Love Nibbles Valentines Caramel Pecan Clusters Food

PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Microwave chocolate in 8-inch glass baking dish uncovered on high power about 1 minute; stir. Microwave, stirring after 30 seconds, until melted, about 1 minute. Add pecans and stir to coat.
• Line baking sheet with waxed paper. Using soup spoons, drop pecans in 24 mounts on waxed paper. Let stand until hardened, refrigerating if necessary. Store in airtight container in refrigerator up to 3 weeks.

PECAN CARAMEL CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the caramels, water and butter. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 3 to 3-1/2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Stir in pecans. , Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Freeze for 15-20 minutes or until set., In a microwave-safe bowl, combine candy coatings. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 15 seconds; stir until smooth. Dip caramel clusters in coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Chill until firm.

CHOCOLATE PECAN CARAMEL CLUSTERS

Steps:

• For the caramel: Mix 2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup light corn syrup and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Cook, swirling the pan (do not stir), until the mixture is light amber and a candy thermometer registers 320 degrees, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat; slowly whisk in 1/2 cup heavy cream, then 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Return to low heat and whisk until smooth.
• Stir 1 1/3 cups chopped nuts into the warm caramel; cool until the mixture is thick enough to hold its shape. Drop spoonfuls onto an oiled parchment-lined baking sheet; let set. Top with melted chocolate and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.

PECAN CARMEL CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Place caramels, butter, and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth, about 3 minutes. Stir in pecans.
• Drop caramel pecan mixture by spoonfuls onto parchment paper. Place in freezer for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high, stirring every 15 seconds, until melted and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Dip each caramel cluster into chocolate using a fondue fork until coated; place on parchment paper to dry. Chill until firm, if necessary.

ROASTED PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a 15x10 inch jelly roll pan while oven preheats to 300 degrees. Spread the pecans in the pan, tossing to coat with the butter. Bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes, stirring twice.
• Melt the chocolate candy coating in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Cool for 2 minutes; add pecans, and stir until coated. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto wax paper. Cool. Peel from the wax paper and store in an airtight container.

CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• on a greased baking sheet, arrange pecans in 6 clusters of 5 pecans, each.
• place a caramel on each cluster.
• bake at 300 degrees for 4-5 minutes or until caramels are melted.
• top with a chocolate square.
• bake 1 minute longer or until chocolate is melted.
• spread the chocolate over caramel until smooth.
• remove clusters from pan to cool on a wire rack.

VEGAN PECAN CARAMEL CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Pit the dates by using a sharp knife to cut lengthwise. Pull open and flatten (kind of looks like a butterfly), removing pits and laying them out, sticky side up.
• Stick three pecans per date, arranging them like the head and feet of a turtle.
• Chop your dark chocolate into as small bits as possible, and melt in a heat-safe bowl on top of a pot over medium heat (or a double boiler if you have one), stirring constantly until mostly melted.
• Remove from heat and stir in the last few chunks of chocolate (this is my method of lazy tempering)
• Drizzle about 1 tsp of chocolate per cluster, to seal the inside of the dates (so they don't dry out) and securing the pecans. Let them set in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes, and enjoy!
• Keep stored in fridge in an airtight container.

LOVE NIBBLES (PECAN CLUSTERS)

Steps:

• 1. Butter two cookie sheets (do NOT try using wax paper--the caramel will stick to it). Combine caramels, butter and water; zap in the microwave (uncovered) on high power for about 3 minutes--STIRRING every 30-45 seconds. Add the pecans and stir. Drop from a spoon (use a knife to keep things neat) onto the BUTTERED baking sheets. Chill sheets for an hour or freeze for 15 minutes (caramel will be set). Coarsely chop both the dark chocolate and the almond bark/white candy coating. Melt chocolate and bark in the microwave, on high for about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds or so. Line cookie sheets with waxed paper. Dip pecan clusters in the chocolate; place clusters on waxed paper. Chill until firm.

LOVE NIBBLES * VALENTINE'S * CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Butter two cookie sheets (do NOT try using wax paper--the caramel will stick to it).
• Combine caramels, butter and water; zap in the microwave (uncovered) on high power for about 3 minutes--STIRRING every 30-45 seconds. Add the pecans and stir.
• Drop from a spoon (use a knife to keep things neat) onto the BUTTERED baking sheets.
• Chill sheets for an hour or freeze for 15 minutes (caramel will be set).
• Coarsely chop both the dark chocolate and the almond bark/white candy coating.
• Melt chocolate and bark in the microwave, on high for about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds or so.
• Line cookie sheets with waxed paper.
• Dip pecan clusters in the chocolate; place clusters on waxed paper. Chill until firm.

CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300 degrees F. Grease 2 large cookie sheets with Crisco, set aside.
• Pour cereal and pecans into a large bowl. Set aside.
• Place caramel bits and water in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. (if 2 minutes doesn't do the trick, microwave in 30-second increments until caramel bits are melted and can be stirred smooth.
• Pour caramel over cereal and pecans and stir gently to coat. Take care not to break the cereal.
• Spread onto one of the greased cookie sheets.
• Bake for 15 minutes. Stir and flip the cereal. Bake for another 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, place the other greased cookie sheet on top of the one you removed from the oven and flip it over. Let cool completely, then break apart into clusters.
• Store in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange pecans in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven (leave oven on); set aside 36 pecans on baking sheet. Finely chop remaining pecans (for about 1/4 cup); set aside.
• When pecans are cool enough to handle, make 12 clusters by arranging 2 pecans vertically, side by side, below 1 pecan placed horizontally. Gently flatten each caramel; place 1 on top of each cluster. Bake clusters 5 minutes. Remove from oven (leave oven on).
• Place 1 piece of chocolate on top of each cluster. Return to oven; bake until chocolate begins to melt, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from oven. With the back of a spoon, gently spread chocolate over caramel without completely covering it.
• Sprinkle clusters with reserved chopped pecans. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Bring to room temperature before serving.