Pecan Squares With Dipped Chocolate Ganache Food

PECAN SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust, beat the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, until light, approximately 3 minutes. Add the eggs and the vanilla and mix well. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix the dry ingredients into the batter with the mixer on low speed until just combined. Press the dough evenly into an ungreased 18 by 12 by 1-inch baking sheet, making an edge around the outside. It will be very sticky; sprinkle the dough and your hands lightly with flour. Bake for 15 minutes, until the crust is set but not browned. Allow to cool.
• For the topping, combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, and zests in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat until the butter is melted, using a wooden spoon to stir. Raise the heat and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and pecans. Pour over the crust, trying not to get the filling between the crust and the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the filling is set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold. Cut into bars and serve.

PECAN SQUARES WITH DIPPED CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
• MAKING THE CRUST:.
• Beat the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, until light, approxiamtely, 3 minutes.
• Add the eggs and the vanilla, and mix well.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix the dry ingredients into the batter with the mixer on low speed until just combined.
• Press the dough evenly into an ungreased 18x12x1" baking sheet, making an edge around the outside. It will be very sticky; sprinkle the dough and your hands lightly with flour.
• Bake for 15 minutes, until the crust is set but not browned. Allow to cool.
• TOPPING:.
• Combine the butter, honey, brown sugar and zests in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat until the butter is melted, using a wooden spoon to stir.
• Raise the heat and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat. BE VERY CAREFUL - IT IS HOT CARAMEL!
• Stir in the heavy cream and the pecans. Pour over the crust, trying not to get the filling between the crust and the pan.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the filling is set.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold. Cut into small bars(as they are rich).
• MAKE GANACHE:.
• Cook the heavy cream, chocolate chips, and instant coffee(if using) in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until very smooth and warm, stirring occasionally.
• Dip only one end of pecan bars in the ganache, & place on white muffin cup liners; smoosh(for lack of a better word - this word is mine, not Ina Garten's) to open and place the dipped pecan bar in it. This way it can drip into the liner! Serve with or without liners.

CHOCOLATE-SALTED PEANUT CRUNCH SQUARES

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, maple sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisk in the warm melted cacao butter and vanilla until smooth. Gently stir in the cereal and peanuts; pour into the lined pan and, using an offset spatula, spread evenly. Scatter some peanuts over the top and let set overnight at room temperature or refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours. Cut into squares and serve.

CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 10x15-inch jelly roll pan.
• Stir flour, white sugar, and salt together in a large bowl. Cut in 2/3 cup margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
• While the crust is baking, prepare the filling by mixing corn syrup, brown sugar, eggs, margarine, vanilla extract, and salt together in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in pecans.
• Remove the crust from the oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Spread filling evenly over the chocolate chip covered crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until set, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

CHOCOLATE COVERED PECANS

Steps:

• Combine the chocolate chips and cream in a medium metal bowl, and set on top of a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Stir pecan halves into the chocolate until completely coated.
• Remove a few pecans at a time with a slotted spoon. Separate pecan halves and place onto a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate for 10 minutes to set.

MILK CHOCOLATE GANACHE FOR COCONUT PECAN CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare an ice bath; set aside. Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl; set aside. Bring cream to a boil in a small saucepan; pour over chocolate, swirling to cover completely. Let stand until chocolate has melted, about 5 minutes. Add corn syrup; whisk until smooth.
• Pour 1 cup ganache into a bowl set in ice bath; stir until thick and spreadable. Keep remaining ganache at room temperature, stirring every 15 minutes, until thick enough to coat back of spoon, 12 to 15 minutes. Use immediately.

PECAN SQUARES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 13x9-inch pan, and line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the two long sides. Butter the parchment. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, sugar and salt, and pulse to combine. Add the butter, and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Add the egg yolk and pulse to evenly distribute its moisture. The mixture should just hold together when you squeeze it in your hand. Add up to 2 tablespoons ice water, if necessary, but don't let the mixture get too wet: It should still be somewhat sandy.
• Tip the crumbs out into the prepared pan. Use your fingers or the flat bottom of a measuring cup to press the crumbs up the sides about 1/4 inch to create a border. Press the remaining crumbs down to an even thickness. Bake the crust until light golden brown and set, about 40 minutes. Transfer the pan to a rack while assembling the topping. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees.
• In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, honey and salt and bring to a strong simmer over medium heat, whisking ingredients together once the butter has melted. Cook the mixture, stirring frequently, for 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the heavy cream and vanilla extract. Stir in the nuts and combine well. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and spread it evenly, keeping it within the border as best as you can.
• Bake the bars until the caramel is thickened and just set, about 20 to 25 minutes (the caramel will continue to firm up when cooled). Transfer the pan to a rack to cool completely. Using the parchment paper, transfer to a cutting board to cut into equal pieces to serve.

COCONUT-PECAN CUPCAKES WITH CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. In a food processor, finely grind shredded coconut; transfer to a bowl. Process pecans with 2 tablespoons sugar until finely ground. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; stir in ground coconut and pecans.
• With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter, creamed coconut, and remaining sugar until pale and fluffy. Add extract and then eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of coconut milk, and beating until just combined after each.
• Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until golden and a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes (cupcakes will not be domed). Turn out cupcakes onto wire racks and let cool completely. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.
• To finish, dip tops of cupcakes in chocolate glaze, then turn over quickly and garnish with toasted coconut. Cupcakes are best eaten the day they are glazed; keep at room temperature until ready to serve.

CHOCOLATE PECAN BARS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in flour. Press into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown., Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt chocolate with corn syrup over low heat; stir until smooth. Remove from the heat. Stir in the sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add pecans. , Spread evenly over hot crust. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until firm around the edges. Cool on a wire rack. , In a microwave, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over bars.

INA GARTEN'S PECAN BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Crust:.
• Cream butter and sugar in large mixing bowl, until light, approximately 3 minutes.
• Add the eggs and the vanilla and mix well.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Mix the dry ingredients into the batter with the mixer on low speed until just combined.
• Press the dough evenly into an ungreased 18 by 12 by 1-inch baking sheet, making an edge around the outside. It will be very sticky; sprinkle the dough and your hands lightly with flour.
• Bake for 15 minutes, until the crust is set but not browned. Allow to cool.
• Topping:.
• Combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, and zests in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat until the butter is melted, using a wooden spoon to stir. Raise the heat and boil for 3 minutes.
• Remove from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and pecans.
• Pour over the crust, trying not to get the filling between the crust and the pan.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the filling is set.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold. Cut into bars and serve.