Call Me Cupcake

Sweet food & photography

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A trip to Norway + Brownies with salted caramel and toasted meringue and a gingerbread bundt cake

Last week, I was lucky enough to spend a few days in winter wonderland… errr, I mean at Melgården in Norway with some wonderful friends, Olivia of Adelasterfoodtextures, Samantha of The Botanical Kitchen, Kati of Blackwhitevivid and of course, the lovely lady of the house, Live of Melgården. Only sweet Krissy of Cottage farm missing!

Melgården truly looked like my idea of winter wonderland, SO cold (-19°C one day, brrr) and lots and lots of snow. Rolling hills, fog and frost on the windows. Like a dream come true. It made me feel like a kid again on so many levels. My fingers and toes weren’t as excited as I was though, nor was my camera gear or my phone battery which died within 10 minutes outside.

Melgården is like something out of a fairytale, or possibly a Wes Anderson movie, and I dare to say it’s every food photographer’s dream with all the rustic backdrops and props, and that GORGEOUS scenery. We drove through a snowy Sweden all the way up to snowy Rena, Norway, with the car full of fresh vegetables and props. We almost couldn’t fit in there!

I couldn’t believe how efficient we were. With about 5 hours of daylight each day and in two days, I shot FOUR cakes (I can only share two of them here though.. 🙂 ) and a whole bunch of other beautiful things that you can see in this post. That’s why I love working in a team so much, especially this team <3

And this is why I’m delighted to share that Olivia, Krissy and I will be hosting a workshop again, at Melgården in 2018! I literally can’t wait!! If you’re interested, make sure to subscribe by e-mail for more details and prerelease. You can fill in your e-mail address in the sidebar on the right 🙂

I’d also like to take the time to thank you for your continued support this year! It wouldn’t have been the same (or at all!) without you. Wishing you all Happy Holidays and a very Happy 2018!

BROWNIES WITH SALTED CARAMEL AND TOASTED MERINGUE

9-12 servings

Some notes about this recipe: If you’re not a fan of hazelnuts, you can definitely make these brownies with walnuts, pecans or almonds (I’ve tried all and they’re all delicious!). The brownies are also super delicious without caramel and meringue if you prefer that. When test baking, I baked my brownies for 32 minutes – it was almost set, slightly wobbly in the middle and it came out gooey and delicious. After a day in the fridge it has exactly the consictency I like in brownies! Make sure to have a look HERE in case you’d like to make an edible gift out of this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

Brownies

  • 100 g (3.5 oz) hazelnuts
  • 150 g (about 1 + 1/3 stick) salted butter
  • 4 tbsp. (1/4 cup) coffee
  • 150 g (1 cup) all purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 30 g (1/3 cup) cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp. flaky salt
  • 135 g (1/2 cup + 2 tbsp.) granulated sugar
  • 110 g (1/2 cup + 2 tbsp.) light brown muscovado sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 150 g (5.2 oz) dark chocolate, chopped

Caramel

  • 110 g (1/2 cup) granulated sugar
  • 50 g (3 tbsp.) salted butter, in small cubes
  • 75 ml (1/3 cup) heavy cream
  • 1/4 tsp. flaky salt

Meringue topping

  • 2 large egg whites
  • 90 g (1/3 cup + 1 1/2 tbsp.) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
  • zest from 1 orange

INSTRUCTIONS

Brownies

  1. Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Place the nuts in a baking dish and toast for 10-12 minutes or until fragrant and slightly browned. If the nuts aren’t already skinned, wrap them in a kitchen towel and rub until most of the skins come off. Let cool completely, then chop them coarsely.
  2. Melt the butter in a saucepan and set aside to cool.
  3. Butter a baking pan, approximately 17 x 17 cm (measured at the bottom of the pan, the top is 20 x 20 cm) and cover it with baking paper.
  4. In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, salt, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Add the melted butter, coffee, eggs, chopped nuts and chocolate and stir until completely smooth.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until cake is almost set but the center wobbles slightly.
  6. Remove from the oven and let the cake cool in the pan.

