Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

 

– A. Camus –

In late autumn, the leaves have fallen, the days are getting more and more grey and the air is crisp in the morning. This is the time to bundle up, stay in the warm house – and bake all day. With winterly ingredients like nuts, ground cloves, brown sugar and a cup of hot tea or coffee, you can hopefully sweeten even the coldest days.

Cake

• 150 g butter
• 200 g brown sugar
• 350 g flour
• 1 1/2 tbsp. baking powder
• 3 eggs
• 2 tbsp. chocolate powder
• 2-3 tbsp. milk
• 1/4 cup strong coffee
• ground cloves (pinch)

 

Caramel glaze

• 200 g sugar
• 200 g liquid cream
• Pecan nuts
• Walnuts

 

For the dough

For the dough, first stir butter and brown sugar until its fluffy. Then, little by little add the eggs. Mix the flour and baking powder and add it to the mixture with 2 tablespoons of chocolate powder. Next, pour in about 1/4 cup of strong coffee or espresso. Add about 2-3 tbsp. of milk until the dough is slightly sticky. A pinch of ground cloves gives the dough a winterly flavor.

 

Caramel Glaze

Caramel is so delicious, but at the same time incredibly sensitive in the making. Homemade caramel is therefore not the easiest task. For the caramel glaze, I melted sugar with medium heat until it has a brownish color. It is not necessary to stir, however, you should carefully control the heat to prevent it from burning. When the sugar has turned into a brownish liquid, slowly add the heated liquid cream and stir the mixture until it gets a syrup-like consistence and everything is dissolved. Finally add the nuts and decorate the cake with the glaze – enjoy.