½cupmini or ⅔ cup regular size semi-sweet chocolate chips
½cupchopped pecanstoasted and cooled
¼cupsugar
1tablespoonbutter – melted and cooled
½teaspoonground cinnamon
Cake Ingredients:
½cupbuttersoftened
¾cupgranulated sugar
2largeeggs
1teaspoonvanilla
1cuplight sour cream
Dry Mixture
1 ½cupsall-purpose flour
1 ¼teaspoonsbaking powder
¼teaspoonbaking soda
¼teaspoonsalt
Caramel Drizzle
14caramels – unwrapped
2tablespoonshalf & half or milk
Instructions
Mix Streusel and Dry Ingredients First
Combine all streusel ingredients in small bowl; set aside or put in the refrigerator if making the night before.
Mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Put in a bag or in a covered bowl and leave at room temperature until ready to bake.
Make the Cake
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9 inch round springform pan with baking spray. If making the cake gluten-free, just grease with butter or shortening.
In a mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs; continue beating, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Beat in vanilla extract.
Beat in dry ingredients by hand or using low speed of mixer.
Spoon half of the batter into the pan. Sprinkle half of streusel mixture over batter in pan. Spoon remaining batter over streusel; top with remaining streusel. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife along sides of pan to loosen edge. Remove side of pan. Cool at least 30 minutes. (Anna’s Note: Cool completely if you have the time).
Just before serving, combine caramels and half & half (or milk) in 1-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until caramels are completely melted (5 to 8 minutes). Cool until thick enough to drizzle nicely; drizzle warm (not hot!) caramel over cake.
Notes
Note: For the melted caramel, I melted ¾ cup caramel bits with 2 tablespoons of milk for 2 minutes on high and stirred every 30 seconds. Let cool and thicken before drizzling. I also “micro-toasted” the pecans. Lay pecans on a sheet of paper towel and microwave on high for 2 ½ minutes. Let cool completely, then chop Regular size chocolate chips work just fine.