The Pink Veranda

I love making desserts and this is one of my favorite fall treats for my family.  The base is a dough that tastes a little like shortbread but it is softer and less dense. Then there is a layer of velvety caramel that is topped with more of the yummy dough.  What makes this bar so darn good is the addition of fleur de sel.  I use fleur de sel because I feel it goes well with caramel, but any other type of coarse salt will do. What you taste when you bite into each bar is the sweet and salty flavor of the caramel and salt combination.  So good, a little unexpected and you will find after the first bite that it's so hard to eat just one! Here's the recipe, enjoy! Salted Caramel Bars Ingredients 2 cups butter, softened 1 cup white sugar 1½ cups powdered sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla 4 cups flour 1 -14 oz bag caramels, unwrapped ⅓ cup whipping cream ½ teaspoon vanilla 2 teaspoons fleur de sel salt or other coarse sea salt Instructions ...

I love s'mores, but can you create the same chocolate, toasted gooey marshmallow flavor without a campfire? This easy recipe has 4 steps and 5 ingredients and the results have the same toasted marshmallow s'more taste that we love. The fudge center is rich and chocolatey and the graham cracker crust and marshmallow cream bring it all together to make a great s'more that you can make in your kitchen. No campfire needed :) 12- mini graham cracker pie crusts 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 1- 14 ounce can sweeten condensed milk 12- tablespoons marshmallow fluff 1/4 cup mini marshmallows Makes 12 Mini S'more Pies 1 . Place the chocolate chips and sweeten condensed milk in a pan and over low heat stir until chocolate chips have melted.  2. In each pie crust spread 1 small tablespoon of  marshmallow fluff on the bottom of each shell (add more if you like the marshmallow fluff). It will be sticky, you may have to use two spoons to g...

Fall baked goods are always tempting, so when I came across this recipe, I couldn't resist. Pumpkin AND apples- you don't get more autumn than that. I'll be eating them with a little bit of maple butter spread on top. Pumpkin Apple Cream Cheese Muffins Ingredients Cream Cheese Filling 8 oz package of cream cheese (at room temperature) 1/2 cup confectioners sugar 1 egg white 1/2 tsp vanilla Muffins 2 cups flour 2 tsp baking soda 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup white granulated sugar 1 egg 1/2 cup milk 15 oz can pumpkin puree 3 apples, peeled, sliced and diced Directions Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a muffin pan with parchment paper squares or cupcake liners. Peel and dice the 3 apples.  Place diced apples into a bowl and set aside while you prepare the cream cheese filling. Using an electric mixer, beat together cream cheese, 1/2...