Cake Monday: The Sweet Return

When I started Cake Monday in March, it was a form of distraction to keep us busy and count down our days in lock-down. In those darkest of days, I couldn’t imagine how we would be able to open up again and get back to welcoming guests.
Well today was a milestone…Ireland moved into the next phase of reopening and we were able to welcome our first guests in 4 months.

I am offering our guests the option of a “Dine at Home” menu and have included our most popular dessert on the list. If I was to ever remove these Brownies from our year-round menu there would be a riot!!
So if you like brownies and love salted caramel, these crowd pleasers should be added to your baking repertoire.

You can make your own salted caramel or you can use the handy shortcut suggested in this recipe….they still work out delicious.
Hopefully this Cake Monday is the start of good things and a return to doing what we do brilliantly in Ireland – warm welcomes and enjoying ourselves.

Salted caramel brownies in a cake pan on a wooden table.
Salted caramel brownies in a cake pan on a wooden table.
Salted Caramel Brownies
  • 175g dark chocolate (55-70% cocoa solids, buy best you can)
  • 175g butter, cubed
  • 25g cocoa powder (good quality)
  • 3 eggs
  • 225g soft brown sugar
  • 1tsp vanilla extract
  • 100g plain gluten free flour (I use Doves brand)
  • 1/2 400g tin dulce de leche or caramel
  • Sea Salt flakes
Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees (150 degrees fan oven) & line base & sides of a 20cm square cake tin with parchment paper.
2. Melt chocolate, butter & cocoa powder in bowl over a saucepan with few cm of simmering water. Remove from heat once melted.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, brown sugar & vanilla extract until light & creamy. Continue to whisk, then add in the melted chocolate / butter mix.
4. Sift in flour & fold with a spatula or metal spoon. Pour mixture into prepared cake tin.
5. Mix seasalt flakes in caramel to taste then using a teaspoon drop approx 6-8 blobs of caramel into cake mixture in tin. Using a skewer or knitting needle swirl the blobs around so you have a marble effect. Sprinkle top with some of the seasalt flakes.
6. Bake in the heated oven for 15-20 minutes. The centre should still have some wobble, don’t be tempted to overcook or it will be dry & cakey. Leave to cool then cut into squares.
7. Drizzle remaining caramel over the top if required, serve with fresh cream / ice-cream & raspberries.

"A Magical West Cork Escape"

We stayed at Dunowen House for a long weekend and genuinely didn’t want to leave. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the beauty of the house and its surroundings – the views, the gardens, the quiet… it’s pure magic. The house itself is full of character and history but still feels incredibly cosy and luxurious.

We loved having our morning coffee overlooking the sea and strolling down to the nearby coves. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Clonakilty is only a few minutes away too, so we had some lovely meals out and picked up bits from the local markets.

"A Dream Wedding Come to Life"

We were blown away with the unmatched beauty of Dunowen – the set- ting, the people and all the details make it come to life. We feel so blessed to have had our wedding here and so grateful for Kela and Stephen for making this the most special day of our lives. We are leaving a piece of our hearts here so we will absolutely have to come back again. All our love

"An Unforgettable Celebration of Love"

I could not have imagined a more beautiful stay and wedding. We took a chance and put our trust in Kela and Stephen, booking Dunowen sight un- seen! What a wonderful experience to celebrate our love with the people we care about most without having to worry about the details. The flow- ers, the food and the accommodations were unforgettable. Thank you for giving us the space to create lifetime memories! Dunowen will have a piece of our heart. We hope to come back and do it again!

"A Perfect Stay"

Kela and Stephen. Thank you for our wonderful stay at Dunowen House and letting us enjoy the beauty of West Cork in your wonderful home and surroundings. We absolutely loved it.

"Another Unforgettable Stay"

Thank you Kela & Stephen for another amazing stay. When you’ve stayed in Dunowen it’s impossible to stay elsewhere. Your house is per- fection!

"A Perfect 70th Celebration"

Many thanks Kela and Stephen for a wonderful stay at Dunowen House. The house is so spacious, especially for our smallish family group who helped me celebrate my 70th birthday. Thanks for the beautiful flowers throughout and all the home baking. We loved the location.

"Surrounded by Dunowen’s Gardens and Coastal Beauty"

Thank you for a wonderful week. Everything was perfect and we loved being able to walk to the beach and sit in the beautiful gardens. Hope to come again.

"A Perfect 80th Birthday Celebration"

The end of a fabulous week celebrating my 80th birthday. It has been a brilliant stay with everything we needed. Just perfect. Thank you so much Kela & Stephen for your thought and kindness. All the best for the future and perhaps we will see you again!

The Ultimate 5-Star Escape

Bravo! You have created the perfect backdrop for a 5 star vacation. Our group of 18 could not have imagined a more comfortable and luxe week. I’ll see you on Instagram and we will all see you again in person next va- cation.

Flowers and fruits cake close up Flowers and fruits cake close up