Chocolate Pecan Dreams Food

CARAMEL-PECAN DREAM BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat cake mix, butter and egg until crumbly. Press onto the bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan., In a small bowl, beat milk, egg and vanilla until combined. Stir in pecans and toffee bits. Pour over crust., Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

CARAMEL PECAN DREAM BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease 13x9 inch pan.
• In large bowl, combine cake mix, margarine and egg.
• Mix at highest speed until crumbly.
• Press into prepared pan.
• In small bowl, beat milk, egg and vanilla until blended.
• Stir in pecans and toffee bits chips.
• Pour over base in pan; spread to cover.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until light and golden brown.
• Center may appear loose but will set upon cooling.
• Allow bars to cool completely before cutting.

PECAN DREAMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Combine butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, flour, pecans and water. You might have to add a little extra water if mixture is too dry.
• After all ingredients are mixed, roll into small balls.
• Place balls on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake for 30 to 45 minutes.
• After cookies come out of oven, cover with powdered sugar; set aside.
• Cool completely.
• When cooled dust them with more powdered sugar.

CHOCOLATE PECAN DREAMS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks, milk and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. , Roll into 1-1/2-in. balls. Beat egg whites until foamy. Dip each ball halfway into egg whites, then in pecans. Place pecan side up 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Flatten slightly with a glass dipped in sugar. , Bake at 350° for 12-14 minutes or until firm. Carefully remove to wire racks to cool.

DARK CHOCOLATE PECAN TORTE

Steps:

• Remove the side from an 8" springform pan.
• Line the bottom of the pan with waxed paper, extending the paper over the bottom edge.
• Attach side to bottom of the springform pan, making sure paper is secured to the pan.
• Trim paper to just beyond edge of pan.
• Grease paper and 1 inch up sides of pan with shortening or butter; set aside (or, grease the bottom of a 9x1 1/2" round baking pan; line bottom of pan with waxed paper. Grease the paper and side of pan. Set aside).
• Place the 1 cup of chocolate pieces and the 1/3 cup butter in a large microwave-safe bowl.
• Microwave on 100 percent power (high) for 1 minute to 1 minute and 15 seconds or until chocolate is smooth when stirred; cool slightly.
• Add granulated sugar and the 1 1/2 tsp vanilla to melted chocolate mixture.
• Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until well mixed.
• Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Beat in flour and water on low speed, just until combined.
• Stir in the 3/4 cup pecans.
• Thoroughly wash beaters.
• In a bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt with electric mixer on high speed just until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight).
• Stir a small amount of the beaten egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture to lighten the batter.
• Carefully fold the remaining egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture.
• Pour batter into prepared pan.
• If using the springform pan, place it in a shallow baking pan on the oven rack.
• If using the 9" baking pan, place it directly on the oven rack.
• Bake cake in a 350°F oven about 45 minutes for the springform pan or about 35 minutes for the 9" pan or until the top is evenly puffed.
• Torte will not test done in center.
• Top will have a sugary crust that will crack.
• Remove springform pan from baking pan.
• Cool cake in pan on wire rack.
• Loosen edge of cake from pan.
• Remove side of pan.
• Invert onto serving plate.
• Remove pan bottom.
• Peel off paper.
• If using 9" pan, cool cake in pan on wire rack for 30 minutes; loosen side of cake and invert onto plate.
• Peel off paper.
• Cool.
• Spoon Chocolate Glaze over cake, spreading to cover top and allowing glaze to drip over sides.
• If desired, sprinkle top with chopped pecans.
• Cover; refrigerate about 30 minutes or until glaze is set.
• Chocolate Glaze.
• In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter and 2 tablespoons water.
• Microwave on 100 percent (high) about 45 seconds.
• Add 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar and 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; beat until smooth.
• If necessary, add hot water, 1 teaspoon at a time to make a glaze consistency.
• Notes:.
• Because the torte has very little flour and lots of sugar, the top will puff up during baking and crack.
• Don't worry about the cracks.
• Before glazing, invert the cake so the smooth bottom becomes the top.
• My cake did not crack on top.
• Use a large spoon to spread the glaze on the torte, letting some of the glaze spill oven the side.
• For a fancier dessert, use a spatula to carefully smooth the glaze around the sides of the torte and over the top.

PAULA DEEN'S PECAN DREAMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Lightly grease a 9-inch square pan.
• Stir together confectioners' sugar and flour in a bowl.
• Using a pastry cutter or fork, cut cream cheese and butter into flour mixture until crumbly.
• Press mixture into prepared pan, distributing evenly.
• Pour nuts over mixture and press into dough.
• Bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cool completely.
• For topping, whip cream and granulated sugar together with a hand-held electric mixer until stiff; fold in almond toffee bits.
• Spread over cake.
• Cut into squares.
• Store in refrigerator.

CHERRY PECAN DREAMS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and orange zest. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Fold in the chips, cherries and pecans. , Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.

CARAMEL-PECAN CHOCOLATE DESSERT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (if using dark or nonstick pan, heat oven to 325°). Grease bottom and side of 10-inch springform pan with shortening. In medium bowl, stir brownie mix, water, oil and 2 eggs until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread in pan.
• Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until puffed in center and toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat 1/2 cup whipping cream and the caramels over medium heat, stirring frequently, until caramels are melted. Stir small amount of the hot mixture into beaten egg, then stir egg back into mixture in saucepan. Cook over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Stir in pecans. Spread over brownie. Refrigerate uncovered at least 3 hours until chilled.
• Run metal spatula around side of pan to loosen dessert; remove side of pan. Transfer dessert on pan base to serving plate. In chilled small bowl, beat 3/4 cup whipping cream and the powdered sugar with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Spoon whipped cream in 12 dollops around edge of dessert. Cut into wedges to serve. Store covered in refrigerator.