Nutty Caramel Acorns
From Woman’s Day | November 13, 2007
Active Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) light (Land O’Lakes) or regular butter, softened
• 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 cup chopped nuts (black walnuts, cashews, peanuts or your favorite)
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup chocolate sprinkles (jimmies)
• 1 pkg (14 oz) classic caramels (we used Kraft), unwrapped
• 1 1/2 Tbsp water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. You’ll need a baking sheet(s).
2. Beat butter, sugar and yolks in a large bowl with mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in 1/2 cup of the nuts, the vanilla, baking powder and salt. With mixer on low speed, gradually beat in flour until a soft dough forms.
3. Roll rounded teaspoons of dough into balls. Shape as acorns with a pointed top. Place point up, 1 in. apart, on ungreased baking sheet(s). Bake 14 minutes, until bottoms are golden brown. Cool on rack.
4. Place remaining 1/2 cup nuts and the sprinkles in food processor; pulse until finely chopped. Mound mixture on a sheet of wax paper. Melt caramels and water in a bowl in microwave as package directs.
5. Dunk acorn cookies into caramel 1 at a time, turning with a fork to coat. Lift and scrape excess caramel from bottom against top edge of bowl. Use a second fork to scrape acorn from first fork onto nut mixture to coat bottoms. Transfer to a wax paper–lined cookie sheet and refrigerate to set caramel. Reheat caramel in microwave to keep it fluid while dipping remaining acorns.Storage Tip: Store airtight at cool room temperature with wax paper between layers up to 1 week.

Cakes For Sakes is proud to provide tasty treats for BMW of Minnetonka’s
Drive For The Cure event.

WHEN: Monday, September 20th, 2010, 10am-6pm

WHERE: BMW of Minnetonka; 15802 Wayzata Boulevard, Minnetonka, MN 55391

WHAT: Test drive a new BMW at the BMW of Minnetonka Drive for the Cure and for every mile driven, $1 will be donated to the local chapter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. It’s the perfect opportunity to get behind the wheel of the Ultimate Driving Machine and support an important cause. This fun and free event will include fabulous food and activities such as manicures, chair massage, shoe care services and more!

HOW: Reserve your spot today by registering online or calling 612-568-CURE. Reservations are not required but highly recommended as spots are limited.

Learn more about the event.

Friends of KFAN morning show producer Chris Hawkey approached us to construct a cake for the occasion of his (almost) 40th Birthday Surprise Party and Roast. Our response when we heard the theme – cowboy hat, running shoes, microphone, Nascar checkered flags and Harley flames – was a hearty “Giddyup!” The cake was a big hit inside and out, and Chris gave us the ultimate compliment: “That’s my life in cake!” This IS your life, Chris Hawkey, and thanks for being part of ours every morning.

Tonight’s menu: a few pounds of buttercream, a pair of white almond sheet cakes, and a 4-mile run to really get the feel of our running shoes. More on that later…