Caramel, Pretzel and Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

I feel like these cookies don't even need an explanation -- they are thick and chewy and the perfect combination of sweet and salty.  Sweetness from the caramel and chocolate, salty goodness from the pretzels and a sprinkling of sea salt on top. 

 

If you dig this combo, here's a few more recipes for you:

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies with Sea Salt

Soft Batch White Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pistachios and Sea Salt

White Chocolate and Pretzel Peanut Butter Cookies



Caramel Coconut Bars

 

If you are reading this from the East Coast (and have power!), I hope you are safe and I'm thinking of you! 

 

My mom and I sent a little Halloween package to Sarah in Chicago with these tasty little squares.  I know how much she loves coconut and caramel so I thought these would be perfect!  They have a chewy coconut cookie base, layered with caramel and chocolate and coconut, for garnish.  As I typed this, I realized these are almost identical to the homemade somoa bars but these are definitely easier to throw together.  However, both are delish and combine my favorite flavors so take your pick! 

 

Mini Caramel Apple Pie Tarts

I have made these mini caramel apple tarts a few times but have never shared the step-by-step instructions with you.  AND since nothing is more American than apple pie, I thought the timing was appropriate with the upcoming 4th of July holiday!

I made the standard size back in the fall and shared the recipe (Dutch Caramel Apple Tart).  But everything is better in "mini form", right?

Have a safe and fun-filled 4th!

Caramel Crumb Bars

I have had these caramel crumb bars on my list for quite some time.  I don't know why I waited so long to make them because I always have the ingredients stocked in my kitchen -- butter, flour, sugar, vanilla, salt, sweetened condensed milk, etc.  

For me, sometimes the best desserts have the most simple flavors.  These caramel crumb bars have a light, buttery shortbread crust with a sweet (but not too sweet) caramel filling.  After tasting, I had the idea to give the bars a little sprinkling of salt -- salty caramel is my favorite (Jeni's Ice Cream, anyone??) -- but it was an afterthought. Until next time...

Dulce de Leche Cupcakes

As Molly mentioned before, Sarah celebrated her birthday this past weekend.  I love digging through recipes deciding what to bake for the special day.  This year, after stumbling upon Dulce de Leche Cupcakes, my mind was made up.

Since sweets are still out for me, I could only rely on the words of those who were able to enjoy these -- I heard words like "great flavor" "delish!"  Sarah said the icing was amazing.  I anticipated that -- what's not to like?  Cream cheese, dulce de leche.

I don't know how much more I can bake without being able to taste test!  I asked Sarah fifty times if they tasted OK because "I hate giving treats to people unless they turn out perfect."  Did I really say that?  FACT.  A little OCD?  Yes... maybe.

For a tutorial on making your own dulce de leche (that's what I did!), check out Our Best Bites easy oven method.

White Chocolate, Caramel & Coconut Cookies

These cookies are so good!  Think chewy sugar cookie, combined with gooey caramel and white chocolate, with the crunch of toasted coconut.  The flavor combination was right up my alley!  I was searching through my cupboard one morning and these were the three ingredients I spotted first -- and the white chocolate, caramel & coconut cookie was born.

Heartland Turtle Bars

Baked is a super cute bakery in downtown Charleston (also in NYC) and this recipe comes from one of their cookbooks.  My mom was very thoughtful and got me this cookbook for Valentine's Day (thanks)!

These bars are super rich and buttery but so delicious!!  Who doesn't love caramel, toasted pecans, and chocolate?!  I can't wait to try more recipes!

One Year Ago:  Pumpkin Coffee Cake

The BEST Carrot Cake

Let me start by saying that this is not your average carrot cake; this is amazing!  The cake itself uses browned butter, yuumm.  The filling is a dulce de leche buttercream...I don't think I need to explain how amazing that is.  And finally, the frosting is a brown sugar cream cheese frosting; it compliments the flavor of the carrot cake perfectly.

I didn't get the best pictures ever because we ate about 3/4 of it before I got around to taking pictures, which is why I don't have a picture of the entire cake.  But I decorated it by putting toasted walnuts around the edge of the cake and piping icing around the outside of the top of the cake.

This is what I made my mom for her birthday and it was a huge hit!  Everyone loved it and some people even had two slices!

Brown Sugar Shortbread

This shortbread is super easy to prepare and would be a fun recipe to make with kids.  It does not involve any type of mixer or spoons, just your hands!  You mix everything with your hands and form the dough with your hands; it makes for a very easy clean up!

This will last several days in an airtight container so it can be made ahead of time for a party and it would also ship well to out-of-town friends and relatives.  The brown sugar in these gives them a nice caramel flavor and I think they are perfect for the holidays!

Chocolate Chip, Oats ‘n Caramel Cookie Squares

As I've mentioned many times before, I love discovering delicious recipes that require very little time and effort.  Don't get me wrong, if I had all day to spend baking and cooking I would be happy to do it, but unfortunately (I mean, fortunately), I have a job and other obligations that don't allow for that.  When I find recipes that I can whip up in under 20 minutes, I'm a very happy girl.  

These bars are clearly very rich -- cookie dough, a layer of caramel, a cup of chocolate chips.  I promise, anyone with a sweet tooth will enjoy!