Almond Praline Ice Cream Cake Food

ALMOND PRALINE CAKES

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and milk. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Pour into four 8-oz. ramekins or custard cups coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with almonds; set aside. , In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Spoon over almonds. , Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edge of ramekins to loosen. Invert cakes onto dessert plates. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PRALINE ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, sour cream, 2 tablespoons butter and cornstarch; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla., Melt the remaining butter; place in a large bowl. Add ice cream; stir to blend. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition; stir in the remaining vanilla. In another bowl, mix the flour, cracker crumbs, sugar, baking powder and salt; gradually stir into ice cream mixture., Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Drizzle with half of the sauce. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool slightly in pan on a wire rack. , Add pecans to remaining sauce; spoon over warm cake (sauce will not cover cake completely). Cool cake in pan. Serve with whipped cream if desired.

COFFEE-PRALINE CRUNCH ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare the fudge sauce: Set a fine-mesh sieve over a medium bowl. In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream, sugar, butter and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until the butter is melted and the sugar has dissolved, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the cocoa powder and cook for another minute or two, whisking occasionally, until the mixture is thick and glossy. Run the sauce through the sieve into the bowl, working out any lumps directly in the sieve. Stir in vanilla. Let cool completely, about 1 hour. (You should have about 2 cups.) About 30 minutes before you assemble the cake, remove the ice cream from the refrigerator to soften.
• To assemble the cake, spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan lightly with nonstick cooking spray. (This is just to help keep the plastic in place.) Press plastic wrap into the pan, making it as smooth as possible against the bottom and sides of the pan, leaving a 3-inch overhang on each of the two long sides.
• Spread one third of the softened ice cream (about 2 cups) evenly over the bottom of the pan. (If your ice cream is still too firm to spread, cut it into slices, arrange them in a layer and smooth using an offset spatula.) Lay 3 crackers over the top, breaking them to fit as needed. Top with 1/3 of the fudge sauce (about ⅔ cup), using an offset spatula to spread evenly, and half of the praline, patting into an even layer. Top with another 1/3 of the ice cream, 3 more crackers, 1/3 more fudge sauce and the remaining praline. Finish with the remaining 1/3 of ice cream and 4 more crackers. Use the plastic overhang to wrap the cake up tightly and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours and preferably overnight.
• To serve, unwrap the plastic wrap, then quickly rub the outside of the pan with a warm, moistened kitchen towel to loosen. Flip out onto a serving plate and remove the plastic wrap. Top with whipped cream and more chopped praline. Cut slices with a knife dipped in hot water. (If too hard to slice, let sit for a few minutes to soften.) Serve with the remaining fudge sauce, warmed, if desired.

PRALINE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Stir milk gradually into egg yolks.
• Add sugar and salt; cook in the top of a double boiler until mixture coats the spoon.
• Chill thoroughly.
• Whip cream to very soft peaks (it won't quite hold its shape).
• Add pralines, vanilla and whipped cream.
• Freeze either in an ice cream maker or in the freezer (if using your freezer, stir twice during freezing to prevent large ice crystals from forming).

ALMOND PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place almonds on a baking sheet, and toast until golden brown and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool.
• Butter a 10-by-15-inch rimmed baking sheet. Spread toasted almonds in an even layer on pan. Place sugar and water in a medium saucepan; stir to combine. Place over medium-high heat; bring to a boil, brushing down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystals from forming. Once sugar is dissolved, cook without stirring until sugar is deep amber. Add lemon juice; immediately pour over almonds, coating with a thin layer. If caramel doesn't cover all the nuts, tilt pan slightly to distribute, or stir in nuts with a wooden spoon, being careful not to touch caramel or hot pan. Cool completely. Gently twist pan to release praline. Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

ALMOND PRALINE BRITTLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place almonds on a baking sheet in a single layer, and toast in oven until golden brown and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Lightly oil a baking pan; transfer toasted nuts to coated pan, and set aside.
• Place sugar in a medium saucepan with 1/4 cup water; stir, and then place over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, without stirring. Occasionally brush down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent any stray granules of sugar from crystallizing. When sugar begins to brown, swirl pan, and cook until a rich amber color. Pour over nuts in baking pan. Allow to cool completely. Twist ends of pan to loosen praline, and break into pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

PRALINE ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, sour cream, 2 tablespoons butter and cornstarch.
• Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil.
• Remove from the heat.
• Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla; set aside.
• Melt the remaining butter; place in a mixing bowl.
• Add ice cream; stir to blend.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition; stir in the remaining vanilla.
• Combine the flour, cracker crumbs, sugar, baking powder and salt; gradually add to ice cream mixture until combined.
• Pour into a greased 13x9 inch pan.
• Drizzle with half of the praline sauce.
• Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Cool on a wire rack.
• Add pecans to remaining sauce; spoon over warm cake (sauce will not cover the entire cake top).
• Cool in pan.
• serve with whipped cream if desired.

