9.12.2011

secret recipe club: butterscotch peach cake

this month, when selecting my secret recipe club recipe, i used the same method i always do - i start by going back as far as i can in the history. and then i look through the posts in the same month i am cooking from them. that way, i get the best of both worlds - reinvent an old recipe and cook something that fits in with the time of year. this month, i adapted katrina's banana caramel cake from baking and boys!

when i try a recipe and like it, it usually takes a good six months - if not longer - for me to make it again. even some of my favorites - chocolate chip cookies, soft pretzels, white layer cake with blackberry buttercream - i have yet to make again since the day they first appeared here. so it's really rare for me to make the same cake twice. but this cake? i made it twice in three days, a different way each time.



the first time, i made the cake exactly how it's written below - make the cake batter and swirl the butterscotch into the batter before baking. the result was a nice light cake, similar to a layer cake. the second time - this is the version i brought into work - i made one and a half times the recipe and baked it in a ten inch springform pan. but the key difference is that i mixed the butterscotch into the batter before pouring it into the pan. the result was a dense, almost fudgy cake that could have just as easily been served for breakfast rather than dessert. while i prefer the lighter version in the recipe below, my coworkers spoke loud and clear their love for the dense version. to each his own.

if you haven't made butterscotch before, it is ridiculously easy, not at all like it's fickle cousin caramel. mix some sugar, butter, cream, pinch of salt, and dash of vanilla together and heat until boiling. that's pretty much it. no fancy temperatures to worry about or caramelizing sugar. ridiculously easy, just as deb said.

...and get ready! this post kicks off a week of my all time favorite fruit: peaches!

for more information on the secret recipe club, including the list of participating bloggers, featured recipes from members, and instructions on how to join, visit the all new secret recipe club website!

check out my previous src posts below whole wheat honey pancakes minted pineapple lime agua frescabreakfast tacos
simple almond sandwich cookies
roasted banana rum cake

butterscotch peach cake
butterscotch adapted from smitten kitchen, cake adapted from baking & boys
1hour, makes one nine inch cake

the butterscotch can be made up to a week or two in advance of making the cake, simply cool to room temperature and store in the refrigerator. i made a double batch of the sauce and used the remainder to drizzle over the cake, eat with apples, etc. not feeling like peaches? try bananas (the original recipe) or apples. i bet both would be amazing.

for the butterscotch:
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup  heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt (or 1/4 teaspoon regular salt)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

for the peaches:
3 large peaches, pitted and quartered
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons sugar

for the cake:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup milk
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
  1. make the butterscotch sauce. melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. add the sugar, cream, and salt and mix until blended. bring to a boil and cook for about five minutes, whisking frequently. remove from heat and add the vanilla extract. cool to room temperature.
  2. saute the peaches. melt the butter in a large sautepan over medium low heat. add the peach slices and toss with the sugar. cook until the peaches are soft, about five minutes. remove from heat and let cool while putting together the rest of the cake.
  3. heat your oven to 325F. grease one nine inch cake pan. if you want the cake to turn out of the pan, line the bottom with parchment paper. trust me, it will stick otherwise.
  4. make the cake. cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. add the eggs one at a time until well blended. in a separate bowl, mash the sauteed peaches with a fork and add the milk. 
  5. add a half cup of flour to the batter, then a third of the peaches. repeat. add the baking soda and salt with the last addition of flour. mix until blended.
  6. pour the batter into the prepared pan. pour the butterscotch sauce evenly over the top of the cake. use a skewer or a knife to swirl the butterscotch into the cake. bake for about 60 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. cool completely on a wire rack before serving.
check out other sweet treats at sweet tooth friday!

19 comments:

  1. Wow, that looks so good. I wouldn't have thought to combine peach and butterscotch, but it looks like it works!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What an interesting combination! Looks delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I husband loves butterscotch. I am going to bookmark this one to try. Sounds delicious. I like both ways, I will have to see what we decide.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh my! This looks so delicious. The combination of flavors sounds amazing. I would love to give this a try sometime.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh wow, a beauty to my eyes! I love butterscotch. I'd lick that plate to get the drizzle off of it!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love your method for choosing a recipe, that does help narrow things down as I'm always overwhelmed by all my choices. Your cake looks and sounds amazing.

    If you haven't already, I'd love for you to check out my SRC recipe this month: Welsh Cakes.

    Lisa~~
    Cook Lisa Cook

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi! I'm slow getting here--but thanks for baking from my blog this month. We loved that banana caramel cake. What a great idea to make it with another fruit. And I AM enthralled with trying to make butterscotch now as it really does sound so much easier than caramel. Now I want this cake again. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've never made butterscotch...what a unique looking cake!

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is a nice versatile cake recipe. Your cake looks so dainty!

    ReplyDelete
  10. this looks really delicious! i've never made butterscotch...only caramel...definitely will have to give it a try because it sounds way easier! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. This looks utterly gorgeous, definitely wanting to try out this little lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  12. This sounds delicious. I have some peaches calling to me to include them in this recipe!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the idea of butterscotch and peach together!! Yum.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love Katrina's blog! Not only is this cake stunning to look at, but I love the peach paired with butterscotch, especially since I'm such a butterscotch freak. You better believe they'll be extra butterscotch in my cake :) Great job and great SRC choice!

    ReplyDelete
  15. This looks delicious! I love fresh peaches in a dessert. I'd like to invite you to share your recipe on Sweet Indulgences Sunday.

    http://www.wellseasonedlife.com/2011/09/sweet-indulgences-sunday-22.html

    ReplyDelete
  16. Would you still bake this for 60 mins if you omitted the butterscotch?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I havent tried it without the butterscotch. If I were you, I'd check it after about 40 minutes and take it from there. It might take 60 min to bake or it might take less time, I'm not completely sure.

      Delete
  17. I wanted to make it this weekend but cant find any fresh peaches around :( Can i use the Del Monte sliced peaches which come in the mason jars with the sweetened liquid? I was planning to cut down the sugar to compensate the sweetness the peaches might give out. Please suggest!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi nitya, i haven't made it with canned peaches, but your suggestion of cutting down the sugar sounds good. i would also be sure to drain the canned peaches really well to get rid of even more of the extra sugar. let me know how it turns out!

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...