Caramel

  1. Place the sugar in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Place the pan over medium to high heat until the sugar starts melting around the edges. Turn the heat down to low and stir gently with a wooden spoon until sugar is completely melted and golden brown. Be careful not to burn the sugar! Stir in the butter, piece by piece, stirring between each addition.
  2. Little by little and very slowly pour the cream into the saucepan with the melted sugar and butter (it will bubble up so make sure to be careful as this stuff is hot!). Stir until smooth. Pour caramel into a heat proof bowl and let cool completely.

Meringue topping

  1. Place egg whites, lemon juice and sugar in a clean and heatproof bowl (preferably stainless steel or glass).
  2. Put the bowl over a saucepan with simmering water. The bowl should fit snugly, and the simmering water should not be touching the bowl. Whisk the sugar and egg whites constantly with a whisk until the mixture reaches about 65°C (about 140-150°F). If you don’t have a sugar thermometer, just rub some mixture between your fingers. If the sugar has melted and mixture is hot to the touch, it’s ready.
  3. Remove the bowl from the heat, beat until white, fluffy and cool to the touch with a stand- or electric mixer. This step can take about 5-10 minutes. Stir in the orange zest.

Assembly

  1. Place the cake on a plate or serving platter. Drizzle/spoon caramel on top, then spread the meringue over the caramel. Brown the meringue using a kitchen torch.
 

GINGERBREAD BUNDT CAKE

Makes 1 bundt

Some notes about this recipe:I used a 10 cup bundt pan to bake this cake and it was actually slightly too small for the batter so I would suggest putting a piece of baking paper underneath the pan while baking so the batter doesn’t end up on the floor of your oven, or reserving some of the batter to bake some muffins. A 12 cup pan would probably be more suitable.

 

INGREDIENTS

Gingerbread bundt cake

  • 540 g (3 3/4 cups) all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. flaky salt
  • 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp. ground ginger
  • 2 tsp. freshly ground cardamom
  • 2 tsp. freshly ground cloves
  • 1 tsp. ground bitter orange peel (can be omitted)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 240 g (1 1/4 cup) light brown muscovado sugar (or regular light brown sugar)
  • 200 ml (3/4 cup + 1 1/2 tbsp) cane syrup
  • 250 g (2 + 1/4 stick) salted butter
  • 200 ml (3/4 cup + 1 1/2 tbsp) heavy cream
  • 300 ml (1 1/4 cup) milk

Cream cheese glaze

  • 120 g (3/4 cup + 1 1/2 tbsp) powdered sugar
  • 100 g cream cheese
  • 1-3 tbsp. freshly squeezed orange juice

INSTRUCTIONS

Gingerbread bundt cake

  1. Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease and flour a large bundt pan with 10-12 cup (preferably 12 cup) capacity. Set aside.
  2. Mix flour, baking soda, salt, spices and ground bitter orange peel in a bowl. Set aside.
  3. Beat eggs and sugar until fluffy and lighter in color, about 3-4 minutes. Add cane syrup and beat until smooth.
  4. Melt the butter in a saucepan and stir in cream and milk.
  5. Add dry ingredients and butter mixture to the egg mixture in additions, and stir until completely smooth.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the lowest oven rack for 55-65 minutes, but start checking doneness after 50 minutes. Keep an eye on the cake during the whole baking time so the top won’t brown too fast (if it does, carefully place a piece of baking paper or aluminum foil on top).
  7. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then unmold onto a cooling rack to cool completely. The cake will most likely come out domed, so feel free to even that out with a sharp serrated knife once the cake is cool.

Glaze

  1. Combine powdered sugar and cream cheese in a bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.
  2. Stir in orange juice to desired consistency. Pour the glaze over the cooled cake.
 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Just SPECTACULAR!!!!

    From the recipes to the photos- such a pleasure to see.

    The photo of that amazing white house would make an INCREDIBLE gingerbread house!

    LOVE your website.

    Reply

    • Thank you so much Dawn, so very kind of you 🙂 And I totally agree, it would be the perfect gingerbread house for someone ambitious 🙂 😉

      Reply

  4. Honestly Linda! I have no words how incredible this blog post is. These photographs are amazing! Each one of them. That mood that they transfer. Breathtaking. And I am not overdoing it 🙂

    All the best and happy Holidays for you from Germany,

    xo, Zoe

    Reply

    • Aww, thank you SO much Zoe, that makes me super happy to hear! I literally spent hours just putting them in the ‘right’ order.. haha. But I enjoy it so much! Wishing you the Happiest of holidays and Happy new year! xx

      Reply

  5. Oh my goodness! These recipes look soooo delectable! Also the design of that bundt cake is to die for. Is there anywhere that bundt pan design is purchasable?