ALMOND PRALINE ICE-CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Make meringue layers:
• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• In a large baking pan toast almonds in one layer in middle of oven 15 to 20 minutes, or until fragrant and golden, and cool completely.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Using a 9-inch springform pan as a guide, trace a circle on each piece of parchment and turn paper over. (Circle will show through.)
• In a food processor pulse together almonds, 3/4 cup sugar, and cornstarch until almonds are ground fine. In the large bowl of a standing electric mixer beat egg whites with cream of tartar and salt until they hold soft peaks. Add almond extract and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until meringue holds stiff, glossy peaks. Fold in almond mixture gently but thoroughly and divide meringue evenly between parchment circles, spreading it to fill in circles. Bake meringue layers in upper and lower thirds of oven 1 hour, or until golden. (Layers will not be completely firm.) Turn oven off. Switch positions of sheets and let layers stand in oven 2 hours, or until dry. Carefully peel off parchment. Meringue layers may be made 1 day ahead and kept, wrapped well in plastic wrap, in a cool, dry place (not the refrigerator).
• With a small sharp knife trim edges of meringue layers just enough to fit inside springform pan. Put 1 layer in pan.
• Scoop 1 pint ice cream and 1 cup praline butter into bowl of standing mixer and with paddle attachment distribute praline butter evenly throughout ice cream to marbleize it. (Do not over-mix or let ice cream melt.) Spread marbled ice cream over meringue layer in pan and top with remaining meringue layer, gently pressing it into ice cream. Freeze cake, covered with plastic wrap, 30 minutes.
• Beat remaining 1 cup praline butter into remaining 1 pint ice cream in same manner as above and spread over meringue layer. Freeze cake, covered with plastic wrap, at least 30 minutes, or until ice cream is firm.
• In a chilled bowl beat heavy cream with sugar until it just holds stiff peaks and spread over ice cream. Freeze ice-cream cake 30 to 45 minutes, or until whipped cream is firm. Cover cake with plastic wrap and foil and freeze at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Immediately before serving the cake, wrap a warm dampened kitchen towel around side of pan and run a thin knife around cake to loosen it. Remove side of pan and transfer cake to a serving plate. Cut cake into wedges with a knife dipped repeatedly in hot water and serve garnished with pieces of almond praline if desired.

ALMOND PRALINE BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. and lightly oil a 12-inch square of foil.
• In a large baking pan toast almonds in one layer in middle of oven 15 to 20 minutes, or until fragrant and golden.
• In a heavy saucepan bring sugar, water, and cream of tartar to a boil over moderate heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. Boil syrup, without stirring, washing down sugar crystals on side of pan with a brush dipped in cold water, until syrup turns pale golden. Continue to cook syrup, without stirring, swirling pan occasionally, until it is a deep golden caramel. Add almonds, stirring until coated well. Immediately pour mixture onto foil, spreading as much as possible to form one layer, and cool completely, about 30 minutes. Remove praline from foil and break into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Praline may be made 1 week ahead and kept in an airtight container.
• Reserve 1/2 cup praline for garnish if desired and in food processor chop fine remaining praline. Add salt and continue to let motor run until nuts release their oil and mixture turns into a smooth paste, about 15 minutes. Let praline butter cool. Praline butter may be made several days ahead and kept chilled, covered. Let praline butter soften to room temperature before using.

PRALINE ALMOND FUDGE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine brown sugar, flour and salt in a saucepan. Gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly.
• Gradually stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into the beaten eggs. Add to remaining hot mixture, stirring constantly.
• Cook 1 minute; remove from heat. Refrigerate 2 hours. Combine whipping cream and vanilla in large bowl; add chilled mixture, stirring with a wire whisk to combine.
• Saute almonds in butter over low heat about 5 minutes. Stir into ice cream mixture.
• Freeze this mixture as directed by the manufacturer.
• Swirl chocolate fudge topping through ice cream after it has stopped churning. (NOTE: This is easier to do as you transfer the ice cream into another container.).

