Janes Cheesy Pecan Cake Food

PECAN TOFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Tip 100g pecans into a processor and whizz until fine, then tip into a bowl. Put the dates into a small pan with enough water to cover, boil for 5 mins until very soft. Drain, discarding the liquid, then whizz in the processor until smooth. Leave to cool.
• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Butter and line the base of a 23cm cake tin. Beat the butter, sugar and spice together until lighter and creamy, then tip in the dates, ground pecans, eggs and a pinch of salt and beat briefly until smooth.
• Fold in the flour with a metal spoon, then spoon into the tin and level the top. Sprinkle the remaining nuts over the top (don't press them in), then bake for 40 mins or until risen and golden and a skewer comes out clean. Serve warm, with generous drizzles of maple syrup and scoops of Maple crunch ice cream (see 'goes well with').

THE BEST BUTTER PECAN CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare the pecans: Preheat the oven to 350°.
• Put the 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) of butter in a shallow baking pan with the chopped pecans and put the pan in the oven for 15- 20 minutes, stirring the pecans and melted butter every few minutes, until the fragrance is wonderfully toasty.
• Watch carefully near the end to avoid burning.
• Remove from pan and set aside.
• Grease and flour three 8 or 9-inch round layer cake pans.
• Prepare the cake: In the large bowl of an electric mixer, cream the 3/4 cup (1 1/2) sticks of butter.
• Beat in the 2 cups of sugar, creaming well.
• Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add the 2 teaspoons of vanilla to the milk.
• Beat the flour mixture into the batter in thirds, alternating with the milk mixture.
• Fold in 1 1/3 cups of the butter-toasted pecans into the cake batter.
• Divide batter equally into the prepared pans.
• Bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Cool and remove from pans.
• Prepare the frosting: Melt 1 1/2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan over low-medium heat and stir in the flour.
• Stir until all of the flour has been moistened or at least colored a little by the butter.
• Stir in the milk just a little at a time, stirring constantly and incorporating all the milk each time before adding more, working to incorporate all the flour and avoid lumps.
• Continue until all the milk is in and the mixture is thickened and smooth.
• Transfer to the small bowl of an electric mixer, and beat to remove any lumps you missed.
• Cool completely.
• When the flour mixture is cool, beat in the teaspoon of vanilla, then the softened butter.
• Add the 1 cup of sugar, and beat 2 minutes at medium speed, until the mixture is fluffy and no graininess from sugar remains.
• Fold in the fat-free Cool Whip and the remaining 2/3 cup of butter-toasted pecans.
• Fill and frost the top of the cake.

CHEESE PECAN COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix butter and cheese. Add garlic powder and cayenne pepper.
• Mix in flour. Roll into 2 logs approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper and chill for two hours in refrigerator.
• Slice 1/4 inch thick and place pecan half centered on top. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake in a 375 degree oven for 10 minutes. Watch carefully and do not let cookie get brown as the flavor will be damaged.
• Place on paper towels and while still warm sift powdered sugar over top of each cookie. Store in air tight container. Keeps well for two weeks and freezes well.

PECAN PIE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Press evenly into bottom and halfway up the side of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 6-8 minutes; set aside to cool.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 6 tablespoons butter. Add 1/2 cup light brown sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to bubble and sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in dark corn syrup, 1 1/2 cup chopped pecans, eggs, vanilla extract and salt. Pour into prepared crust; set aside.
• In a stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, 1 cup light brown sugar and flour until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until just combined. Add 1 cup heavy cream and stir until well combined. Pour over pecan pie filling and place springform pan on a baking sheet. Bake for 60-70 minutes until cake jiggles slightly when moved or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Turn off oven and leave cake in for 1 hour, then remove from oven and let cool completely.
• To Make the Pecan Topping:
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and cook until bubbling, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups toasted pecans, 1/3 cup heavy cream and pinch of salt. Let cool to room temperature then spoon over.
• cooled cheesecake. Slice to serve or store refrigerated.

MAPLE, APPLE & PECAN CAKE

Steps:

• To make the apple purée, cook 250g peeled and chopped cooking apples with a splash of water in a pan with a lid until soft for about 10 mins. Purée with a hand blender or in the small bowl of a food processor.
• Butter and line the base of a 20cm springform cake tin with parchment. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix the maple syrup and egg together and gradually add them. Sift the flour with the bicarb and baking powder. Add a good pinch of salt and the nuts. With a large metal spoon, fold the flour into the butter and sugar, alternating with the apple purée. Scrape the batter into the prepared tin. Bake for 40 mins, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool in the tin, then turn out onto a rack and peel off the baking parchment.
• To make the buttercream, beat the butter until soft, then add the icing sugar and beat until smooth. Gradually add the maple syrup, beating as you do so. Slice the cooled cake in half then, using a spatula, spread half of the icing over the first layer. Add the other layer on top, then top with the rest of the buttercream. Pulse the pecans in a food processor with the brown sugar (or finely chop and mix). You should end up with a coarse mixture. Scatter this over the top of the cake.

SOUTHERN PECAN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
• Mix butter, milk, coconut milk, and vanilla extract together in a large bowl. Combine flour, sugar, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Slowly mix into the milk mixture. Add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Divide batter between the prepared cake pans.
• Bake cakes in the preheated oven until tops are golden yellow and spring back when lightly pressed, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Prepare frosting while cakes are baking. Combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter, egg yolks, and flour in a saucepan. Heat over medium-low, stirring constantly, until mixture starts to thicken. Add vanilla and stir for 1 minute. Pour in pecans; cook and stir for 2 minutes more.
• Remove frosting from heat and let cool. Remove cakes from the oven and set aside to cool, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Place 1 cooled cake layer on a serving plate. Cover with some of the cooled frosting. Top with the second cake layer. Frost top and sides with remaining frosting.