Nutty Caramels Food

NUTTY CARAMEL CHIP BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Add flour; mix well. Press onto bottom of 15x10x1-inch pan. Bake 15 min.
• Meanwhile, cook caramels and water in saucepan on low heat 5 to 7 min. or until caramels are completely melted, stirring constantly. Gradually add to eggs in medium bowl, stirring constantly with whisk until well blended. Stir in nuts; pour over crust. Sprinkle with marshmallows and chocolate morsels.
• Bake 8 to 10 min. or until marshmallows are lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

CARAMEL-NUT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Chop the nuts fairly finely and mix with the sugar, cayenne and lemon zest.
• Roll a caramel in your hand until round, then roll in the nut mixture, pressing to coat. Set aside and repeat with the remaining caramels.

NUTTY CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Pour the sugar into the center of a deep saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer. Carefully pour the water around the walls of the pan, trying not to splash any sugar onto the walls. Do not stir; gently draw your finger twice through the center of the sugar, making a cross, to moisten it. Over high heat, bring to a full boil and cook without stirring until golden caramel, about 10 to 15 minutes, swirling the mixture occasionally to even out the color.
• Turn off the heat and stir in the butter. Add the popcorn, pecans, and cashews. Pour onto a silicone baking mat on the counter, or a marble surface. Let the mixture cool a few minutes; then start breaking it up into clusters, working quickly so it doesn't harden and you don't burn yourself. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
• Note: I use Black Diamond Popcorn with its petit size "hulless" kernel. To popcorn properly, place the kernels in a heavy-bottomed large pot and cover then with oil. Put the lid on and cook on high until you hear the first pop. Immediately take it off the heat and let it sit 1 minute. Then return it to the heat and finish popping, shaking the pan the whole time. I don't know why this is better but this is what my dad does and his popcorn was always the best.

NUTTY CARAMEL MARSHMALLOW POPS

Steps:

• Microwave caramels, milk and butter in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until caramels are completely melted and sauce is well blended, stirring after each minute.
• Insert lollipop stick into 1 marshmallow; dip in caramel sauce, then in nuts. Place on waxed-paper covered baking sheet.
• Repeat with remaining marshmallows, sauce and nuts. Let stand 20 min. or until caramel coating is firm.

NUTTY CHOCOLATE CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl combine 2 Cups flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt Add butter, stir until moistened.
• Reserve 1 Cup of crumb mixture for topping.
• Press remaining mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 13 x 9 baking pan.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly brown.
• Remove pan from oven, sprinkle with chocolate morsels and walnuts.
• In a small bowl combine remaining 1/3 Cup flour and caramel topping.
• Drizzle over crust.
• Sprinkle evenly with reserved crumb mixture.
• Bake for 20- 25 minutes or until lightly brown.
• Cool in pan.
• Cut into bars.

PEANUTTY CARAMEL APPLES

Steps:

• Wash apples, then dry completely. (Note: In order for the caramel sauce to stick to the apples, the apples need to be well chilled before washing, drying and dipping in the caramel sauce.)
• Insert wooden pop stick into stem end of each apple. Microwave caramels and milk in large glass microwaveable measuring cup on HIGH 2 to 2-1/2 min. or until caramels are completely melted and mixture is well blended when stirred.
• Cover large plate with parchment; spray with cooking spray. Place nuts in bowl. Dip apples, 1 at a time, into caramel sauce, turning to evenly coat each apple. Hold dipped apple over bowl to let excess caramel drip back into bowl. Dip apples in nuts; place on prepared plate.
• Refrigerate 1 hour or until caramel is firm. Remove apples from refrigerator 15 min. before serving. (Note: Caramel apples can be refrigerated up to 2 days before serving.)