Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Cinnamon Squares; Tuesdays With Dorie

It's a picture game. What is this?



Did you guess tents in a sandstorm? Or chunks of Starbucks Mocha Dark Chocolate, dusted with cinnamon, sugar, and espresso powder? If you guessed the latter, you are correct!



I wish I could give you a cinnamon square as a prize.



Cinnamon, chocolate, and espresso, all bold flavors, play nicely together in this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe, Cinnamon Squares, on pages 210 & 211 of Baking, From My Home To Yours, by Dorie Greenspan. This simple, but elegant snack cake was chosen by Tracey, of Tracey's Culinary Adventures.

This recipe came together so easily. The batter is mixed by hand, and half is poured in an 8" X 8" pan. Then It is topped with chopped chocolate, cinnamon, and espresso powder.



The rest of the batter goes on top, and it is ready to go in the oven.



The recipe included a chocolate frosting, which looked delicious, but it was very hot and humid in my house, and the frosting seemed too heavy. I just dusted it with powdered sugar and cocoa.


(My cake had a couple of stab wounds from testing.)

I served this to the kids as an after school snack. Big E said "If you want to make this again, you can." It is always nice to have to have the sixteen year old's permission to make him snacks. I was glad they liked it though. I thought is was great and I'm sure I will make it again.

9 comments:

Jennifer said...

Wow, you "can" make it again? That would be high praise in my house! My fifteen year old usually either says "Why did you make this? You know I don't like xxxxx" or "it's 'okay.'"

Your mocha chocolate sounds really good!

chocolatechic said...

"if you wanna make this again you can"

giggle...


It was great.

Pamela said...

Nice to know that you've gotten the go ahead from your son to repeat this one. We loved this one, especially me!

spike. said...

I left off the frosting too- I'm sure it would be good with it but if teen boys like it without, there's no need to go to the extra work, right? Looks good, stab marks and all

Joy said...

I really like the idea of the cake without the frosting - I think I'd like that better.

Unknown said...

Thanks for baking with me this week! I love that your sixteen year old gave you permission to make it again :) Your squares look terrific!

Mary said...

I love your son's comments..I thought my guys were the only ones making that statement :)....

Anonymous said...

I wish you could give me a Cinnamon Square as a prize too! (Not that I would have guessed Starbucks Mocha Dark Chocolate, but still...)
Your Cinnamon Square cake looks great with the powdered sugar topping! Love the approval/permission of your son! =)

Michele said...

Your cinnamon squares look so perfect! I am glad they were a hit!