cups heavy cream · 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract · 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into chunks, softened
Combine the golden syrup (see note), sugar, and salt in a heavy 3-quart saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring with a silicone spatula or wooden spoon, until the mixture begins to simmer around the edges. Wash the sugar and syrup from the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water. Cover and cook for about 3 minutes. (Meanwhile, rinse the spatula or spoon before using it again later.) Uncover the pan and wash down the sides once more. Attach the candy thermometer to the pan, without letting it touch the bottom of the pan, and cook, uncovered (without stirring) until the mixture reaches 305°F. Meanwhile, combine the cream and ground vanilla beans (not the extract) in a small saucepan and heat until tiny bubbles form around the edges of the pan. Turn off the heat and cover the pan to keep the cream hot. When the sugar mixture reaches 305°F, turn off the heat and stir in the butter chunks. Gradually stir in the hot cream; it will bubble up and steam dramatically, so be careful. Turn the burner back on and adjust it so that the mixture boils energetically but not violently. Stir until any thickened syrup at the bottom of the pan is dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, to about 245°F. Then cook, stirring constantly, to 260°f for soft, chewy caramels or 265°F; for firmer chewy caramels. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Pour the caramel into an aluminium lined greased pan (in my case the a madeleine’s silicone mould). Let set for 4 to 5 hours, or overnight until firm. To unmould easily, pop them in the freezer for a while.
If you can handle the sweetness you can take a bite of mine or go check all the other caramel madness of my fellows Daring Bakers!
115 comments:
I love that version! Very pretty!
cheers,
Rosa
How wonderful! What a creative spin you did on this challenge! Great recovery on the pics too!
Rita, I expected something very original from you, and you haven't disappointed! You never do! Absolutely brilliant idea! And how cute!
You are so creative! Amazing!
Another one of your beautiful creative creations!
How scrumptious! And their so pretty! Sorry about your pictures, these would console me too.
This is a very original idea. And looks so pretty. If caramelization of the brain brings such originality, I'm all for it.:)
Quelle belle et originale idée !
De plus tes photos sont superbes :)
I can't believe you!!! :D This gotta be the prettiest cake ever. I have always loved all these inspiration from you and again, I am wow-ed!
Those look wicked good, but I don't have dental insurance so I can't touch them. :D
You always impress me. These are stunning!!!
mmmmmmmm. that looks soo, soo good. the caramel looks so creamy and gooey and delicious!
How lovely, I hadn't even dreamed of making the challenge in such a dainty, adorable format!
Incredible idea! You did such a great job on this challenge!
They look so appeziting! Yummy! I believe posting is one of the hardest and longest things in blogging! Next time type it in word doc and copy and paste it!
Love your rendition and all the glossy look....what a perfect treat!
Wow, super impressive. I absolutely love the variation.
Really nice. I don't think any one came up with this version - great one!
So creative! I think these look tastier then the cake.
Ciao ! tu sei un genio !! Very nice indeed !
Now, that's what I call caramel super stuff! Fantásticas as madeleines e de certeza uma perdição - e olha que eu não me perco por doces com facilidade! Espectacular!
Rita, I love your twist on the prescribed recipe. You go girl!
such a novel idea!!
Oh wow! How creative and beautiful!
Wow looks marvellous, tempting and appetizing.
What a fab idea! I'll bet you were so happy with the way those turned out. You're always so creative :)
Very creative idea of making it a madeleine! Very clever indeed :)
The frosting sounds really delicious and I don't usually rave that much about frostings LOL :)
There are no words, other than - how in the world did you come up with this?! It's brilliant! I wonder what Proust would say...
Those are so cute! You are so very creative, I want one!
So creative!!
Lol@caramelization of the brain..it did yield wonderful results though..
You certainly are the best creative cookie:)
they look fantastic,greate job!!=)
That looks absolutely amazing!
fantastic idea!!!!
¡¡¡ Maldición !!! si es que tanto caramelo no podía ser bueno... qué pena lo de las fotos, pero el resultado final es preciosisisisisisísimo. Tan claritas, tan esponjosas y tan monas las madeleins...
¡¡Me encantan!!
Premio per te!!!!
troppo golosa questa ricetta!
vale
Looks really good, they are so cute
Aww, sorry about the mishap with your photos! The ones that you were able to post came our splendidly. I love the one of your half eaten madeleine.
~ingrid
Yours is one of the most creative interpretations of the caramel theme I've seen so far. Great job incorporating both challenges. Thanks for baking with us!
OMG. Awesome!!! If I can't get my hands on a madeleine tray, I'll eat my shirt. Beautiful, inspiring job.
Very clever! They look so yummy!
rita me ha gustado mucho estas mini presentaciones solo lo faltaba una perla en forma de caramelo..para mi mejor las mini raciones(por cierto estuve en el chocomad y no te vi buahhhhhhhhhI
oh my goodness, how fabulous!! you did an AMAZING job - so creative!! good work!! xox
Well well well, look at you missy, getting all creative on us, trying to show us all up!!!!
Love them!
Sorry about the picture loss!!
How creative! Must have been much tastier than the original!
Oh my goodness, caramel overload, but way yummy. Just gorgeous. Sorry you lost your photos though :(
Isso é muito caramelo delicioso...ficaram lindas...beijinho
what a cute version of the cake! I love it! Too bad about the carmelized brain. Heat gently in a hot tub or sauna, so that you can de-caramelize. That's my remedy anyway.
Gorgeous and creative as always! Great job!
Ritinha amada, isso é maldade... eu de regime e vc com essas madeleines? Ohhh pecado!! =D
Bjo grande, querida
Those are so cute!
