Chocolate Covered Maple Creams Food

MAPLE CREAM

Steps:

• Place the bowl of a stand mixer (or any large heatproof bowl, if using a handheld mixer) in an ice-water bath. Combine maple syrup, oil, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, undisturbed, over medium-high heat. Continue boiling, without stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 235 degrees (soft-ball stage), 6 to 8 minutes.
• Immediately transfer syrup to bowl in ice-water bath and let stand, undisturbed, until it has cooled to 100 degrees, 10 to 15 minutes. Attach bowl to stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium-low speed until mixture becomes thick, creamy, and the color of peanut butter. (This can take anywhere from 30 to 40 minutes, so set a timer and check on it periodically if using a stand mixer.) Transfer cream to a jar with a tight-fitting lid and store in refrigerator or a cool, dark place up to 1 year.

DELECTABLE MAPLE NUT CHOCOLATES

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine milk and butter. Cook and stir over low heat until butter is melted. Place the confectioners' sugar in a large bowl; add milk mixture and beat until smooth. Stir in the walnuts, maple flavoring and vanilla. Roll into 3/4-in. balls; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour., In a microwave, melt the chips, bittersweet chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip balls into chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Store in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE COVERED MAPLE CREAMS

Steps:

• First mix 1/2 cup of butter with 3 cups of powdered sugar. Add 3/4 tsp maple flavoring and 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Mix together and form into small balls. Place on cookie sheet (use powdered sugar on hands if sticky). Cool in refrigerator. Add 2 squares of baker's chocolate and 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 2 tsp butter, 2" square of paraffin wax into a double boiler. Melt and keep hot. Use toothpicks to dip balls into mixture in boiler. Set to cool on wax paper. Do not put in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED MAPLE BRANDY JELLIES WITH NUTS

Steps:

• For the maple cream layer: Line a 10-inch square cake pan with plastic wrap so that the plastic falls over the edges of the pan. Then place a square of parchment paper over the plastic in the bottom of the pan.
• In a small bowl, combine the gelatin with just enough water to cover and mix until incorporated. In a small saucepan bring the half-and-half to a simmer. Add the sugar and maple syrup, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the gelatin. Stir until incorporated. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake pan. Refrigerate until set, about 45 minutes.
• For the brandy layer: When the maple cream layer is completely set, begin on the brandy layer. In a small bowl, combine the gelatin with just enough water to cover and mix until incorporated. Bring the simple syrup to a simmer, then add the gelatin and whisk until melted together. Remove from the heat and stir in the brandy. Pour the brandy layer over the maple cream layer in the cake pan. Refrigerate until set, another 45 minutes.
• Using the plastic wrap as handles, carefully lift the layered gelatin from the cake pan. Slice into 1-inch squares. Fill a large saucepan with about 3 inches of water and bring to a boil. Fit a large glass or metal mixing bowl into the pot, making sure that the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Place the chocolate in the bowl and, using a heat resistant spatula, stir as the chocolate melts. Once fully melted, stir until a candy thermometer inserted in the chocolate reads 120 degrees F. Then pour the chocolate onto a clean, cool surface and push it back and forth with a spatula or bench scraper. You're looking to push it around to cool it down to 82 degrees F. This is tempering the chocolate. Transfer the chocolate to a clean bowl. Use a fork to dip the gelatin squares into the chocolate, tapping a bit to remove excess chocolate. Then place the squares chocolate-side up on a sheet pan fitted with a cooling rack. Repeat for the remaining gelatin squares. Garnish with the candied pecans while the chocolate is still hot so they stick to the candies.

MAPLE CREAM BONBONS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar and maple flavoring until smooth. Stir in walnuts. Shape into 1-in. balls; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Freeze until firm. , In a microwave , melt chips; stir until smooth. Dip balls in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until set. Store in the refrigerator.

MAPLE CANDY BALLS

Steps:

• In large bowl, mix together sweetened condensed milk, butter, maple extract and nuts.
• Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar.
• Roll into 1-inch balls.
• Keep refrigerated until ready to dip.
• In heavy saucepan or double broiler, over low heat, melt chocolate.
• Dip balls into chocolate.
• Place on wax paper lined baking sheet until set.
• Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.
• Note: Candy mixture can be chilled in refrigerator up to 2 days before rolling into balls.

MAPLE CREAM CANDY

Steps:

• Lightly oil a 9- by 9-inch square pan, or a baking sheet.
• In a small heavy-duty saucepan (about 2 quarts) mix together the maple syrup, sugar, cream, and corn syrup.
• Fit a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and heat until the temperature reaches 236 degrees, tilting the pan to submerge the bulb, if necessary, to gauge the correct temperature.
• Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the mixture into the metal bowl of a standing electric mixer.
• Submerge the thermometer in the candy mixture until it has cooled to 110 degrees, which will take a while.
• (tip: you can put the bottom of the bowl in ice water to speed up the process; but don’t stir the mixture to cool it down).
• When the temperature is 110 degrees, add the vanilla and beat the mixture until it just begins to thicken and loose its gloss.
• Overmixing will make it grainy, so keep an eye on it.
• Stir in the nuts and spread the mixture into the square pan or onto the baking sheet, forming it into a 9-inch square with your (clean) hands.
• Allow to cool completely, then remove from the pan and cut into squares.
• To remove it from a square pan, run a sharp knife around the inside of the pan to loosen it, then cut it in half.
• Use a metal spatula to pry the candy loose a bit (it will be flexible).
• Invert the pan a shake it to coax the maple cream candy out.