Caramel Pecans Food

CARAMEL PECANS

Steps:

• Line a 13-in. x 9-in. pan with foil; grease the foil with 2 teaspoons butter and set aside., In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugars, corn syrup, 1 cup cream and the remaining butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil. Slowly stir in the remaining cream. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 245° (firm-ball stage)., Remove from the heat; stir in pecans and vanilla. Pour into prepared pan (do not scrape saucepan). Let stand until firm. Using foil, lift candy out of pan. Discard foil; cut candy into 1-in. squares. Wrap individually in waxed paper; twist ends.

PECAN-CARAMEL SPIDERS

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with waxed paper and lightly spray with nonstick spray. Mound 30 small clusters of pecans, about 3 or 4 pecans each, spaced a couple inches apart on the pan.
• Make caramel: Warm the cream over low heat and keep warm while you cook the sugar.
• Put the sugar and corn syrup and in a deep, heavy-bottomed large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Stop stirring, raise heat to medium-high, and simmer until the sugar reaches the hard crack stage, or 305 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 7 minutes.
• Whisk the butter and salt into the sugar mixture. Gradually pour in the cream and vanilla taking care since the mixture will bubble up. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar reaches soft ball stage, 240 degrees F on the thermometer, about 5 minutes more. Immediately remove from the heat and cool for a minute.
• Ladle a couple tablespoons of warm caramel over some of the nut clusters, to make the spider bodies. Then press 6 pieces of licorice into the warm caramel to make the legs. Repeat with the remaining caramel and licorice. (It's helpful to have an extra hand here, since the caramel can set quickly. If caramel hardens, warm over very low heat. ) Let spiders cool 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the chocolates in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1-inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, 2 to 3 minutes more.)
• Spoon about 1 tablespoon of melted chocolate on top of each spider. Sprinkle with jimmies or chocolate curls, if desired. Let cool until firm.

CARAMEL PECAN CUPS

Steps:

• 1.Stir the chocolate and heavy cream in a microwavable bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute or until the chocolate is melted. Stir until the chocolate mixture is smooth. 2.Place 1 teaspoon chocolate mixture into each pastry cup. Drizzle with the caramel topping and sprinkle with the pecans.

CARAMEL PECAN DIAMONDS

Steps:

• For the dough, combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir well to mix. Cut the butter into 8 to 10 pieces and add to the dry ingredients. Rub the butter in finely; be careful that the mixture remains cool and powdery. Beat the eggs lightly and stir them into the dough with a fork. Continue stirring until the dough masses together. Remove the dough to a floured surface and knead lightly, until the dough is smooth. Form the dough into a rectangle about 1-inch thick and wrap in plastic. Chill the dough until it is firm, about 1 hour.
• Butter a 10 x 15-inch jelly roll pan. Roll the dough to a rectangle about 12 x 17 inches. Roll the dough onto the rolling pin, then unroll it into the pan. Press the dough well into the bottom and sides of the pan and fold the excess dough into the pan. Make a high fluted edge around the edge of the pan. Chill the dough-lined pan while preparing the filling.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the corn syrup and sugar in a saucepan and mix well. Place on medium heat and stir occasionally, until the syrup comes to a boil. At the boil, add the butter and cream and return to a boil. Simmer the mixture for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and rum.
• Place the chopped pecans in a heatproof mixing bowl. Pour the cooked syrup over the pecans and stir well to mix. Pour the filling on the dough in the pan and spread it evenly with a metal spatula.
• Bake the pastry on the lowest rack of the oven for about 30 minutes. Turn the pan occasionally to make sure that the dough and the filling bake evenly. Remove the pan from the oven and cool it on a rack to room temperature. Wrap the pan in plastic wrap and chill overnight.
• To unmold the pastry, run a small, sharp knife between the crust and the sides of the pan. Place the pan on low heat for a few seconds to loosen the pastry. Place a cookie sheet on the top and invert. Remove the pan in which the pastry baked and replace it with a cutting board. Invert, remove the cookie sheet and trim away the edges of the pastry.
• Cut the pastry into 1 1/2- inch diamonds.

CARAMEL PECAN BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Blend together the flour, 1 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup butter until particles are fine crumbs.
• Pat into an ungreased 9 X 13 glass pan.
• Spread the pecans over the crust.
• Put the remaining butter (3/4 cup), brown sugar (1/2 cup) and vanilla into a small saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat stirring constantly.
• Bring to a full boil and boil for one minute, stirring constantly.
• Pour over the crust and pecans.
• Bake for 20 minutes and remove from oven- do not overbake.
• Immediately sprinkle the top with 1 - 2 cups of chocolate chips.
• The amount depends on your preference for chocolate.
• Two cups will give a fairly thick layer.
• When the chips have melted, spread evenly over the crust with a spreader or butter knife.

CARAMEL PECAN DREAM BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease 13x9 inch pan.
• In large bowl, combine cake mix, margarine and egg.
• Mix at highest speed until crumbly.
• Press into prepared pan.
• In small bowl, beat milk, egg and vanilla until blended.
• Stir in pecans and toffee bits chips.
• Pour over base in pan; spread to cover.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until light and golden brown.
• Center may appear loose but will set upon cooling.
• Allow bars to cool completely before cutting.

CARAMEL PECAN TREASURES

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl cream butter and brown sugar.
• Beat in vanilla.
• Combine the flour and baking powder,gradually add to the creamed mixture.
• Roll into 1 inch balls.
• Place 2 inches apart onto baking sheet,flatten slightly.
• Bake at 325 for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove to wire racks to cool.
• Place one caramel on each cookie.
• Melt the chocolate chips and shortening.
• Drizzle over the cooled cookies.
• Sprinkle with the pecans.
• Let stand until firm.

CARAMEL- PECAN POPCORN

Steps:

• Grease large rimmed baking sheet; mix warm popcorn with pecans on sheet. Set aside.
• In saucepan, whisk together sugar, butter and corn syrup over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high; boil, without stirring, until candy thermometer registers hard-ball stage of 255°F (124°C), or 1/2 tsp (2 mL) syrup dropped into very cold water forms rigid ball that is still a little pliable, about 4 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Stir in vanilla, salt and baking soda.
• Gradually pour over popcorn mixture, stirring gently until combined. Let cool completely. (Make-ahead: Store in airtight container for up to 1 week.).

CARAMEL PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Melt caramels with water & margarine in a saucepan over low heat.
• Stir occasionally until smooth.Combine sugar,salt & eggs.
• Gradually add caramel sauce;Mix well.
• Stir in pecan halves & pour into pastry shell.Bake at 350 degree for 40 minutes.Pie filling will appear soft,but becomes firm as it cools.

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!