Wow! My latest root canal is shivering in it's place at the sight of the caramel, but my tummy and brain are *very* interested :) I think you made such a beautiful madeleine sandwich! Adorable.
oh! I think I'm in love... great job with this challenge!
I'm sorry you lost those pictures :(. These look super-duper cute, though :D!
This is such a creative interpretation of the challenge. Well done!! It looks delicious, too.
So creative! I love this angle. You did a great job with this one -it takes the cake! ;)
Those are the cutest madelines!! I love your creativity!
WOW! These are awesome :)
You are one very clever person. Wow, perhaps I would have liked this cake if I had your talent. I am so amazed, truly I am. When does your bakery open?
So looking forward to your DB post.. So nice and creative :)
Sheer genius! I absolutely love what you did with this challenge! I would kill for one of those right now!
Who needs a brain when you can have a creation like this in your hand? Amazing idea!
Wow! que bonitos te quedaron!!! :)
What a fabulous, creative interpretation! And it came out so beautiful!!
Oh wow Rita! I love how everyone has been doing their own thing with this recipe. Your madelines look wonderful!
How precious these are CC...& how novel! Pity about the deleted pics...but things like that happen! Love the caramels too!
Ooo, your madeleines are absolutely adorable! Beautiful job!
Very original idea, as always. You are a good inspiration for all of us. And by the way, your blog looks lovely! (haven't visited you in a while).
so cute !!!!! :-) and a very nice blog too!!! compliments!!
Rita,
These are so beautiful! I love everything about them. Gorgeous my dear!
You're not clumbsy, you're CLEVER! Wow. That is impressive.
What a fantastic idea!! So sorry to hear about losing the photos, that must have been so frustrating! But you did end up posting some great ones!
Talk about genius. And beautiful. I love this idea and just imagine the chewiness of the caramel with that cake. I'm eyeballing the madeleine pans I have that I've never used. I had no idea!
your talent always amazes me.
I love how you kick things up not just a notch, but a lot of notches!
this is perfect!
fantastic! this one is so creative!
So creative - and very tasty looking!
What a fabulous idea, they are wonderful!
As tuas madalenas estão super originais!!
Foi uma maneira interessante de combinar o bolo com os caramelos!
Acredito que tenham ficado deliciosas junto com o crocante do caramelo... nhamiiiii!
Happy little cookie clams...to be EATEN by me! Yum! Gorgeous!
Yummy! They look gorgeous.
so adorable!
As always dear, you got super creative with the challenge and I love it! Well done!!
wow this is really awesome and Madeleine's have come out perfect.
so cute. all your creations and desserts look delicious. great blog!
Alright, you totally win for the most fun version. YOU TOTALLY Win.
Those madelines look soooo good! And so professional looking!
Wow, you win the creativity award!
How fun are those?!?! Love em :)
He venido a verlas otra vez. Es que me gustan tanto... parece que sonríen y todo. :-)
Sweet version with the madelines, did this come to you before or after your transformation caramelization? :)
The pics look great, and I like how they are perfect bite size, which is about all we can muster after Thanksgiving... ok a couple bites maybe :)
Oh my goodness...OK, it's not even 7:30 in the morning here, but I feel I NEED some caramels right now! Beautiful pictures, even if you did delete the others. ;) Wow, those look fantastic!
it looks so beautiful and tasty!
What a great idea! I love your pictures...it makes me want to lick the computer screen!
;) amy
Realmente impresionante como unistes las dos recetas de este mes... Y le añadiste lavanda al frosting que es uno de mis aromas y colores favoritos... Que pena no poder probar una de esas maravillas...
Ana
Extremely creative and a great looking end product. Much better than how mine turned out. :)
Ohhh bad news on losing the pictures, but I think you completely prevailed! These look amazing, you always have such fantastic ideas!
What a good idea and your caramels came out so chewy yummy looking!
Oh my goodness!Yum! I got a sugar high just looking at the picture.
You, my dear, are a genius! I love the madeline caramel "sandwiches." So sorry about losing the other pictures, but the ones you posted are gorgeous!
Awesome job, Rita! I knew you would come up with something totally fun and original, not to mention delicious. Kudos to a great baker :)
Oh that's very very clever indeed! They look so great :)
Oh my gosh! I think your Madeleines are my favorite so far - well done!
You are so impressive. I love the madeleine shaped caramels and to pair them up like that with the rest of the DB challenge... fun presentation!
Those.are.AWESOME!!!! I love your creativity. What a great job.
How many comments can one great girl ask for? Wow!
Well, these madelines look simply amazing. They sure don't have these at Starbucks.
Sorry about the pics, that's always agravating. One time I formatted our camera after a full vacation-not knowing what formatting meant. I cried a deep sea that day. We actually were able to retirive them though so it was a happy ending. :)
Wow! This is so beautiful! Don't wanna eat it just the way looks!
I'll do this madeleines. Looks gorgeous!
Come to know my blog, Chocorango. And discover why named "Chocorango".
echocorango.blogspot.com
How brilliant!
SO gorgeous! Madelaines have been on my list forever, I really must get the molds so I can make them. Yours look just so elegant!
Es la primera vez que entro en tu blog, y me ha gustado mucho, vine a mirar el probocado que no me dió tiempo a hacer y el tuyo me ha gustado mucho, éstas magdalenas se ven riquísimas, espero que puedas venir ha hacerme una visita a mi blog
www.vamosacocimar.blogspot.com
Un beso
Better a late comment than none...
I love the shape and the sandwich idea! Perfect for caramel lovers!
I love your ideas! I was thinking that as sweet as this cake was I needed to make petite four sized portions but Madeleines are even better.
This looks amazing! Yum yum.
wow, your version is so much better than the original cake!
Amazing. Even the pickiest French would go crazy for these!!
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