Caramel Pecan Candy Food

PECAN CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line a 13-in. x 9-in. pan with foil; grease the foil with butter. Set aside. , In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and 1 cup cream. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir until smooth and blended, about 10 minutes. Stir in milk and remaining cream. Bring to a boil over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until a candy thermometer reads 238° (soft-ball stage), about 25 minutes. , Remove from the heat; stir in pecans and vanilla. Pour into prepared pan (do not scrape saucepan). Cool. Using foil, lift candy out of pan; cut into 1-in. squares. Wrap individually in waxed paper.

PECAN CARMEL CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Place caramels, butter, and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth, about 3 minutes. Stir in pecans.
• Drop caramel pecan mixture by spoonfuls onto parchment paper. Place in freezer for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high, stirring every 15 seconds, until melted and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Dip each caramel cluster into chocolate using a fondue fork until coated; place on parchment paper to dry. Chill until firm, if necessary.

CARAMEL PECAN CANDY

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt 1/3 cup butter over medium heat; stir in the cookie crumbs. Press into an ungreased 9-in. square baking dish. Bake at 325° for 10-12 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan , melt caramels and remaining butter over low heat. Stir in the pecans. Pour over crust. Cool. , For topping, in a small saucepan, combine the chocolate chips, butter, cream and corn syrup. Cook and stir over low heat until smooth. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Pour over caramel layer. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate until chocolate hardens. , Let candy stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before cutting into 1-in. squares. Store in the refrigerator.

CARAMEL PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°F.
• Pour pecan halves into greased 9x13" pan and place into oven for 5 minutes.
• Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir in brown sugar and corn syrup and cook until sugar is dissolved (this takes at least 3-4 minutes).
• Remove pecans from oven and pour into saucepan/caramel mixture.
• Stir to coat and pour back into 9x13" pan.
• Place back into oven for 45-60 minutes stirring every 15 minutes or so.
• Remove pan and spread pecans onto parchment paper or silpat (I've used wax paper but it sticks at times-if it does put in fridge and remove when cold).
• Separate pecans as they cool (2 forks work well).
• I often HALF this because I can't keep out of them!

CARAMEL CANDY

Steps:

• Generously spray a 9-by-12-by-2-inch pan with cooking spray; line it with parchment and butter the top of the parchment.
• In a large saucepan, mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar, corn syrup and 1 cup of the cream. Heat until the mixture begins to boil. Slowly stream the remaining 1 cup cream into the mixture, stirring while it's boiling. Attach a candy thermometer to the pan and cook the mixture over medium heat until it reaches 244 degrees F. Remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, chopped pecans and vanilla. Pour the candy into the prepared pan. Cool the candy in the refrigerator until it is just firm but not hard, about 1 hour.
• Cut the candy into 1-inch squares. Cut waxed paper into 4-inch squares and wrap each piece of candy individually. Store in the refrigerator. Remove the candy from the fridge and allow it to soften slightly before serving.

SALTED CARAMEL PECAN BITES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake the pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 10 to 12 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.
• Line a 15-by-10-inch jelly-roll pan or a 9.5-by-13-inch casserole dish with aluminum foil; lightly grease the foil with baking spray. Arrange the graham crackers in a single layer in the prepared pan, slightly overlapping the edges.
• Combine the sugar, butter and cream in a medium-size heavy saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat and stir in the vanilla and pecans. Pour the butter mixture over the crackers, spreading to coat.
• Bake for 10 to 11 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly. Immediately sprinkle with the salt, lift the foil from the pan and slide the bark off the foil onto a wire rack. Cool completely, 30 minutes to an hour. Break into bite-size pieces.

CARAMEL PECAN TURTLE CHOCOLATE CANDIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325.
• Grease a large cookie sheet well.
• Arrange 4 pecan halves in a cluster, flat side down on cookie sheet.
• Repeat with the rest of the pecan halves.
• Place one caramel on top of each cluster.
• Heat in oven until caramels are softened, about 4-6 minutes.
• Press caramels flat with the bottom of a buttered spatula (you may have to butter the spatula after every 2 or 3 caramels, or it will get very sticky).
• Remove caramels evenly onto waxed paper.
• Melt chocolate in double boiler, or in microwave on medium high, stirring every 25 seconds until just melted.
• Spoon over caramel-pecan clusters.
• Let cool a few hours.
• Makes 26.

PECAN CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Stir butter and brown sugar together in a saucepan over medium heat until melted. Stir in heavy whipping cream and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat to cool slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in chopped pecans.