Chocolate Caramel Pecan Clusters Food

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange pecans in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven (leave oven on); set aside 36 pecans on baking sheet. Finely chop remaining pecans (for about 1/4 cup); set aside.
• When pecans are cool enough to handle, make 12 clusters by arranging 2 pecans vertically, side by side, below 1 pecan placed horizontally. Gently flatten each caramel; place 1 on top of each cluster. Bake clusters 5 minutes. Remove from oven (leave oven on).
• Place 1 piece of chocolate on top of each cluster. Return to oven; bake until chocolate begins to melt, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from oven. With the back of a spoon, gently spread chocolate over caramel without completely covering it.
• Sprinkle clusters with reserved chopped pecans. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Bring to room temperature before serving.

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.

CHOCOLATE PECAN CARAMEL CLUSTERS

Steps:

• For the caramel: Mix 2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup light corn syrup and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Cook, swirling the pan (do not stir), until the mixture is light amber and a candy thermometer registers 320 degrees, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat; slowly whisk in 1/2 cup heavy cream, then 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Return to low heat and whisk until smooth.
• Stir 1 1/3 cups chopped nuts into the warm caramel; cool until the mixture is thick enough to hold its shape. Drop spoonfuls onto an oiled parchment-lined baking sheet; let set. Top with melted chocolate and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.

PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Microwave chocolate in 8-inch glass baking dish uncovered on high power about 1 minute; stir. Microwave, stirring after 30 seconds, until melted, about 1 minute. Add pecans and stir to coat.
• Line baking sheet with waxed paper. Using soup spoons, drop pecans in 24 mounts on waxed paper. Let stand until hardened, refrigerating if necessary. Store in airtight container in refrigerator up to 3 weeks.

PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a 15x10x1-in. baking pan, combine pecans and butter. Bake at 250° for 20-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes., Remove from the oven; transfer to a bowl. Add candy coating and stir until evenly coated. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. Cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

PECAN CARAMEL CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the caramels, water and butter. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 3 to 3-1/2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Stir in pecans. , Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Freeze for 15-20 minutes or until set., In a microwave-safe bowl, combine candy coatings. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 15 seconds; stir until smooth. Dip caramel clusters in coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Chill until firm.

CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• on a greased baking sheet, arrange pecans in 6 clusters of 5 pecans, each.
• place a caramel on each cluster.
• bake at 300 degrees for 4-5 minutes or until caramels are melted.
• top with a chocolate square.
• bake 1 minute longer or until chocolate is melted.
• spread the chocolate over caramel until smooth.
• remove clusters from pan to cool on a wire rack.

CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil. On the baking sheets, arrange 60 clusters of 4 pecan halves each, with 1 inch of space between the clusters. Set aside.
• In a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream, corn syrup, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and butter. Stir with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula until the mixture comes to a boil (5 to 8 minutes). Wash down the sides of the pan two times with a pastry brush dipped in warm water to prevent the sugar from crystallizing.
• Increase the heat to medium-high, place a candy thermometer in the pan, and cook the mixture until it registers 246°F on the thermometer (15 to 20 minutes), stirring constantly. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the caramel into a 2-quart mixing bowl and stir to cool slightly (about 1 minute).
• Spoon a tablespoon of caramel onto the center of each pecan cluster. Let the caramel set completely at room temperature (about 30 minutes).
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper. Melt and temper the chocolate (see pages 25-30). Spoon a tablespoon of chocolate over the caramel on each turtle, or dip a turtle into the chocolate, coating it completely. With a fork or dipper, remove the turtle from the chocolate, carefully shake off the excess chocolate, and turn the turtle out onto the paper. Repeat with the remaining turtles. Let the chocolate set up at room temperature, or chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. In a tightly covered container wrapped in several layers of aluminum foil, the candies will keep for 1 month in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer. They are best eaten at room temperature.
• VARIATIONS
• Substitute whole, unblanched almonds or walnut halves, for the pecans. Substitute milk chocolate for the bittersweet chocolate.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL PECAN TURTLES

Steps:

• Toast pecans at 300 degrees on a cookie sheet for 5 to 6 minutes until fragrant. Let cool.
• Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper and spray lightly with non stick cooking spray.
• Arrange the pecans on the sheet in small groups of 3.
• To make the caramel, melt butter in a medium sized sauce pan.
• Add brown sugar, corn syrup, 7 ounces sweetened condensed milk.
• Cook and stir over medium high heat until it reaches 235 degrees on your candy thermometer or the soft ball stage. (Clings together well when you drop 1/2 teaspoon of caramel in cold water).
• Then remove the caramel from heat and stir in vanilla. Carefully spoon caramel over each nut cluster covering all the nuts.
• For the chocolate topping melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl or big glass measuring cup. Heat for 30 seconds at a time stirring after each interval until all melted and smooth.
• Then add in 1/2 teaspoon shortening to the melted chocolate chips. Stir all together until its blended in.
• Spoon the melted chocolate over the caramel and spread around with the back of a spoon.
• Once they set up you can eat them or store them in an airtight container.
• Great for gift giving and holiday parties.