Caramel Macadamia Pralines Food

SALTED CARAMEL & MACADAMIA PRALINES

Steps:

• First lay a big sheet of baking parchment over your work surface for later. Now mix all the ingredients, with 1 tsp sea salt, in a large saucepan. Cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has melted, then turn up the heat and bring to the boil.
• When boiling, add a sugar thermometer and stir continuously until it reaches hard-ball stage (see tip, left). Remove the pan from the heat, keep stirring for 30 secs then, working quickly using a wooden spoon, drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto the parchment - they'll spread a little, so leave room as you dollop. The mixture will thicken fast, if you don't work quickly it'll get too thick to settle into flat pralines.
• Scatter a few more salt flakes over each, then leave the pralines to cool and harden. They'll keep in an airtight container for a few days. But they're at their best within 24 hrs of making.

FOODCHANNEL EDITOR

Steps:

• 1 Combine 2 cups of sugar and the evaporated milk in a large saucepan and cook, stirring over low to medium heat. 2 Meanwhile, heat 1 cup of sugar in a small saucepan until the sugar melts and caramelizes and turns an amber color. Immediately add it to the large saucepan of evaporated milk and sugar. 3 Cook this mixture slowly until it measures 239°F on a candy thermometer (this is the soft-ball stage). 4 Take off heat and add the vanilla, pecans, and butter. 5 Drop by tablespoons onto waxed paper. Let sit, and they will harden.

PRALINES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• In large saucepan over medium heat, combine pecans, sugar, butter, brown sugar, milk and vanilla. Heat to between 234 and 240 degrees F (112 to 116 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface.
• Drop by spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet. Let cool completely.

CARAMELIZED MACADAMIA NUTS

Steps:

• Heat small heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the sugar and macadamia nuts to the pan and stir.
• Continue stirring until the sugar has melted and caramelized the macadamia nuts.
• Carefully transfer nuts onto waxed paper. Let cool - break into pieces.

LOUISIANA CARAMEL PRALINES

Steps:

• Place 2 cups sugar & milk in a lrg saucepan. Cook slowly, stirring often.
• At the same time, put other cup of sugar in a 2nd saucepan on low heat & stir till melted.
• Pour 2nd mixture slowly into the sugar & milk that should be read to boil & stir while adding.
• Cook slowly till a firm ball forms when dropped into cold water (238°) & remove from heat.
• Add vanilla, pecans & butter. Stir till mixture begins to thicken.
• To avoid sticking as experienced by the 1st reviewer using waxed paper which was given as an option -- drop by spoonfuls in desired size onto a lightly sprayed baking sheet or buttered cookie sheet (candies should set up immediately).

CARAMEL MACADAMIA NUT CRUNCH

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease a baking sheet, preferably rimmed.
• 2. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and 1/2 cup of water. Heat over medium heat until mixture begins to simmer, about 3 minutes. Cover the pan and continue to simmer, allowing steam from cooking mixture to wash down the sides of the pan. Remove cover and continue to simmer until the mixture turns golden, 7 to 8 minutes. Immediately remove from the stove, and, to avoid mixture bubbling over, carefully pour cream in a slow, steady stream into the pan; do not stir. Return the pot to the stove, reduce heat to low, and, using a wooden spoon, gently stir mixture until cream is completely incorporated.
• 3. Transfer the caramel to a medium heat-proof bowl, add the nuts, and stir to coat the nuts evenly. Transfer the mixture to a baking sheet, spreading it evenly, and bake until dark brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool the brittle to room temperature and chop mixture coarsely using a food processor, a cleaver or by hand.
• 4. Cut the log into twenty 1/2-inch rounds, press one cut side of each round into the brittle, and arrange the rounds 2 inches apart on all sides on a parchment-lined or nonstick cookie sheet or sheets.
• 5. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the cookies with a spatula and cool on a wire rack.

CARAMEL MACADAMIA RICE CRISPIE TREATS

Steps:

• Butter 17- by 12-inch rimmed baking sheet. Line with parchment paper, leaving 1-inch overhang on each end, and butter paper.
• In large heatproof steel bowl, toss together cereal and nuts.
• In heavy large saucepan over moderate heat, stir together sugar and 6 tablespoons water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves, then raise heat to moderately high and boil without stirring, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, until syrup turns deep amber in color, about 8 minutes. Carefully stir in cream (mixture may splatter and briefly harden) then stir in butter. Remove from heat and stir in salt and vanilla.
• Drizzle caramel over cereal-nut mixture and, using heatproof silicone spatula or wooden spoon, stir until fully incorporated. Spread mixture evenly on prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm and slightly cooled, about 10 minutes, then break into bite-sized pieces.
• In small metal bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water, combine chocolate and oil. Heat, whisking occasionally, until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Drizzle chocolate mixture over Rice Krispie pieces and let stand until chocolate hardens.
• Rice Krispies Treats will keep in an airtight container for up to two days.