Festive Nut Bowl Food

FESTIVE NUT CAKE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 325°. Grease and flour a 10-in. tube pan., In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition., Add cream of tartar to egg whites; with clean beaters, beat on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter with almonds, cashews, pecans and walnuts., Transfer to prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 60-65 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely., For glaze, in a small bowl, mix confectioners' sugar and enough milk to reach desired consistency. Drizzle over cake and, if desired, sprinkle with additional nuts.

FESTIVE NUTS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°:F. Combine the sugar, spices and salt in a bowl; reserve. In a separate bowl, toss the nuts with the egg white; then toss nuts well with the sugar-spice mixture.
• 2. Spread the nuts out on a baking sheet, separating them as much as possible. Bake for 15 minutes. Using a metal spatula, scrape up the nuts and break them apart; return to the oven for 5 minutes more to dry them thoroughly. Let cool completely at room temperature. Before serving, mix in the dried cherries.

FRUIT AND NUT FESTIVE BARS

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese, butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add flour and baking soda; mix well. Refrigerate 1 hour or until chilled.
• Heat oven to 325°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Spray with cooking spray. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 15x11-inch rectangle; press onto bottom and 1 inch up sides of prepared pan. Prick bottom of crust in several places with fork. Bake 10 min.
• Mix sweetened condensed milk and eggs until blended; pour into crust. Top with remaining ingredients.
• Bake 20 min. or until center is almost set. Remove from oven; cool completely. Use foil handles to remove dessert from pan before cutting into bars.