beware of browned butter addictions

I’m sorry this blog has been so neglected this week! I’ve been busy with school and papers… and cake, bonfires, long runs and concerts - so don't feel too sorry for me.

Jonathan and I drove to Atlanta on Sunday to hang out with my family and see Brandi Carlile with Ray Lamontagne! It was a perfect night for an outdoor concert, but the best part of our visit was eating my mom’s food.

She made muffaletta sandwiches, chicken fingers, salad, homemade jalapeno honey mustard and an apple mocha cake. No, that wasn’t over the course of the day, it was just dinner ;)

In case you don’t have an apple mocha cake waiting for you at home, here’s the recipe from Southern Living …

*Disclaimer: Browned butter frosting is so good that you might feel the urge to scrape it all off and eat it before cutting into the cake. But it's best all in one bite, so try to resist!

(Also, if you've already eaten a whole piece of Grit cake by yourself the day before, that's okay, because Sarah Beth and I survived that much sugar.)

Mocha-Apple Cake with Browned Butter Frosting

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup sugar

1 cup canola oil

2 large eggs

1 tbl spoon instant coffee granules

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

4 cups peeled and diced Granny Smith Apples

2 (2.6-oz.) milk chocolate candy bars

Browned Butter Frosting

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.

2. Beat sugar and next 4 ingredients at high speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer 5 minutes. Stir together flour and next 4 ingredients; gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Add apples, chocolate, and pecans; beat just until blended. Spoon into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.

3. Bake at 350º for 28 to 32 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire rack, and cool completely (about 1 hour). Spread Browned Butter Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake.

**Here's a link to the Browned Butter Frosting