    Keep making beautiful things!

    Reply

    • Thank you so much, Haylee! Oh yes, absolutely, the pan is called Bavaria and it’s made by Nordic Ware. I highly recommend it!!

      Reply

  7. I don’t have words dear Linda to say how much I love this post!!! These photos are simply breathtaking! And you are right, this place is any food photographer’s dream, I mean, those wooden tables, windows, the light, scenery, every detail! Thank you for sharing this beauty and a little bit of magic with us! ❤️

    Reply

    • Thank you dear Lili <3 Means so much hearing it from you! Yes, it's funny how Live told us to bring props because she didn't have any.. Haha! There was magic in every corner. So special! <3

      Reply

    • Men TACK! Åh, det vore fantastiskt <3 Håller med om att den där workshop-boosten behövs en gång om året. Så härligt att känna inspirationen flöda igen!

      Reply

  12. These look wonderful as does the whole house. Your photos are so beautiful. I’ll definitely be making the gingerbread cake this weekend ready for Christmas. Thank you. I’d love to come along to your workshop in 2018. I just need to work out how!! Merry Christmas.

    Reply

    • Hi Kris!
      Would be absolutely wonderful if you came 🙂 Crossing my fingers! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! x

      Reply

    • Tuusen tack! Jaså, det visste jag inte! Inte undra på att det var kallt då 😉 -19 har jag nog aldrig ens upplevt förut..

      Reply

  18. What a beautiful display of edible art! You are right, it is magical. I really enjoy the pictures and your post.

    Reply

  21. Linda, I’m not a big blog commentor, but I have to say that yours is clearly a reliable inspiration to lots of people, including me. The thoughtful styling, photos full of quiet light and bursts of colour, the easy to follow recipes, the gentle humour and written context, they all make it something I come back to time and again. And at Christmas, when it’s HOT in South Africa, the winter scenes are so refreshing and festive!
    Wishing you all the best for your endeavours in 2018, and with thanks for your help and guidance from across the miles xx
    Michelle

    Reply

    • Dear Michelle, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful, lovely comment. It truly made my day, and makes me even more motivated to keep blogging. So thank you so much for that! I can imagine it must be so hot! It’s a fascinating thought, to celebrate Christmas during summer. I’d love to experience that some time.
      Wishing you all the best in 2018! xx Linda

      Reply

  23. Melgården er sådan et fantastisk sted og Live’s billeder er noget helt særligt. Hvor skønt at se gården gennem dit kamera også. Jeg er sikker på workshoppen bliver eminent!
    Rigtig godt nytår og et fantastisk 2018 til dig 🙂

    Reply

  24. Hello Linda,
    The photos are beautiful! Took me back to the time I lived in Alaska. I stood in freezing cold to get photos of wildlife and scenery. Never had enough photos always looking for one more perfect one. It was fun. Do you know what kind of red berries those are? Want to try those brownies. Loved looking at all the photos. Happy New Year!

    Reply

  26. I´m alone at home, in a friday night, I lightened a candle and I´m having an amazing moment looking at your photos and recipes… this is exactly the amount of beauty I needed.
    Your work is amazing and such an inspiration.

    Reply

  28. Hi Linda,
    There’s nothing else I could say that hasn’t been said already in the comments above. Still, I try! The detail and composition of your photographs are beautiful, gorgeous, breathtaking, interesting… I want to mount them as wall hangings, everywhere!
    I just found your website, there was a note on Google about your blueberry pie crust. The first recipe I try will be the cardamon streusel-topped blueberry muffins. Thank you for sharing everything with us — I look forward to exploring your blog for more pictures and recipes. Warm greetings from Ohio (which is also covered in snow and -12°C)!

    Reply

  32. OMW this photography is amazing…
    I was just wondering whether I could take out the nuts altogether…I’m sure they would be lovely but I can’t use them for allergy reasons 🙁
    Xx

    Reply

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