ALMOND PRALINE CAKE WITH MASCARPONE FROSTING AND CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• For ganache filling:.
• Simmer cream and sugar in medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add chocolate; whisk until smooth. Chill until just spreadable, about 6 hours.
• For almond cake:.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Butter three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line bottoms with parchment paper; dust pans with flour. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in bowl. Using heavy-duty mixer, blend brown sugar and butter in large bowl. Beat in almond paste 1 piece at a time, then beat until smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts. Fold in dry ingredients. Divide batter among pans; smooth tops. Bake cakes until tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on rack.
• For almond praline:.
• Line baking sheet with foil. Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until deep amber, swirling pan and brushing down sides with wet pastry brush occasionally. Mix in nuts. Pour onto foil; cool. Peel foil off praline. Chop praline coarsely. DO AHEAD Praline can be made 1 day ahead; store airtight at room temperature.
• For mascarpone frosting:.
• Beat all ingredients in large bowl just to soft peaks (do not overbeat or mixture will curdle).
• Run knife around pan sides to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out; peel off paper. Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread half of ganache over; sprinkle with 1/4 cup praline. Top with second cake layer. Spread remaining ganache over; sprinkle with 1/4 cup praline. Top with third cake layer. Spread frosting over top and sides of cake. DO AHEAD Cake can be made 1 day ahead; cover with cake dome and chill. Store remaining praline airtight at room temperature.
• For chocolate bark:.
• Line baking sheet with foil. Melt chocolate in small bowl set over saucepan of simmering water. Stir until smooth. Remove from over water. Drizzle all but 1 tablespoon chocolate over foil in thick (about 1-inch-wide) zigzag lines (chocolate will pool in spots). Sprinkle 3 tablespoons praline over chocolate; chill bark until firm, about 1 hour.
• Press praline around bottom 2 inches of cake; sprinkle more atop. Peel foil off bark; break into pieces. Press edges into frosting atop cake. Remelt 1 tablespoon chocolate over simmering water, stirring often. Using spoon, drizzle chocolate over cake. DO AHEAD Chill up to 4 hours. Serve cold or at room temperature.

ALMOND PRALINE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with foil. In a dry heavy saucepan cook sugar over moderately low heat, stirring slowly with a fork (to help sugar melt evenly), until melted and pale golden. Cook caramel, without stirring, swirling pan, until deep golden. Add almonds, stirring until coated well, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Working quickly, with a metal spatula spread mixture onto foil about 1/4 inch thick and cool until set, about 3 minutes. Chill praline on foil until hard, about 15 minutes. Chop praline. Praline may be made 1 week ahead and kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

PRALINE ICE CREAM CAKE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• ICE CREAM: Line a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap.
• Spread the ice cream evenly over the pan and cover the ice cream with the plastic wrap. Place the pan in the freezer and freeze about 2 hours until firm.
• PRALINES: Mix sugar, salt, evaporated milk and butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until sugar dissolves.
• Stir in pecans and cook over medium heat until mixture reaches the soft ball stage. (234 to 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Remove pan from heat and stir rapidly until mixture thickens.
• Drop pralines by teaspoonfuls, 1-inch apart onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets; let cool completely until firmed up. Store in an airtight container.
• CAKE: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.
• Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together. Occasionally scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• In a small mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks with the vanilla until light and frothy. With the mixer on medium-low, gradually add the egg yolk mixture to the butter and sugar mixture and mix for about 4 minutes.
• In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt together. With the mixer running, gradually add the flour and egg whites to the butter mixer. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as you mix. Fold in the pralines pieces and rum.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour or until golden and firm to the touch. Remove the pan from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes.
• ASSEMBLY: Remove ice cream from the freezer and slice into about ¾ inch slices.
• Place one piece of the pound cake in the center of each plate.
• Place a slice of the ice cream on top of the cake.
• Top the ice cream with the remaining piece of pound cake, forming a sandwich.
• Drizzle the entire sandwich with warm caramel sauce. Garnish each sandwich with powdered sugar.