Rich came across this recipe somewhere on the interwebs, and asked that I try it; but to wait until we had folk over to make it, because he was thinking that he would most likely lose any self-control it until it was well and truly gone. As it turned out, he was correct.
He enjoyed a slice for dessert at dinner, then another slice before bedtime, another the next day before telling me to please give the rest to a friend – who was very pleased to get it, and even promised to – mebbe – save a slice for her husband.
Note: the original recipe called for buying a salted caramel sauce. I chose to make my own, because it is wickedly simple to make. Two jars turned out to be just about right for spreading on the cake layers and topping the sliced pieces.
You do what you want.
INGREDIENTS
•48 Ritz crackers
•2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
•1 cup granulated sugar
•1 cup heavy whipping cream
•1 tsp vanilla
•A pinch of black pepper
•Salted Caramel Sauce
•Whipped cream (optional)*
*I bought some, forgot to serve it, and none of us missed it.
Beat the sugar together with the cream cheese until smooth.
Add the heavy cream, vanilla, and pepper (trust me on this) and beat for about five minutes, until stiff peaks form.
Apply cooking spray to an eight inch square baking pan and arrange 16 of the crackers on the bottom.
Spread 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture over the top of the crackers, then add enough salted caramel to cover that. Top that with another 16 crackers, more of the cheese mixture, and more of the salted caramel.
Arrange the last 16 crackers on top, then cover them with the remaining cream cheese mixture, smoothing it over the top to the edges. Cover the pan and stash in the fridge for at least four hours, but, as is the case with most everything, overnight is always more better.
Once chilled, serve with more of the salted caramel on top and, if you really think it needs it, and you didn’t forget (I’d had a couple of Cherry Cosmos and several glasses of rather nice wine by the time we got around to dessert), go ahead and add some whipped cream.