Chocolate Maple Walnut Praline Food

MAPLE WALNUT PRALINES

Steps:

• Spread a sheet of waxed paper onto a flat working surface.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently. Slowly stream maple syrup into the saucepan while stirring with the butter; bring to a light simmer. Stir confectioners' sugar, cinnamon, and salt into syrup mixture with a whisk; cook and stir until the mixture is hot and the confectioners' sugar is completely dissolved into the liquid. Gently stir walnuts into the liquid just until coated and remove saucepan from heat. Let the mixture cool slightly.
• Drop walnut pieces by the spoonful onto the waxed paper and let each portion spread into a rounded mound; let cool completely until set, at least 30 minutes.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED MARZIPAN AND WALNUT PRALINES

Steps:

• Knead marzipan with 3/4 cup powdered sugar, chopped walnuts, rum, and maraschino liqueur on a clean work surface until smooth.
• Sprinkle remaining powdered sugar on a clean work surface. Roll out marzipan and cut out circles, squares, or rectangles.
• Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and set a wire rack on top.
• Place 3/4 of the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in remaining dark chocolate until smooth.
• Stick a toothpick or metal skewer into each praline and dip into the melted chocolate, letting excess drip off. Set onto the wire rack. Allow chocolate to set a little, then place 1 walnut half on top of the chocolate.
• Allow chocolate to harden completely. Store pralines in airtight containers.

PRALINE FEUILLETE

Steps:

• Combine the cocoa butter and milk chocolate together. Add the praline paste. Mix well. Stir in the paillete feuilletine. Spread evenly into a 9 by 13-inch pan lined with parchment paper. Chill until set. Remove from pan and into cut squares. Coat squares with chocolate. When chocolate is almost set, dust with cocoa powder.

CHOCOLATE WALNUT BARS

Steps:

• Line a 13 by 9 inch pan (at least 1-1/2 inches deep) with heavy-duty aluminum foil, shiny side up. Set aside.
• Adjust rack to center of oven; preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• For Crust: In small bowl, combine softened butter, sugar, and vanilla. By hand, cream until well-mixed and fluffy.
• Add sifted flour and stir to combine.
• Place crust mixture by small spoonfuls all over bottom of lined pan. Keeping your hands lightly floured, press crust mixture into an even layer with fingertips and/or knuckles (this mixture is a bit sticky, so re-flour your hands lightly as necessary).
• Place in preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes.
• While crust bakes, make sure chocolate chips are at hand.
• Start Walnut Layer by combining eggs, sugar, and vanilla in medium bowl. By hand, beat until well-mixed. Set aside.
• When Crust has baked for 10 minutes, remove from oven to cooling rack.
• Immediately sprinkle with chocolate chips as evenly as possible. Return to oven for 3 minutes to melt chocolate; remove to cooling rack.
• With back of spoon or offset spatula, spread chocolate evenly over crust. Allow to stand for about 3 minutes.
• During this standing period, add slightly cooled melted butter to egg mixture and beat in.
• Stir in walnuts until evenly distributed.
• After standing period, place walnut mixture by spoonfuls all over melted chocolate, distributing walnuts as evenly as possible.
• Return to oven. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.
• When done, top of walnut layer will be a light golden brown; edges will be darker. Remove to cooling rack.
• Cool completely before storing airtight.
• Before cutting, see Notes at beginning of recipe. To cut, use a large, sharp, straight- edged knife. Trim about 1/4 inch from each edge before cutting into bars.
• Store bars airtight at room temperature for up to several days, or freezer for longer storage.

MAPLE-WALNUT CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Generously grease 2 (8- or 9-inch) round pans. Make cake mix as directed on box using water, oil and eggs. Pour into pans.
• Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours.
• In large bowl, mix powdered sugar and butter with spoon or electric mixer on low speed until blended. Stir in 4 tablespoons maple syrup and the whipping cream. Beat until smooth and spreadable, adding additional 1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup if necessary for desired consistency. If frosting is too thick, beat in more maple syrup, a few drops at a time.
• In small food processor, place walnuts and 1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Cover; process until mixture forms a smooth paste. Stir in 1/3 cup of the frosting until well combined.
• On serving plate, place 1 cake layer top side down. Fill cake with walnut filling. Top with second layer top side up. Frost cake with frosting. Use a teaspoon to make S-shaped swirls on sides and top of cake. Top with chocolate leaves, chopped walnuts and a drizzle of maple syrup.

CHOCOLATE & HAZELNUT PRALINE TART

Steps:

• Make the pastry. Cream together the butter and sugar, then add flour and almonds. Bring everything together with the egg. If the pastry is very soft, chill for 20 mins. If not, roll out to fit a deepish 23cm fluted flan tin; if the pastry breaks, press scraps of pastry into the gaps, leaving a slight overhang. Chill for 20 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Line the case with baking parchment and baking beans, then bake for 10 mins. Remove beans and cook for another 10 mins until golden.
• Meanwhile, toast the nuts in a dry pan until starting to brown. Scatter over 4 tbsp of sugar, cook until it caramelises, then tip nuts onto a baking tray lined with parchment. Leave to cool, then roughly chop. Over a pan of barely simmering water, melt the chocolate, butter and alcohol together, then set aside to cool slightly. Over the same pan, beat the egg, yolks and remaining sugar until pale and fluffy. Take off the heat, then fold in the chocolate mix.
• When case is cooked, remove from oven and turn the heat down to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Scatter most of the hazelnuts over the base, then tip in the chocolate mix, pressing it down slightly. Cook the tart for 15-20 mins until the chocolate has almost set. Leave to cool, then serve scattered with the remaining nuts. Can be made up to 1 day ahead.

HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE PRALINES

Steps:

• Line 2 cookie sheets with wax paper.
• In a heavy 3 quart saucepan combine sugar,brown sugar,cocoa and light cream.
• Cook over medium heat,stirring constantly until mixture boils.
• Reduce heat to low,cook stirring occanionally to 234 degrees (soft ball stage).
• Remove from heat.
• Add butter and vanilla.
• DO NOT STIR.
• Cool at room temperature to 160 degrees.
• Add pecans,Beat with wooden spoon just until mixture begins to thicken (about 1-2 minutes) but is still glossy.
• Quickly drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet.
• Cool.
• Store covered.

WALNUT PRALINES

Steps:

• Combine sugars and milk in saucepan over medium heat. Stirring, with a wood spoon, do not scorch milk.
• Spray baking non-stick spray on cookie sheet or aluminium foil laid on top of thick towels.
• Once mixture boils, stir in butter, walnuts, spices and honey. Continue to heat, without stirring, until between 235 to 240 degrees F. (113 to 116 degrees C) Recommended you purchase a digital thermometer-great investment!
• Once temperature has been reached, remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes.
• Beat until thickened until liquid poured from wooden spoon starts to pour slowly.
• Immediately drop by one spoonfull onto sprayed cookie sheet or foil.
• Let cool and freeze in small bags of 3 to 4 per bag. THESE ARE SOO GOOD YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EAT JUST ONE!