Chocolate Almond Drops Food

SUPER GOOEY CHOCOLATE DROPS

Steps:

• Position racks in the lower and upper third of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. (If you don't have 3 pans, simply cool the pan between batches.)
• Put the butter and the unsweetened and semisweet chocolates in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat at 75 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 2 minutes. Stir and heat again until melted, up to 2 minutes more. (Alternatively, put the chocolates and butter in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching the water, and stir occasionally until melted and smooth.)
• Stir the light brown and granulated sugars and vanilla into the chocolate mixture with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs and buttermilk and beat vigorously until thick and glossy.
• In another bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa, cinnamon and salt together. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until just mixed. Stir in chocolate chunks and dried cherries, if using.
• Drop the batter in heaping tablespoons onto baking sheets--a small ice cream scoop is ideal for this. Space the cookies about 2-inches apart. Bake until the cookies set but are soft and fudgy on the inside, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Serve.
• Store cookies in a tightly sealed container at room temperature for up to a week.

SUPER GOOEY CHOCOLATE DROPS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat to 325 degrees F. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment and set aside.
• 2. Place butter and unsweetened and semisweet chocolate in a large heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with about 1 inch of water to a very slow simmer; set bowl over but not touching water, and stir occasionally until chocolate melts. Stir light brown and granulated sugars and vanilla into chocolate mixture with a wooden spoon. Add eggs and buttermilk and beat vigorously until thick and glossy.
• 3. Whisk flour, cocoa, cinnamon, and salt together and stir into chocolate mixture. Stir in chocolate chunks and dried cherries, if using. Drop batter in heaping tablespoons, 2 inches apart, onto prepared baking sheets. Bake until cookies are set on outside and soft and fudge-like inside, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes; transfer to a rack to cool completely. Serve or store cookies in a tightly sealed container at room temperature for up to a week.

ALMOND DROPS

Steps:

• Place the almond paste, corn syrup and apricot puree in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle. Turn on the mixer to medium speed and add about 1 egg white, continue adding egg white gradually until the mixture can be piped through a piping bag. You will need to adjust the amount of egg whites added to the mixture depending on the consistency of the almond paste. Place the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe the mixture onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Use any design you like when you are piping the mixture. You can place whole almonds on top of some to achieve a different design.
• Preheat the oven to 380 degrees F and bake for 8 to10 minutes, until lightly golden brown.
• Place the sugar, honey and water in a saucepan and bring to a strong boil. Place the almonds in the food processor and grind until coarse. Remove the boiling sugar from the heat and pour over the coarse almonds. Blend until smooth. This may take 10 minutes or more, depending on the strength of the food processor. Remember, food processors are not usually strong enough to yield the same consistency as the almond paste that you can buy. If your mixture is too thick and the food processor is straining, you can add a little Kirsch or simple syrup to the processor. Add the liquid slowly and stop when the processor is moving more freely. The quality of almond paste is determined by how smooth the consistency is.
• Wrap the almond paste in plastic wrap and allow it to cool. When you are ready to use it, knead in the butter. The butter makes it smooth and not so sticky.
• Yield: About 2 cups

ALMOND DROPS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in extract. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in almonds. , Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.

DARK CHOCOLATE ALMOND ROCKS

Steps:

• Spread almonds in a large skillet; toast over medium heat until starting to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Pour almonds into a bowl.
• Melt chocolate in top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides to avoid scorching, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; pour in almonds and stir until evenly coated.
• Drop spoonfuls of chocolate-almond mixture onto a plate lined with waxed paper.
• Chill until set, about 10 minutes.

DARK CHOCOLATE COCONUT DROPS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients and drop by heaping spoonful onto a lightly greased baking pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees 10-12 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE! (I bake for 11 minute in my oven - they will look "set" but still a little glossy).
• Cool & enjoy!

ALMOND BARK CRISPY DROPS

Steps:

• In a microwave oven or double boiler, melt the almond bark, stirring frequently until smooth.
• Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter until well blended.
• Fold in peanuts, cereal and mini marshmallows.
• Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto waxed paper lined baking sheets.
• Cool completely before serving.