toffee bits | thebrookcook

Speculoos-Toffee Cookies

These were a perfect choice for a Father’s Day dessert for my husband. Two of his absolute favorite flavors combined in a crispy on the outside- chewy on the inside cookie. Their flavor was reminiscent of Pepperidge Farm “Bordeaux” cookies- a childhood favorite of my husband’s and mine. Delicious!

This recipe was adapted from Food.com, via Jess @ Cooking is my Sport. I made them slightly smaller and used Trader Joe’s chunky Speculoos cookie butter. They would also be insanely delicious as a cookie-wich!

Yield: 4 dozen 3 1/2-inch cookies

1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup creamy or chunky Speculoos cookie butter (I used Trader Joe’s)
2 large eggs
1 T vanilla extract
1/2 tsp coarse salt
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
3/4 cup Heath toffee bits

Cream together both sugars, the butter and the Speculoos cookie butter until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and salt and stir to combine.
In separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, and corn starch together with whisk until well combined. Slowly add it to the wet mixture, mixing until well incorporated.
Using the lowest speed of mixer, or by hand, stir in the Heath toffee bits.
Refrigerate cookie dough at least one hour, preferably overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, preferably on convection. Line two rimmed baking sheet pans with parchment paper.
Using a large cookie scoop, spoon out portions of dough. Place onto sheet pans about 2-inches apart.
Bake cookies for 11 minutes, rotating the baking pans halfway through, or until the edges are lightly browned.
Allow cookies to sit on the baking pans for about 3-5 minutes, before moving to cooling rack to cool completely.

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Pumpkin Pie Dump Cake

I may have overdone it… I made Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Bread for breakfast and Pumpkin Pie Dump Cake for dessert on the SAME DAY…. BUT, I have never made a “dump cake” (or heard of a “dump cake”) and I really wanted to try this one! 🙂 A “dump” cake is named for its simple preparation- dumping ingredients into a bowl, stirring, pouring into a pan and then coating with toppings prior to baking. The bottom layer of the cake is custardy and the top crunchy- great.

I knew that this “pumpkin-overload” in my menu planning was okay when my son called this cake “heaven on a plate.” My husband said that it was the best pumpkin dessert he had ever had! What rave reviews!! 🙂 This recipe was adapted from AllRecipes, via Nancy Creative. It is a wonderful autumn dessert and would be a great part of a Thanksgiving menu as well. We ate it with a dollop of whipped cream.

Yield: Makes one 9 x 13-inch cake

1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
4 large eggs
1 (16.5 oz.) package yellow cake mix (or use spice cake mix) (I used Dunkin Hines Classic Yellow Cake Mix)
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1/3 cup toffee bits
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted
whipped cream, for serving, optional
salted caramel sauce, for serving, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (on convection). Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch pan.
In large bowl, mix pumpkin, light brown sugar, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and salt, blending well. Stir in the evaporated milk, then beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well. Pour pumpkin mixture into prepared pan.
Sprinkle all of the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the pumpkin mixture, then sprinkle the chopped pecans and then the toffee bits evenly over top of cake mix. Drizzle melted butter evenly over everything.
Bake for 45 minutes (on convection) or up to 60 minutes in a standard oven, until edges are lightly browned (it may be a little soft in the center, but will set as it cools; also, the cake may sink slightly as it cools). Cool for 30 minutes before cutting and serving. You can serve just as it is or with a dollop of whipped cream. (maybe even a drizzle of salted caramel sauce on top if you really want to make it decadent!) Refrigerate any leftovers.

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