Salted Caramel And Toasted Pecan Truffles Food

SALTED CARAMEL AND TOASTED PECAN TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant, about 1 minute. Set aside to cool.
• Heat sugar over medium-high heat in a heavy pan or Dutch oven, stirring constantly. When sugar begins to melt, stir and cook until sugar turns a rich golden color. If color is too light, caramel flavor will be too faint.
• Remove caramelized sugar from heat; stir in cream. Return to heat and reduce heat to low. Cook and stir until caramel is well-dissolved into the cream. Remove from heat and stir in salt, vanilla, and half of the chocolate. Stir until chocolate has melted. Stir in toasted pecan bits.
• Transfer mixture to a bowl and cool slightly. Cover and refrigerate until set, about an hour.
• Form/roll into 24 small balls, about 3/4- to 1-inch, and arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill 1 hour.
• Place the remaining chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave on High for about 15 seconds; stir; continue to microwave in 15-second intervals until chocolate is melted.
• Using a fork, roll the balls in the melted chocolate and place back on the parchment-lined bake sheet. Quickly sprinkle truffles with a few grains of Diamond Crystal® Kosher Salt or Coarse Sea Salt. Chill to set, about an hour.

CARAMEL PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°F.
• Pour pecan halves into greased 9x13" pan and place into oven for 5 minutes.
• Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir in brown sugar and corn syrup and cook until sugar is dissolved (this takes at least 3-4 minutes).
• Remove pecans from oven and pour into saucepan/caramel mixture.
• Stir to coat and pour back into 9x13" pan.
• Place back into oven for 45-60 minutes stirring every 15 minutes or so.
• Remove pan and spread pecans onto parchment paper or silpat (I've used wax paper but it sticks at times-if it does put in fridge and remove when cold).
• Separate pecans as they cool (2 forks work well).
• I often HALF this because I can't keep out of them!

SALTED CARAMEL CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Melting Chocolate Stovetop Method:.
• Heat cream in sauce pan on stove on low to medium heat. Set up another sauce pan with 1 inch of water in bottom. Empty chocolate chips into large heat proof bowl (glass or stainless steel) and place over sauce pan of water to gently melt chocolate to prevent burning. When cream is simmering, combine cream and chocolate into a large bowl and whisk until well incorporated. Pour mixture into shallow baking dish and cover with plastic wrap. Let chocolate set in refrigerator until firm, about 1 hour.
• Melting Chocolate Microwave Method:.
• Heat cream in sauce pan on stove on low to medium heat. Pour chocolate chips into microwave safe bowl and place in microwave. Run microwave at 50 percent power level for 40 seconds. Note that chocolate will burn if cooked on full strength. Take bowl out of microwave and stir chocolate well. Repeat until chocolate is just melted. When cream is simmering, combine cream and chocolate into large bowl and whisk until well incorporated. Pour mixture into shallow baking dish and cover with plastic wrap. Let chocolate set in refrigerator until firm, about 1 hour.
• How to Make Salted Caramel Truffles: While the chocolate sets, cut all caramel candies into quarters (4 pieces each) and dip in fine sea salt. Reserve salted caramels to stuff truffles.
• Using a small melon baller or two spoons, scoop chocolate into a ball and insert one piece of salted caramel into the middle of each truffle. Roll the truffle to create a ball-shape. Roll the truffle in the cocoa powder.
• Can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. Best served at room temperature.

SALTED CARAMEL AND TOASTED PECAN TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant, about 1 minute. Set aside to cool.
• Heat sugar over medium-high heat in a heavy pan or Dutch oven, stirring constantly. When sugar begins to melt, stir and cook until sugar turns a rich golden color. If color is too light, caramel flavor will be too faint.
• Remove caramelized sugar from heat; stir in cream. Return to heat and reduce heat to low. Cook and stir until caramel is well-dissolved into the cream. Remove from heat and stir in salt, vanilla, and half of the chocolate. Stir until chocolate has melted. Stir in toasted pecan bits.
• Transfer mixture to a bowl and cool slightly. Cover and refrigerate until set, about an hour.
• Form/roll into 24 small balls, about 3/4- to 1-inch, and arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill 1 hour.
• Place the remaining chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave on High for about 15 seconds; stir; continue to microwave in 15-second intervals until chocolate is melted.
• Using a fork, roll the balls in the melted chocolate and place back on the parchment-lined bake sheet. Quickly sprinkle truffles with a few grains of Diamond Crystal® Kosher Salt or Coarse Sea Salt. Chill to set, about an hour.