Chai Cakes and a 42-cent pan

Kohl's is one of my favorite local stores, and even more so since I got $20 in "Kohl's Cash" just for doing some last-minute Christmas shopping there. I'd heard a friend talk about shopping there to earn the free "cash," but I didn't truly understand the concept until I had to make a last-minute sweep for gifts and ended up spending more than $100. That's when I was handed what amounted to a gift certificate for $20 that was good starting the day after Christmas. My treat? The Calphalon Dessert Bar Pan I'd had my eye on for baking neat little squares with rounded edges. It was on sale for $20.39, so when I handed over the "Kohl's Cash" my after-tax total came to a tidy little 42 cents. That's my kind of shopping!

I am happy to report that the pan's inaugural baking trip had a delicious result. I decided to experiment with some ingredients and make chai-flavored cakes. I love the ease of using teabags to flavor baked goods, and here's my latest invention!



Chai Cakes

3/4 cup of butter, melted
1-1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 chai teabags

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 12-cavity Calphalon Dessert Bar Pan with cooking spray. Mix the melted butter and sugar in a bowl. Add eggs and vanilla and blend well. Add the baking powder, baking soda, salt, flour and contents of teabags and mix well. Spoon batter evenly into pan. Bake for about 20 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan. Yields 12 cakes.