Chocolate Praline Squares Food

CHOCOLATE-TOPPED PRALINES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and have a tablespoon-sized cookie scooper ready.
• Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, butter and baking soda to a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon occasionally, until the sugars are dissolved and the mixture begins to boil. Clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the pot and continue to cook until the mixture reaches between 235 to 240 degrees F. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the mixture to cool for 5 minutes. Add the pecans, vanilla and salt and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the candy begins to dull and the mixture starts to thicken, about 4 minutes. Working quickly, drop heaping tablespoon-sized mounds with the cookie scooper onto the prepared baking sheet (see Cook's Note). Cool completely until set and the pralines have reached room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Add the chocolate chips to a heat-resistant metal or glass bowl set over a pot of simmering water and stir until completely melted. Remove bowl from the heat. Using a spoon, add a dollop of chocolate on the top of each of the praline mounds and use the back of the spoon to spread slightly and create a swirl in the chocolate. Sprinkle with the flaked sea salt, if using. Let cool completely until set (see Cook's Note). Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator with wax paper between the layers of pralines.

PRALINE SQUARES

Steps:

• Melt shortning in saucepan over low heat.
• Remove from heat and mix in sugar egg and vanilla.
• Stir in remaining ingredients.
• Spread in greased 9 x 13-inch pan.
• Bake 25 minutes at 350°F.
• While warm, cut into squares.

CHOCOLATE PRALINE SQUARES

Steps:

• For crust, stir together flour and powdered sugar. Cut in the 3/4 cup butter until pieces are the size of small peas. Stir in the 1 1/2 cups pecans. Press into a lightly greased 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Bake in a 325 degree F oven 25 minutes or until light brown.
• For filling, in a medium saucepan combine light and dark corn syrups, brown sugar, and the 1/4 cup butter. Bring to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Beat eggs with an electric mixer on low speed until mixed. Continue beating, slowly adding hot mixture. Stir in 2 cups pecans, peel, and vanilla.
• Pour filling onto crust. Sprinkle with chocolate pieces. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until center is set. Cool on a wire rack; chill to store. To serve, cut into squares. If desired, serve with Orange Cream and additional finely shredded orange peel.
• Orange Cream: Combine 1 cup whipping cream, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 2 tablespoons dairy sour cream; beat until mixture starts to thicken. Add 1 tablespoon orange liqueur or 1/2 teaspoon orange extract, 1/2 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; beat on low speed just until soft peaks form (tips curl).

PRALINE CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 9-by-9-inch square pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
• In a medium bowl, combine the crumbs, granulated sugar and melted butter and press into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F and make the filling.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until fluffy, then add the brown sugar and flour. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla. Fold in the chopped pecans.
• Pour the batter into the crust and bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees F and bake until slightly browned on top, an additional 50 minutes. Allow to cool completely, about 20 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Cut into 9 bars before serving.

PRALINE-CHOCOLATE SNACK MIX

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly toast the pecans in a large saucepan over medium heat, about 5 minutes; transfer to a large bowl. Add the cereals and pretzels to the bowl and set aside.
• Wipe out the saucepan. Add 3 popcorn kernels and the vegetable oil and heat over medium heat until 1 kernel pops; add the remaining kernels, cover and cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the popping subsides. Remove from the heat and add to the cereal mixture; toss to combine.
• Combine the butter, molasses, corn syrup, heavy cream and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cook, stirring, until the mixture is thick and pulls away from the side of the pan, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Once the mixture stops bubbling, stir in the vanilla. Pour over the cereal-popcorn mixture, season with salt and toss with a rubber spatula to coat.
• Spread the snack mix on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the popcorn is crisp, about 15 minutes (the praline sauce will still be soft). Remove from the oven and use a flat metal spatula to flip the mix in large sections. Let cool completely. (The snack mix will harden as it cools.) Sprinkle with the confectioners' sugar and gently toss to coat. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

PRALINES

Steps:

• Place a large piece of parchment paper on a flat surface, preferably granite or wood.
• Put all the ingredients in a large pot and attach a candy thermometer to the side. You need to be sure the thermometer goes deep into the mixture. Turn the heat to medium high.
• Fill a bowl that's larger than the pot halfway with ice water and set it aside.
• Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon. When everything has melted together, start checking the temperature. When the thermometer reaches exactly 236 degrees F, remove the pot from the heat and stick it in the bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process. Stir for 45 seconds while the pot is in the ice bath to evenly cool the entire mixture.
• With a large spoon, start dropping puddles of the mixture onto the parchment. Make sure you're getting some pecans in every spoonful. If you feel like it, sprinkle just a bit of salt on top. Let them cool all the way. If you're in a humid environment, they might stay sticky, but put them in front of a fan and they should get dry.
• Store them carefully in a tin, and don't stack them very high-three layers max, separated by wax paper.
• Find this recipe and more in Duff Bakes: Think and Bake Like a Pro at Home ($27.50, William Morrow).

PRALINE CHOCOLATE DESSERT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine cookie crumbs and butter. Press onto bottom of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle with pecans., In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring butter and brown sugar to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour over pecans. Refrigerate 1-2 hours or until set., In a large bowl, beat filling ingredients until smooth. Spread over praline layer. Refrigerate 1-2 hours or until set., For ganache, place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Spread over filling. Refrigerate 1-2 hours or until set., Loosen sides of pan with a knife. Remove rim from pan. Sprinkle with pecans. Refrigerate leftovers. ,