Cherry Caramel Nut Ring Food

MARASCHINO CHERRY NUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and lightly flour two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans or one 9x13-inch cake pan.
• Reserve 1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice. Coarsely chop the cherries to make 1/2 cup. Set aside.
• Sift cake flour, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and set aside.
• Beat shortening in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium high speed for 30 seconds. Add the 1 1/3 cups white sugar and beat until well combined. Add the egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each.
• Combine 2/3 cup milk and reserved 1/4 cup cherry juice. Add the flour and milk mixture alternately to the shortening mixture, beating on low speed after each addition until just combined. Stir in the chopped cherries and nuts. Pour batter into prepared pans.
• In preheated oven until cake springs back when lightly touched with a finger or a tester comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes for round cakes (or 30 to 35 minutes for a 9x13 inch pan). Cool cakes in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then invert onto wire rack to cool completely.
• To make frosting: beat 3/4 cups butter in a large bowl till fluffy. Gradually add 3 cups sifted confectioners' sugar; beat well. Slowly beat in 1/3 cup milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Gradually beat in the remaining 3 cups sifted confectioners' sugar. Beat in additional milk (1 to 2 tablespoons) if needed, to make frosting of spreading consistency. If desired, tint the frosting pink by adding 6 drops of red food coloring.
• Once cake is completely cool, frost with butter frosting and decorate with maraschino cherries with stems.

CHERRY CARAMEL RING (MICROWAVE)

Steps:

• Put butter in 8 inch round micro safe dish.
• Micro on high 30-45 seconds til melted.
• Sprinkle sugar over butter.
• Add corn syrup stirring well.
• Place a GLASS drinking glass in the center of the dish.
• Sprinkle pecans and cherries around the outside of glass.
• Arrange biscuits over topping in a petal fashion. Squeeze to fit if needed.
• Micro on medium 6-8 minutes, turning 1/2 turn after 3 minutes.
• Remove glass and invert on serving plate.
• Let dish stand a few minutes for topping to drizzle over rolls.
• Serve warm.

CHERRY TEA RING

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, sugar, butter, egg, salt and 3-1/2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Meanwhile, place cherries in a bowl; add boiling water. Let stand for 5 minutes; drain and squeeze out excess water. In another bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon; cut in butter until crumbly. Add cherries; toss to coat. , Punch dough down; turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 15x9-in. rectangle. Sprinkle with filling. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Pinch seam to seal. Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet; pinch ends together to form a ring. , With scissors, cut from outside edge to two-thirds of the way toward center of ring at 1-in. intervals. Separate strips slightly; twist to allow filling to show. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool. Combine the glaze ingredients; drizzle over tea ring. Decorate with candied cherries if desired.

CHERRY CREAM PUFF RING

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring the water, milk, butter and salt to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny. , Drop by 1/4 cupfuls into a 10-in. ring on a greased 12-in. pizza pan (mounds should be slightly touching). Bake at 400° for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. , Remove to a wire rack. Immediately cut a slit in the side of each puff to allow steam to escape. Carefully cut ring in half horizontally and set top aside; remove soft dough from inside with a fork. Cool. , In a small bowl, whisk the milk, sour cream, pudding mix and 1/4 teaspoon extract for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. , Just before serving, place bottom of cream puff ring on a serving plate. Fill with pudding mixture. In a small bowl, beat the cream, confectioners' sugar and remaining extract until stiff peaks form. Spread over pudding. Top with pie filling. Replace cream puff ring top. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

DOUBLE DIPPED CHOCOLATE CARAMEL CHERRIES

Steps:

• Line a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with parchment paper and place in the freezer.
• Place washed and dried maraschino cherries in a medium bowl and set aside.
• In a medium stainless steel bowl placed over a small pot of simmering water, melt the chocolate and coconut oil until melted and completely smooth. Remove bowl from heat and allow the mixture to cool for 3-5 minutes.
• Remove parchment lined cookie sheet from the freezer and set on your work surface. Hold a maraschino cherry by the stem and dip, submerging cherry completely into the melted chocolate mixture. Lift the cherry from the melted chocolate and allow the excess to drain completely back into the bowl. Place the cherry on the cold parchment lined cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining maraschino cherries.
• Place the cookie sheet in the freezer until the chocolate has set, about 7-10 minutes. While chocolate sets, make the caramel mixture.
• Melt the caramel: In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the caramels. Once melted, add heavy cream and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. Allow the mixture to cool slightly and then transfer to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Alternatively, you can transfer the mixture to a zip sandwich bag, cutting a small hole in one corner.
• Remove cherries from the freezer. Hold a maraschino cherry by the stem and dip, submerging cherry completely into the melted chocolate mixture. Lift the cherry from the melted chocolate and allow the excess to drain completely back into the bowl. Place the cherry on the parchment lined cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining maraschino cherries. Place the cherries on the parchment lined cookie sheet and place back in the freezer to set, another 7-10 minutes.
• Once the chocolate has set, to secure the cherries on to a serving platter, pipe a dab of caramel to the plate then place the cherry on top. Then pipe mounds of caramel right above the stems of every other cherry.

CHERRY NUT CAKE III

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
• In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda. Make a well in the center and pour in the oil, eggs, milk and vanilla. Mix well, then stir in nuts and cherries. Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.