Miss Amies Nut Clusters Food

PEANUT BUTTER-CHOCOLATE CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and shortening in a large heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water). Stir until melted and smooth, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan and add the cereal and peanuts. Stir with a rubber spatula until evenly coated.
• Spoon the cereal mixture into clusters (about 2 tablespoons each) onto the prepared baking sheet; sprinkle with nonpareils. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.

NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Prepare the caramel mou: Place the corn syrup, sugar and just enough water to melt the sugar into a saucepan and place on high heat. Cook until the sugar is very dark brown and begins to burn. You will see white smoke. Remove from the heat and add the 1-ounce of water. Allow this to cool slightly.
• Place the roasted nuts on a silpat baking mat lined baking sheet.
• Place the butter and cocoa butter in a large heat-proof mixing bowl.
• Prepare the caramel: Place the sugar, corn syrup, Caramel Mou, cream, vanilla bean, butter, salt, and lemon juice in a saucepan placed over high heat. Insert a candy thermometer and cook to 250 degrees F (121 degrees C). Remove from the heat and pour over the butter and cocoa butter. Let cool for 5 minutes. Spoon the caramel over the nuts to make the clusters.
• Place the bittersweet chocolate in a paper cornet or small piping bag and drizzle chocolate over the nut cluster. Serve.
• Jacques' tip: To make a more kid friendly recipe, use store bought caramel squares. Unwrap them and place them on top of the nuts. Put in a warm oven until the caramel melts.

NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Roast the nuts in a 350 degree oven until aromatic and lightly browned.
• Depending on the nut's it could be 5-12 mins Melt the chocolate with the oil and coffee in a double boiler over low heat.
• The water should not touch the pan and shouldn't be over 160 degrees f.
• Remove the chocolate as it starts to melt and stir, the ambient heat should be enough to finsih melting it.
• If not return to heat for a couple minutes.
• This can be done in a microwave if you stop it every 15 seconds to stir.
• Stir chocolate until it's, add nuts, drop onto sheets of wax paper with a heaping measuring teaspoon.
• Let cure, will take 1-4 hours depending on heat and humidity.
• Note, you may have too much chocolate depending on the nuts you use.
• This amount worked well for pecans and walnuts, but was a bit too much for almonds and cashews.
• Store in an airtight container for weeks.

CRUNCHY NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Line 4 miniature muffin pans with candy cups; set them aside. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the coconut and nuts on separate cookie sheets. Bake each until golden brown, about 9 minutes for the nuts and 10 for the coconut, stirring every few minutes to keep them from burning. Let them cool.
• Combine the toasted coconut and nuts in a medium-size bowl. Melt the chocolate chips -- white or semisweet -- in the microwave according to the package directions. Add the melted chocolate to the coconut mixture; stir well. Drop the mixture by heaping teaspoonfuls into the candy cups. Chill until set, about 45 minutes.
• Melt the remaining chocolate according to the package directions. Pour the contents into a ziplock bag. Snip off a small corner of the bag, then drizzle the chocolate over the clusters. Chill until the glaze is set, about 15 minutes. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Line 4 miniature muffin pans with candy cups; set them aside. (Or you can skip the paper candy cups and just drop these by the spoonful onto wax paper lined cookie sheets.).
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the coconut and nuts on separate cookie sheets.
• Bake each until golden brown, about 9 minutes for the nuts and 10 for the coconut, stirring every few minutes to keep them from burning. Let them cool.
• Combine the toasted coconut and nuts in a medium-size bowl. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave according to the package directions.
• Add the melted chocolate to the coconut mixture; stir well. Drop the mixture by heaping teaspoonfuls into the candy cups (or directly onto lined cookie sheets). Chill until set, about 45 minutes.
• If desired, melt additional chocolate according to the package directions.
• Pour the contents into a zipper bag. Snip off a small corner of the bag, then drizzle the chocolate over the clusters.
• Chill until drizzle is set, about 15 minutes.
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

MISS AMIES NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Melt chocolate in a pan over low heat. (you can also use a double boiler or microwave).
• Once chocolate has completely melted add nuts.
• Spoon out (heaping tablespoon amount) onto waxed paper.
• Let cool completely.
• May want to keep refrigerated.

MIXED NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips, milk and honey over low heat; stir until blended. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla; add nuts., Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm. Store in refrigerator.

BUTTERSCOTCH SQUARES

Steps:

• Sift dry ingredients.
• Melt butter and add brown sugar. Stir over low heat, until sugar has melted. Remove from heat and add dry ingredients. Add eggs and vanilla; stir in walnuts.
• Spread in an ungreased 9" x 13" baking pan and bake at 300° for 25-30 minutes.

CARAMELIZED FRUIT AND NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Combine sugars, milk, and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat till sugars dissolve and mixture boils. Continue cooking to soft ball stage (236 degrees F).
• Add butter or margarine and tablespoon vanilla. Let cool 10 minutes.
• Beat just till mixture begins to lose its gloss, 3 to minutes.
• Quickly stir in nuts and fruits till coated. Drop immediately from spoons onto buttered baking sheet.