Cashew Praline Food

DUTCH CARAMEL CASHEW COOKIES

Steps:

• Make cashew praline: In a heavy skillet cook sugar with the water and cream of tartar over moderately high heat, washing down any undissolved sugar that clings to the sides of the skillet with a brush dipped in cold water, until the mixture is a light caramel. Quickly stir in cashews. Pour the praline onto a buttered piece of foil and with a buttered spatula spread it into a thin sheet. Let it cool until it hardens and chop it coarsely.
• In a bowl beat butter with sugar until creamy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla. Stir in flour and 2/3 of the chopped praline and form the mixture into a dough.
• Drop the dough by heaping teaspoons onto a lightly buttered baking sheet about 2 inches apart, flatten slightly and sprinkle with remaining praline. Bake at 350° F for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for about 1 minute and with a spatula remove them to a rack to cool completely.

SPICY PRALINE CASHEWS

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and vinegar. Cook, without stirring, until mixture turns a golden amber color, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in the salt, cumin and cayenne. Add cashews; stir until blended. Cool on waxed paper. Store in an airtight container.

CASHEW PRALINE

Steps:

• Grind the brittle with the oil in a food processor until it has completely broken down and almost liquefied. Boom: it's praline. Look at how easy that was. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

TEXAS CHEWY PRALINES

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil.
• Coat with nonstick cooking spray.
• (I have found that using Release aluminum foil works better).
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine sugars and corn syrup.
• Heat to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Remove from heat, and stir in butter until melted.
• Gradually stir in cream.
• Return to heat.
• Cook, stirring constantly, until temperature reaches 242 degrees F (116 degrees C).
• Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and pecans.
• Drop by spoonful onto prepared pans.
• Cool completely, then wrap each piece individually with plastic.