Quick and Easy Caramel Coffee Cake

I have fallen in love with this recipe because not only is it really yummy it is so quick to make. The secret is it is made entirely in the microwave!! Yeah, in the microwave. I timed making it this time and in under 20 minutes (closer to 15 minutes) I had a delicious coffee cake ready to eat. That time includes allowing time for the coffee cake to cool down so you won't burn yourself on the hot caramel.

I love fast and easy recipes like this because they are great to pull out when someone drops by and you feel you want to serve some kind of snack. By the time the pot of coffee is finished brewing this little beauty will be almost ready. No one needs to know how easy it was. (we won't tell if you don't)

Quick and Easy Caramel Coffee Cake

2 Tablespoons butter

¼ cup packed dark brown sugar

2 Tablespoons chopped nuts (I like walnuts the best but pecans would be good too)

2 Tablespoons light corn syrup

¼ teaspoon spice (cinnamon, apple pie spice, or pumpkin pie spice- use what you have)

1 cup Bisquick or other baking mix

¼ cup water

Put the butter in a 1 quart casserole dish and put in the microwave for about 30 seconds (on high) to melt.

Stir in the brown sugar, nuts, corn syrup, and spice then put back in the microwave for about a minutes. You want the mixture to be bubbly.

Tip the casserole slightly to get the mixture to run to one side and place a shot glass (or small juice glass) in the center of the casserole dish. When you set the casserole down the sugar mixture should surround the bottom of the glass.

Now combine the baking mix and water to make a thick dough. Drop the dough onto the sugar mixture (by spoonfuls trying to keep it evenly spaced around the glass)

Microwave at 70% for 4 minutes (if your microwave doesn't have a turntable rotate the casserole after 2 minutes)

Use a wooden pick to check that the dough is cooked all the way through (pick inserted in the dough should come out clean) if not cook it up to 30 seconds more at 70%.

Remove the casserole dish from the microwave and immediately remove the glass from the center of your coffee cake. (be careful it will be very hot)

Turn the casserole dish upside down on a serving plate, allow the dish to remain on the coffee cake for 1 minute to allow all the caramel mixture to drip down onto the coffee cake. Remove the casserole dish and allow your coffee cake to cool a few minutes before serving.