Tuesday, November 09, 2010

TWD—Not-Just-For-Thanksgiving Apple Cranberry Shortbread Cake

This week  for Tuesday’s With Dorie, we made the Not-Just-For-Thanksgiving Cranberry Shortbread Cake that Jessica from Singleton In The Kitchen chose.  This is not a cake.  It’s called cake.  But it’s really just a great big double stuffed sugar cookie with a filling in the middle.  Not cake.  I’m not upset.  It was still good.

In the playing around section for the recipe, Dorie suggested making her caramelized apples as an option instead of the cranberry filling and though I’d just bought cranberries, I decided to use some Granny Smith apples that we had for the filling.  I’m always sold on the word caramelized and remember liking them when we made them for a previous recipe.  We’ll save the cranberries for next week!

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Cake batter” cookie dough was super easy to make.  Caramelized apples were also a cinch.  I used three Granny Smith apples and sliced them fairly thin.  After cooking the apples in some caramelized butter and sugar, I did think I’d play along with the cranberry theme and threw in half a cup to the mix.  I also sprinkled the top with turbinado sugar instead of regular sugar. 

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Took a few photographs of this shortbread cake.  Ate a few bites.  Served the boys some ice cream for their snack and only Scott wanted to try this.  I liked it.  I actually could have kept slicing off little pieces of cake, but that is just not something I can do.  So the next day I had Kevin take the rest over to Cindy’s house.  This was a fun, different kind of dessert.  Not sure if I’d make it again.  You know, there IS no chocolate—but just a thought, instead of a fruit filling in the middle, what about caramel and chocolate.  Oh yes.  Then I’d really have to give it away!  Sure having fun with this TWD Group baking and making all the recipes in Dorie's book, Baking From My Home to Yours.  You can check out the other groupie’s “cakes” on the TWD link.

22 comments:

Lisa said...

As I was reading your post in the beginning, my exact thoughts were, "What, no chocolate?" But, I can see that you'll still find a way to get chocolate into this one way or another. The apple version does look good. But, since you said it's like a sugar cookie crust and since you've planted a chocolate thought in my head, now you've got me thinking peanut butter and chocolate.

Nickki said...

WOW. I bet that was so good with the apple! I didn't think this recipe was strictly a cake either, more like a shortbread cookie :-)

chocolatechic said...

This was just so wonderful.

I also used apple filling.

I used gala's.

Lisa Ernst said...

A chocolate/caramel filled giant cookie? Sounds like a winner to me! This actually looks good but its not really my kind of dessert either.

Mary said...

I wasn't really sure what to call this either, but it was pretty good with raspberries. I may make it again, with other fillings, but I hadn't thought of chocolate. Dulce de leche, maybe?

Eliana said...

Hmm - your version of this looks like it turned out wonderful Katrina.

Welcome to our crazy blessed life said...

Glad this worked so well with the apples! I really need to find someone to give all these goodies to as well! :)

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

You seem to have gone through what I did. I had such a hard time, calling it a cake. It is more like a cookie crust pie and I did make one single little cookie for my husband. I asked him, if I should use this shortbread recipe for cookies and he jumped for joy.

This was absolutely delicious, cookie, cake or pie.

Stephanie said...

Your cake looks great! I think you need to make this again and incorporate chocolate. Mmm maybe banana and nutella

Jessica of My Baking Heart said...

It turned out so well! And you're right... adding chocolate as the filling would be amazing. Had fun chatting with you during the game, too! ;)

Cindy said...

I called it breakfast--it is full of fruit! Have a great day.

Jessica said...

I think you're right -- it doesn't seem like cake to me either! And your sugar cookie description is just about perfect. But, then again, some of the posts I've seen today definitely look like cake. Hmmmm. For now I'm definitely in the sugar cook camp.

Apples and cranberries -- oh my! That version sounds delicious. Thank you so much for baking along with me this week!

Kayte said...

Oh, my, that looks and sounds delicious. You have such a way with combining flavors to make us all sit up and take notice and go "why don't I ever think of things like this?????" Very nice.

Amber Marie said...

You're right about it not really being cake. The name definitely threw me, but whatever it was was good! :)

Stabenow7 said...

this looks soo good. I may just have to make this for Thanksgiving!





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Pamela said...

The apples did sound good to me too. I made these as bar cookies, because that's what I thought they should be!

Judy said...

I wouldn't be disappointed with this, since I love apples. OK not as much as chocolate, but second.

Flourchild said...

I so will do the apple next time after looking at yours! The cookie crust was my very favorite! Im glad everyone enjoyed it at your house. I love that you paired it with ice-cream.

Delishhh said...

YUM! So tasty! I have to try this out. Glad you "button" worked out :)

TeaLady said...

Definitely a keeper. Caramelized apples would be wonderful in this. With just a few cranberries.

Looks delicious.

Mimi said...

The recipe didn't seem like cake to me so I made mine as mini bar cookies. The apple version looks tasty.
Mimi

mike said...

You know - I think this would be GREAT with a light (ok, maybe medium) layer of chocolate! Cranberries aren't my fav, but it was still a good dessert. Apples... should have been more (like yours)!