Double Chocolate Caramel Tart Frosted Pistachios Rum Cream Food

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE RUM CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 325. Sift together the cake and pudding mixes.
• 2. In a bowl combine eggs, sour cream, oil, rum, vanilla, nutmeg, and coffee. Beat on low 1 minute.
• 3. Add cake and pudding mixes and beat on high for 2 minutes. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts.
• 4. Pour batter into a greased and floured bundt pan and bake for 50 minutes. Check for doneness and bake a little longer if needed, but do not over bake.
• 5. Let cool in pan 30 minutes. Remove from pan and allow to cool completely. Wrap cake to retain moisture.

CREAMY CARAMEL CUPS (WITH OR WITHOUT KAHLUA)

Steps:

• If you object to liqueur, the Kahlua can be omitted.
• By hand, mix the dough ingredients together.
• Make into small balls.
• Press into mini muffin cups and prick with a fork 4-5 times.
• Bake 350F for 12-15 minutes.
• Let cool and then remove from tins.
• Using a double boiler, melt the caramels.
• Add the evaporated milk and Kahlua, stirring well.
• Fill the tarts 1/2 full with the melted filling.
• Beat 1/2 cup margarine, 1/2 cup Crisco and 1/2 cup sugar until very smooth and fluffy.
• Add 1 small can evaporated milk and 1 T Kahula, or more to taste.
• Beat at least 10-15 minutes or until the consistancy of a light fluffy whipped topping.
• Using a pastry bag, or a strong plastic bag with the corner cut off, pipe the frosting on top of the cooled caramel filled cups.
• Sprinkle the tops with nuts or sprinkles.
• If I'm in a cookie baking frenzy, I make the dough cups one day and then fill and ice them another.
• I keep them in the freezer until it's time to put them on my trays.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL TARTS

Steps:

• Make the tart dough: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until combined, about 1 minute. Add egg yolk and vanilla, and beat until smooth. Sift in flour and cocoa powder, and beat on low speed until just combined. Scrape the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap, and form it into a disk; wrap well. Chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Between two sheets of lightly floured parchment paper, roll the tart dough into an 18-by-12-inch rectangle, 3/16 inch thick. Using a 2 3/4-inch round cutter, cut out 24 rounds of dough, and press them into 2 1/4-inch tart pans, trimming away any excess dough. Chill the tart shells in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
• Line each tart shell with a piece of parchment paper, and fill with raw rice or dried lentils. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the parchment paper and its contents, and bake until the pastry looks dry and set, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool. (The tart shells can be made up to 8 hours ahead.)
• Make the filling: Place 1/2 cup water in a large saucepan. Add sugar and corn syrup, and cook mixture over medium-high heat, swirling the pan occasionally, until it becomes a dark-amber caramel, about 10 minutes. Carefully whisk in butter, cream, creme fraiche, and a pinch of salt (the mixture will bubble up), whisking until smooth. (The caramel can be made up to 5 days ahead and refrigerated in a covered container.) Carefully transfer caramel to a glass measuring cup. Divide caramel among tart shells while still warm (or reheat caramel over low heat until it is pourable), and let stand until the caramel is set, at least 45 minutes.
• Make the ganache glaze: Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream to a boil. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate, and let stand for 2 minutes, then stir with a rubber spatula until smooth. Pour some of the glaze over each of the tarts while still warm. Let the glaze set at room temperature for at least 2 hours before serving.