Coconut Cake with Caramel Rum Sauce

Repost of this most delicious cake recipe!

How about this for Valentine’s Day! Or Easter? A single layer cake rich with sour cream and cream of coconut. A classy dessert for Mother’s Birthday too … coconut being a favorite! This rich little cake with decadent caramel rum sauce serves 10. You’ll be prepared when your Valentine asks for seconds.

Another recipe with no record of its origin. Yep, right out of Mother’s recipes. Delicious! Enjoy!

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Basic Marsala Sauce Makes 3 Dinners

Filet Mignon with Marsala Sauce

Meatballs Cooked in Marsala Sauce

Chicken Marsala

This simple recipe makes up beautifully. I’ve plated two Marsala Sauce Dinners to reveal the diversity of this recipe. Change two ingredients and it becomes Chicken Marsala. This recipe is one to put to memory.

Working 14 hour days as a single parent leaves little time for cooking. Creating a repertoire especially of versatile recipes like this one makes perfect sense. Don’t get me wrong, we had plenty of fast food in those days. Just ask my youngest ones. I wanted to cook but after hours of treating patients I just didn’t have the energy. Luckily we all survived but I would say not without some earmarks. Isn’t that what gives us character! Truly looking to help those parents out there that find themselves in my old shoes.

We all know now that wine doesn’t burn off during cooking at least not all of it. The shorter cooking times can guarantee you’re going to be consuming some alcohol. If you are concerned there are some things you can do with this recipe. A substitute for Marsala is very difficult to accomplish. You might try adding a little white grape juice and lemon juice or vinegar. Adding fruit such as grapes or figs sounds delicious. In a pinch the Marsala can be eliminated and broth substituted.

I hope you’ll enjoy this delicious recipe over and over.

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Salted Caramel Candied Pecan Pumpkin Spice

Next to chocolate, caramel is a family favorite for desserts. With the praises over my Best Chocolate Layered Dessert I decided to try this for someone’s birthday who’s into pumpkin spices. It was a hit! All the recipes are on the blog with the exception of the caramel pudding. This can be done with box mixes if time is limited. Scratch is still my favorite.  A drizzle of bourbon can be added over the cake too for an extra special presentation.

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Caramel Apple Crostata

Whether called a crostata or galette this is in a word scrumptious! In our family nothing’s like an apple dessert. We all seem to agree about apples anyway! This free form makes a star out of the crust for sure … buttery delicious. For an added treat a little caramel sauce drizzle or maybe you’ll want to stick with ice cream or whipping cream. Or no additional topping at all. Enjoy this rustic imperfection which is a perfectly amazing dessert.

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Caramel Pie

“I Hate My Husband Pie,” right from the Waitress with Keri Russell. Such a sweet movie about a pie baking waitress. This is my version and not the actual recipe. I did run into a few problems along the way and have since worked out these kinks. It truly is to die for … From the gingersnap crust to the layers of pecans and bitter chocolate.

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Caramel Cake

DSC_0022-2An oldie with a mild caramel flavor. This 50’s Betty Crocker recipe has been revised just a bit. The natural flavor is wonderful. While not a special occasion cake exactly it’s great for a weekend dinner. The icing is creamy and the secret here is to beat until it reaches the correct consistency. This pretty much requires an electric mixer for best results.

When you’re not into chocolate and want something with a little flavor beyond a yellow cake this is the recipe for you.

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Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Topping

Apple Spice CakeLate Summer and Fall is Birthday Season here, one birthday after another. My guys definitely have favorite cake or pie requests. My daughter, not so much. I’m always on the lookout for new recipes that just might satisfy everyone. One birthday celebration and one birthday cake might work for all. They’re aging nicely <smile> and sharing is now a really good thing. Everyone agrees my apple pie is pretty hard to beat for any occasion. So, an Apple Spice Birthday Cake sounded like an excellent substitution. I’ve been saving this Bake From Scratch Fall 2015 Issue. Yep, the cake on the cover became my choice! Let me tell you a bit about this recipe. It’s simple, few ingredients … Great presentation … Great spice and apple taste! The downside … The cake is a bit heavy. I’ve only baked this recipe once and I must admit I was a bit distracted by a sweet little 3 year old. So, were the measurements right on? Hmm. As for the frosting it’s tasty and rich. For two 9 inch layers it’s much more than enough. This Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Topping is definitely worth a try!

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Pumpkin Pie Spice Caramel Corn

Pumpkin Pie Spice Caramel CornButtery sweet caramel with just a touch of pumpkin spices … What a great Fall Tradition! Shape the popcorn while hot into balls add a stem for an extra treat. Or simply allow the finished caramel corn to cool then break it apart to serve in a dish. Beware, one bite and you’re hooked. This recipe makes 6 large popcorn balls or approximately 12 cups of caramel corn. You may modify this recipe by adding 10 ounces or so of nuts during the baking period … Or candies can be added after the baking as the caramel corn is cooling. This is just a great recipe to add to your Fall recipe collection!

 

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Banana Nut Cake

Caramel Glaze

Banana Nut Cake with Caramel Glaze

This is an old fashioned recipe or two … made for my mother. She has been very ill and you may have noticed this has impacted my posting. She is recuperating well and I’m making my way back to full swing.

This quick dessert is a simple 8 inch square banana cake … One of those last minute one bowl mixes providing a use for those over-ripe bananas. Delicious with coffee, tea or milk.

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Chai Cake with Pecan Topping

Chai Cake with Pecan Topping White cake to Chai! And because I wasn’t satisfied with the height, after all, this was  for someone’s special birthday, spiced nuts in caramel sauce were added. It was an absolute hit!

Friends and Family Blending Palettes! A little wine and fine (fun) painting … this cake, a platter of Italian meats and more … It was a perfect evening.

Chai Cake, Chai Candied Pecans, Caramel Sauce and Buttercream … all here!

Chai Cake

 

 

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