Pot Of Gold Recipes

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray; line the bottoms with parchment paper. Coat the parchment with cooking spray and dust the bottom and side of each pan with flour, tapping out the excess. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to low; add the egg yolks one at a time, making sure each is incorporated before adding the next. Beat in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the milk in 2 batches, until just incorporated. (It's OK if the batter looks curdled.) Increase the speed to medium and beat 1 more minute.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and spread evenly. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until the tops are golden and spring back when lightly pressed, about 40 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes in the pans, then run a knife around the sides of the pans to loosen. Turn out onto a rack to cool completely; discard the parchment.
• Make the frosting: Bring a few inches of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk the egg whites, sugar and golden syrup in the bowl of a stand mixer. Set the bowl over the saucepan; cook, whisking, until the sugar dissolves, the egg whites become frothy and the mixture is warm, about 5 minutes. Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer and beat with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until stiff glossy peaks form. Switch to the paddle attachment. Beat in the vanilla, then beat in the butter a few pieces at a time until smooth. (It's OK if the frosting looks separated; keep beating.)
• Cut a 3 1/2-inch hole from the center of one cake layer with a paring knife; set the cake layer and the cutout aside. Score a 3 1/2-inch circle in the center of the other cake layer, then scoop out the middle without going all the way to the bottom; carefully transfer the cake to a serving plate. Spread the top of the scooped-out cake (but not inside the hole) with 1 cup frosting. Top with the other cake layer and pour the M&M's into the hole. Slicing horizontally, cut off the top 1/2 inch from the reserved cutout to make a thin round; place on top of the candies to form a lid.
• Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Refrigerate until just firm, about 20 minutes. Dip a small dry brush in luster dust; tap and brush all over the cake.

Steps:

• Make the butterscotch pudding: In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and cornstarch until smooth.
• In a medium pot fitted with a candy thermometer, combine the dark brown sugar, water, vanilla, and kosher salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until the mixture reaches 240°F (115°C). While whisking constantly, slowly pour in the milk and cream. Return to a boil.
• Once the cream mixture is steaming (but not boiling), remove the pot from the heat. Gradually pour the cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture, whisking between additions, to temper the eggs.
• Strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve back into the pot and cook, whisking frequently, until thickened and beginning to bubble, 5-10 minutes.
• Transfer the pudding to a clean large bowl. Add the cubed butter and flaky sea salt and mix with an immersion blender or electric hand mixer on the lowest speed until smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, pressing it directly against the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill while you make the brownies.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
• In a large, microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate and butter. Microwave in 30-second intervals until melted and smooth. Let cool for 5 minutes.
• Whisk the sugar into the chocolate mixture until well combined and starting to dissolve. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, whisking between each addition to incorporate, then whisk in the vanilla.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt.
• Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until well incorporated.
• Grease the cups of a 6-cup jumbo muffin tin with nonstick spray. Grease the bottom of the other muffin tin.
• Pour the brownie batter into the greased muffin cups until halfway full. Place the muffin tin with the greased bottoms over the filled muffin tin, pressing down gently until the batter just reaches the top of each cup.
• Bake the brownie cups for 35-40 minutes, until the edges appear crispy and the centers no longer look gooey (lift the top muffin tin to check). Remove the top tin and let the brownie cups cool completely.
• Make the rainbow arches: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Add each color of candy melts to a separate small, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals until completely melted and stir until smooth.
• Transfer each color to a piping bag or resealable zip-top bag. Snip a small hole at the tip of each piping bag.
• Starting with the red candy melts and continuing with the orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, pipe 6 small rainbow arches onto the prepared baking sheet. Let harden for at least 5 minutes, then use an offset spatula or butter knife to carefully release the rainbow arches from the parchment.
• Make the grass: In a medium bowl, mix together the shredded coconut and green food coloring until evenly colored. Spread the grass on a serving platter.
• Make the toppings: Using a small paintbrush, dust the yellow cookies on both sides with the edible gold dust to create gold coins.
• Using the remaining melted yellow chocolate to fill the tops of the mini caramel-filled chocolates. Top with gold sprinkles to make mini pots of gold.
• Assemble the pots of gold: Transfer the butterscotch pudding to a piping bag fitted with an open star tip.
• Remove the brownie cups from the pan and place atop the coconut grass.
• Pipe the butterscotch pudding into the brownie cups. Pipe whipped cream clouds on one side of the "pot". Top each pot with 1 rainbow arch, 2 gold coins, 3 mini pots of gold, and gold sugar pearls.
• Enjoy!