Cinnamon Raisin Nut Toffee Food

KIDS CAN MAKE: HEALTHY CINNAMON-RAISIN SOFT PRETZELS

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups warm water (110 to 115 degrees F), butter pieces and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Sprinkle the yeast over the water, and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Whisk together the flour, raisins, 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon in a large bowl.
• Add half the flour mixture to the yeast, and mix on low speed until incorporated, scraping down the side of the bowl as needed. Add the remaining flour, increase the speed to medium and continue to beat until the dough gathers around the hook and pulls away from the side of the bowl. Once this happens, continue to beat until the dough is smooth, about 5 minutes more. Remove the dough ball, butter the inside of the bowl, return the dough ball to the bowl, cover and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Position 2 racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven, and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, and spray generously with cooking spray. Punch down the dough, and cut it in half. Divide each half into twelve even pieces, and cover with a towel.
• Roll each piece of dough into an 18-inch rope, working from the middle out. (It helps to hold the dough ends and slap the center of the length on the counter as you stretch and roll.) Make a U shape with one of the dough ropes, lift the ends and twist in the center twice; fold the ends over and down, and pinch to secure them to the bottom of the U to finish the pretzel shape. Transfer the pretzels to the prepared baking sheets. Cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let rest at room temperature until the pretzels rise slightly, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine 10 cups water and the baking soda in a large, wide pot, and bring to a low simmer (190 to 200 degrees F), whisking until the baking soda dissolves. Stir together the granulated sugar and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl.
• Cut the parchment paper with scissors around each pretzel. Leaving the pretzel on the paper (so it keeps its shape while transporting to the simmering water), remove the pretzels from the baking sheets. Reline each baking sheet with parchment, and spray generously with cooking spray.
• Put each pretzel, top-down, into the simmering water, and remove the paper. Simmer until the pretzels plump, about 1 minute. Carefully flip the pretzels, and continue to simmer 45 seconds more. Remove each with a slotted spoon, shake off excess liquid, place on the prepared baking sheets and sprinkle with some of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
• Bake the pretzels until they're a few shades darker and the bottoms are nicely browned, 16 to 18 minutes, rotating about halfway through. Brush with the melted butter.
• Store the pretzels at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days, or freeze them for up to 1 month (let thaw at room temperature).

CINNAMON-RAISIN BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease heavy large baking sheet. Using hand-held electric mixer, beat egg and sugar in medium bowl until very thick and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in brandy and vanilla. Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt into egg mixture and blend well. Mix in raisins and almonds. Spoon dough onto prepared sheet to form 10- to 11-inch strip. Using moistened fingertips, shape dough into neat 11-inch-long by 2 1/2-inch-wide log.
• Bake until log just begins to brown and feels firm to touch, about 20 minutes. Cool cookie log on sheet 15 minutes. Maintain oven temperature.
• Transfer cookie log to work surface. Using serrated knife, cut crosswise into 1/3-inch-wide slices. Arrange slices on same baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Turn slices over. Bake until beginning to color, about 8 minutes longer. Cool cookies completely on baking sheet (cookies will become very crisp). (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.)

CINNAMON TOFFEE BUTTER CRUNCH WITH MACADAMIA NUTS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saucepan.
• Add sugar, corn syrup, and water.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring now and then, to hard-crack stage (300 F on your candy thermometer)- watch carefully after temperature reaches 280°F.
• Quickly stir in coarsely chopped nuts; spread in well-greased 13x9 inch pan.
• Cool thoroughly.
• Turn out on waxed paper; spread top with the melted chocolate; sprinkle with half the finely chopped nuts.
• Cover with waxed paper; invert; spread with melted cinnamon chips.
• Sprinkle top with remaining nuts.
• (Unless you want to get creative and swirl 1/2 of each(melted chocolate and melted cinnamon) into each other!).
• If necessary, chill to firm.
• Break into pieces.

RAISIN CINNAMON BARS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine butter and brown sugar until crumbly. Add egg and mix well. Gradually beat in coffee.
• Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Add to the coffee mixture; mix well. Stir in raisins.
• Transfer to a 13x9x2-inch baking pan coated with nonstick spray. Bake at 350 degrees 18-20 minutes, until edges pull away from sides of pan and toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool 5 minutes.
• In a bowl, combine powdered sugar, vanilla and enough water to make it spreading consistency. Spread on warm bars.

CINNAMON RAISIN NUT TOFFEE

Steps:

• 1. Combine nuts, vanilla, cinnamon & cloves. Lightly butter a rimmed baking dish.
• 2. Heat both sugars in a saucepan over medium heat until it begins to melt, about 10 minutes. Add butter until a candy thermometer reads 300F, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in nut mixture and raisins. Pour into baking dish, let cool completely and break into pieces.

CINNAMON, RAISIN AND TOASTED NUT SPREAD

Steps:

• *NOTE: If you wish, you can coarsely chop the raisins before adding to the other ingredients. I preferred the texture better when the raisins were chopped.
• In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, maple syrup, lemon zest, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix until creamy and smooth.
• Stir in the raisins and nuts. Cover well and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Taste and adjust seasonings before serving.