Month: January 2023

Easy Caramel Sauce

The Sunshine Inn Blog1 Comment

Easy Caramel Sauce

  • Servings: 16 tbsp (1 cup)
  • Difficulty: Easy
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Homemade caramel sauce is so simple, you’ll never want store bought again. Although isn’t that true of most homemade recipes.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of light brown sugar packed
  • 4 tbsp of unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp of sea salt or to taste
  • 1/2 cup of half and half or use equal parts of heavy cream and milk
  • 1 tbsp of vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and simmer over low heat, whisking constantly or until thickened and no longer watery, 6-9 minutes. (Keep in mind that it will thicken as it cools.
  2. Serve warm, room temperature or chilled.

Nutrition Per Tablespoon

  • Calories 89
  • Fat 3 g
  • Sugar 13 g
  • Carbohydrates 13g
  • Protein 3.6 g
  • Fibre 0 g

If you use salted butter, reduce salt by 1/2. You can keep in the fridge for about 2 weeks. You can pop in the micro for 30 seconds to heat it up. As you can see in the pictures, I didn’t have light brown sugar, I only had dark, works just as well, just doesn’t look as traditional.

Now comes the fun part, what you can put this on. I have heard, apple pie, of course ice cream, in coffee, as a drizzle over cheesecake. The choice is yours and remember to have fun and make it your own.

Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies

The Sunshine Inn Blog1 Comment

Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies

  • Servings: 14 sandwiches
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

Christmas time is a time for sharing. My young protege chef, sent me, as a Christmas gift, a recipe book he made. These are recipes he makes at home. This is one of them. I’m sure you will love it.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of shredded carrots
  • 2/3 cup of packed brown sugar, divided
  • 1/4 cup of unsalted butter, divided
  • 2 tbsp of canola or vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp of grated orange rind
  • 3/4 tsp of vanilla extract, divided
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup of all purpose flour (I used unbleached)
  • 1 tsp of cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp of salt
  • 1/4 tsp of baking soda
  • 4 ounces of low fat cream cheese
  • 1 cup of powdered sugar (icing sugar)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper
  3. Combine carrot, 3 tbsp of brown sugar in a bowl and toss to coat.
  4. Place carrot mixture in a fine mesh strainer and let drain for 10 minutes. Discard fluid.
  5. Melt 2 tbsp of butter in microwave.
  6. Add oil and rind to butter, 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract and egg. Whisk together.
  7. Combine flour, remaining brown sugar, cinnamon, 1/4 tsp of salt and baking soda in a large bowl. Whisk together.
  8. Add carrot mixture, butter and stir until just combined.
  9. Drop dough by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets for a total of 28 cookies. Gently pat to form circles.
  10. Bake for 11 minutes or until set. Let stand for 3 minutes. Remove cookies from pan and let cool completely on wire rack.
  11. Combine cream cheese, remaining 2 tbsp of butter, remaining 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract and remaining salt and beat with a mixer at medium speed for 3 minutes or until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and beat at low speed for 1 minute or well combined. DO NOT OVER MIX.
  12. Spread 1 tbsp of icing on flat side of 1 cookie, top with other cookie flat side down.
  13. Keep refrigerated.

Nutrition Per Sandwich

  • Calories 174
  • Fat 7.0 g
  • Sugar 18.1 g
  • Carbohydrates 26.2 g
  • Protein 2.2 g
  • Fibre 0.7 g

I can tell you that his turned out nicer than mine. He then tells me that was why he was using a measuring tablespoon not a regular tablespoon for the measuring out of the dough. Now he tells me, lol.

I have to admit these were great. They are moist, fresh, and not overly sweet. You can add raisins if you like, or more cinnamon if that is what you want. After all, you just have to have fun and make them your own.