Crushed Praline Food

PERFECTLY PECAN PRALINE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Praline:
• In a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, stir together constantly the sugar and water. Cook until boiling for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes or until the syrup is golden brown in color. It is important to remove the saucepan from the heat just as the sugar begins to darken to an amber color. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 cup pecans. Carefully pour the hot mixture onto a parchment lined sheet tray. Let cool until completely firm. Transfer to a plastic bag, crush with a rolling pin, and reserve for the cookie dough.
• Cookies:
• In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars together with a hand mixer. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla extract and beat until combined.
• Stir in the flour and baking soda and mix until incorporated. Fold in the reserved crushed praline until combined. Drop 1 tablespoon or a small ice cream scoop of the dough onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until the edges are slightly browned.
• While the cookies are baking, melt the chocolate in a double boiler and stir until smooth. When the cookies are done drizzle the white chocolate over the cookies and sprinkle with the chopped pecans.

WALNUT PRALINE (CANDIED WALNUTS)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F / 160C fan-forced. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
• Spread the walnuts out in a single layer on the prepared baking tray and bake for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Tip the sugar into a small-medium stainless steel saucepan and give it a shake to level it out. Slowly drizzle the water all around the sugar. Let it sit for a minute to soak.
• You can do this step while the sugar is boiling in the next step. Sprinkle the baking soda over the cooled walnuts.
• Turn the heat on very low and let the sugar come to a boil without touching or moving it. Let it continue boiling until it's amber in colour. Remove from heat.
• Grab the sides of the baking paper and tip the walnuts and baking soda into the toffee. Stir it through immediately.
• Place the baking paper back on the tray, then tip the praline out onto the tray. Spread out with your spoon and let it cool completely to set.

CRUSHED HAZELNUT PRALINE

Steps:

• Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Heat sugar, corn syrup, water, and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves. Continue to cook, without stirring, until deep amber. Remove from heat, stir in nuts, and spread evenly on baking sheet. Let cool completely on sheet on a wire rack.
• Break praline into medium pieces, and transfer to a resealable plastic bag. Using a rolling pin, crush into pea-size pieces.

CRUSHED PRALINE

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet dissolve the sugar and the cream of tartar in the water over moderate heat, stirring, bring the syrup to a boil, and cook it over moderate heat, without stirring, until it is a light caramel. Add the almonds and swirl the skillet until they are coated with the caramel. Pour the mixture onto butter foil and let it cool completely. Transfer the praline to a cutting board and chop it coarse. In a blender or food processor crush the praline pieces in batches. The crushed praline keeps in airtight containers for 3 weeks.

PRALINE CEREAL CRUNCH

Steps:

• In a 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan, combine cereal and pecans; set aside. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup and butter. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 2 to 2-1/2 minutes or until mixture comes to a boil, stirring occasionally. Stir in vanilla and baking soda., Pour over cereal mixture; stir to coat evenly. Bake at 250° for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Turn onto waxed paper to cool. Break into bite-size pieces.

PRALINE-CRUSTED CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Cheesecake: Combine cookie crumbs and butter.
• Press into bottom and up sides of a greased 10-inch springform pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for approx 8 minutes.
• Cool on a wire rack.
• Sprinkle coarsely crumbled pralines over crust.
• Beat cream cheese at medium speed with a heavy duty electric mixer until creamy.
• Gradually add 1 3/4 cups sugar, flour, and vanilla, beating until smooth.
• Add eggs and egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears.
• Stir in whipping cream and lemon rind.
• Pour in crust.
• Place on a foil-lined baking sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees on lower oven rack 10 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees, and bake 1 hour and 20 minutes or until almost set.
• Cool on wire rack 1 hour.
• Stir together sour cream and 1/3 cup sugar; spread over cheesecake.
• Bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes.
• Cool on wire rack.
• Cover and chill 8 hours.
• Remove sides of pan.
• Garnish, if desired with pralines.
• Pralines: Butter bottom of a heavy 3-quart saucepan.
• Cook brown sugar and next 3 ingredients in saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugars dissolve; stir in pecans.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes or until a candy thermometer registers 238 degrees (soft ball stage).
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in vanilla; let stand 3 minutes.
• Beat with a wooden spoon 3 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken.
• Working rapidly, drop by tablespoonfuls onto wax paper.
• Let stand until firm.