Dark Chocolate Caramel Orange Candies Food

ORANGE SLICE CANDY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
• Mix together all ingredients except for powdered sugar.
• Place in a casserole dish into oven for 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven and add powdered sugar, mixing well.
• Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper to dry.
• Let cool for several hours.
• If candy remains sticky on bottom after cooling for a while, turn the candy over with a spatula and allow it to dry.
• Store in an airtight container.
• Cooking time does NOT include drying time so make this ahead of time!
• Servings and yield are approximate.

DEEP DARK CHOCOLATE CARAMELS

Steps:

• Spray an 11 3/4-by-16 1/4-inch baking pan with vegetable-oil spray. Set aside in a spot where it will not be moved. In a heavy 4-quart saucepan, combine 2 cups cream, corn syrup, sugar, and salt. Clip on candy thermometer. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, 15 to 20 minutes. Wash down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to remove any sugar crystals.
• Cook, stirring constantly, until temperature reaches 220 degrees, 6 to 8 minutes; watch so mixture doesn't boil over. Continue stirring, and add chocolate and butter; keep mixture boiling, and slowly add remaining 2 cups cream. Cook, still stirring, until temperature reaches 240 degrees (soft-ball stage), about 60 minutes, keeping mixture at a low boil.
• Without scraping pot, pour mixture into prepared pan. Let stand uncovered at room temperature for 24 hours without moving.
• To cut, spray a cutting board with vegetable-oil spray. Unmold caramel onto sprayed surface. Using a large knife, cut into 1-by-1 1/4-inch pieces or other shapes. Wrap each piece in cellophane or waxed paper.

ORANGE CHOCOLATE MELTAWAYS

Steps:

• Place chocolate chips in a bowl; set aside. In a saucepan, bring cream and orange zest to a gentle boil; immediately pour over chips. Let stand for 1 minute; whisk until smooth. Add extract. Cover and chill for 35 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken. , Beat mixture for 10-15 seconds or just until it lightens in color (do not overbeat). Spoon rounded teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Cover and chill for 5 minutes. , Gently shape into balls; roll half in nuts. In a microwave; melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip remaining balls in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Store in the refrigerator.

BEST EVER CARAMEL CANDY

Steps:

• Add soda to buttermilk in heavy iron skillet.
• Add corn syrup and sugar and mix thoroughly.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until a soft ball forms in water.
• Set aside to cool.
• Add pecans, vanilla, salt and butter.
• Drop by teaspoon on waxed paper.

SOFT CHOCOLATE CARAMELS

Steps:

• In a heavy-bottomed sauce pan, stir the sugar and corn syrup together until the sugar is completely moistened. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat and cook, without stirring, until it turns a very light caramel color, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and very slowly pour the cream into the hot sugar (be careful-it will bubble up) and stir to combine. Return the mixture to medium-low heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until a candy thermometer inserted in the pot reads 238 degrees F, about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and whisk in the chocolate and butter until smooth. Pour the mixture into a greased 8-by-8 inch square baking dish. Allow to cool completely (at least 2 hours) before cutting into 1-inch squares.
• Chocolate is tempered so that after it has been melted, it retains its gloss and hardens again without becoming chalky and white (that happens when the molecules of fat separate and form on top of the chocolate). There are a variety of ways to temper.
• One of the easiest ways to temper chocolate is to chop it into small pieces and then place it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time on high power until most of the chocolate is melted. Be very careful not to overheat it. (The temperature of dark chocolate should be between 88 and 90 degrees F, slightly warmer than your bottom lip. It will retain its shape even when mostly melted. White and milk chocolates melt at a temperature approximately 2 degrees F less because of the amount of lactose they contain.) Any remaining lumps will melt in the chocolate's residual heat. Use an immersion blender or whisk to break up the lumps. Usually, chocolate begins to set, or crystallize, along the side of the bowl. As it sets, mix those crystals into the melted chocolate to temper it. A glass bowl retains heat well and keeps the chocolate tempered longer.
• Another way to temper chocolate is called seeding. In this method, add small pieces of unmelted chocolate to melted chocolate. The amount of unmelted chocolate to be added depends on the temperature of the melted chocolate, but is usually 1/4 of the total amount. It is easiest to use an immersion blender for this, or a whisk.
• The classic way to temper chocolate is called tabliering. Two thirds of the melted chocolate is poured onto a marble or another cold work surface. The chocolate is spread out and worked with a spatula until its temperature is approximately 81 degrees F. At this stage, it is thick and begins to set. This tempered chocolate is then added to the remaining non-tempered chocolate and mixed thoroughly until the mass has a completely uniform temperature. If the temperature is still too high, part of the chocolate is worked further on the cold surface until the correct temperature is reached. This is a lot of work, requires a lot of room, and makes a big mess.
• A simple method of checking tempering, is to apply a small quantity of chocolate to a piece of paper or to the point of a knife. If the chocolate has been correctly tempered, it will harden evenly and show a good gloss within a few minutes.
• From Dessert Circus, Extraordinary Desserts You Can Make at Home, by Jacques Torres.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL CANDY

Steps:

• Combine the first three ingredients in a small saucepan; stir over low heat until melted and smooth.
• Spread onto the bottom of a lightly greased 13-in.x9-in.x2-in. pan
• Refrigerate until set.
• For filling, melt butter in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add sugar and milk.
• Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat; stir in the marshmallow creme, peanut butter, and vanilla.
• Add peanuts.
• Spread over the first layer.
• Refrigerate until set.
• Combine the caramels and cream in a saucepan; stir over low heat until melted and smooth.
• Spread over the filling.
• Refrigerate until set.
• In another saucepan, combine chips and peanut butter; stir over low heat until melted and smooth.
• Pour over caramel layer.
• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Cut into 1-in.squares.
• Store in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL ORANGES

Steps:

• Place candy coatings in separate microwave-safe bowls. Heat in a microwave until melted; stir until smooth. With a small new paint brush, brush candy coating in a thin layer on the underside of each leaf. Refrigerate until set, about 10 minutes., Apply a second layer of candy coating to leaves; refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or overnight. Gently peel leaves from coating., Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip ends of wooden pop sticks into chocolate and insert into oranges. Let stand until chocolate is set., Melt caramels and water in a microwave; stir until smooth. Dip oranges into caramel; turn to coat. Place on prepared pan and let stand until set., Remelt chocolate if necessary. Dip oranges into chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Attach leaves as desired. Return to pan; refrigerate until serving. Cut with a serrated knife.

DARK CHOCOLATE CARAMEL & ORANGE CANDIES

Steps:

• Spray the ice cube tray with cooking spray.
• Place 1/2 tsp of the chopped candied orange peel into the bottom of each tray.
• Melt dark chocolate candy melts and pour about 2 tablespoons into each tray. Tilt the entire tray in all directions to coat the sides. Place in freezer to set.
• Put one of the salted caramels in each tray, then cover with remaining melted dark chocolate. Place in refrigerator for about 1 hour until set.