Salted Caramel Nut Cups Food

SALTED CARAMEL NUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine the nuts on a sheet pan, spread them out, and roast them for 7 minutes, until they become fragrant. Set aside to cool.
• After the nuts are cooled, place the sugar and 1/4 cup of water in a medium (10-inch) saute pan and mix with a fork until all of the sugar is moistened. Cook over medium-high heat until the sugar melts -- from this point on, don't stir the caramel, swirl the pan! Don't worry -- the mixture may look as though it's crystallizing. Continue to cook for 5 to 10 minutes, until the mixture becomes a clear golden brown, swirling the pan constantly at the end. (Careful -- the caramel is very hot!) Off the heat, quickly add the vanilla (it will bubble up!) and swirl the pan to combine. Working quickly (the caramel will continue to cook in the pan), add the nuts and the kosher salt and toss with 2 large spoons until the nuts are completely coated.
• Pour the nuts and any extra caramel in the pan onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Spread the nuts out in one layer, pulling them apart with two forks. Sprinkle with the fleur de sel and set aside to cool. When they're completely cooled, carefully break the nuts into large clusters with your hands, trying not to break the nuts too much.

SALTED CARAMEL PEANUT BUTTER CUPS

Steps:

• For the peanut butter salted caramel: Heat the sugar and 1 1/2 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the sugar melts and the mixture reaches a deep amber color, about 2 minutes. Avoid stirring the mixture to prevent it from crystallizing.
• Remove the pan from the heat and immediately whisk in the cream, milk and salt. The mixture will bubble up violently. Once it has settled, add the peanut butter and whisk to combine. Pour the caramel into a glass jar and allow it to cool for at least 1 hour, by which point it should be thick and cool to the touch. The caramel can also be made the day before.
• For the chocolate coating: In a double boiler over medium heat, melt the chocolate and butter together.
• Place 10 mini cupcake liners into a mini cupcake tin. Pour roughly 3/4 teaspoon of the melted chocolate into the bottom of each cupcake liner and spread it along the sides with a teaspoon so that it coats the entire liner. Place them in the fridge for 5 minutes.
• Place 1/2 teaspoon of the cooled caramel into each chocolate liner. Use your finger to slightly flatten the caramel, then pour the melted chocolate over the top, filling the liners to the top. Decorate the tops with crushed peanuts or sea salt flakes if you wish! Put the peanut butter cups back in the fridge for 10 minutes, then serve immediately.

SALTED CARAMEL & NUT CUPS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat butter, cream cheese and sugar until blended. Gradually beat in flour. Refrigerate, covered, 30 minutes or until firm., Preheat oven to 350°. Shape level tablespoons of dough into balls; press evenly onto bottoms and up the sides of greased mini-muffin cups., In a small bowl, whisk egg, caramel topping and allspice until blended. Stir in nuts. Place about 2 teaspoons mixture in each cup., Bake 20-22 minutes or until edges are golden and filling is set. Immediately sprinkle tops with salt. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. If desired, serve with whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL NUT BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides; spray with cooking spray. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt; beat on low speed until well blended. Press onto bottom of prepared pan.
• Bake 15 min. or until edges of crust are golden brown; sprinkle with chocolate. Cover. Let stand 5 min. or until chocolate is melted; spread to evenly cover crust with chocolate. Refrigerate 15 min. or until chocolate layer is firm.
• Microwave caramels and cream in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until caramels begin to melt; stir until caramels are completely melted and mixture is well blended. Gently spread caramel sauce over chocolate layer. Sprinkle with nuts; press nuts into caramel layer with back of spoon to secure. Cool completely. Use ends of foil to remove dessert from pan before cutting into bars.

SALTED CARAMEL NUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the nuts on a sheet pan, spread them out and roast them for 7 minutes, until they become fragrant. Set aside to cool.
• After the nuts are cooled, place the sugar and 1/4 cup of water in a medium (10-inch) saute pan and mix with a fork until all of the sugar is moistened. Cook over medium-high heat until the sugar melts; from this point on, don¿t stir the caramel, swirl the pan! Don¿t worry, the mixture may look as though it¿s crystallizing. Continue to cook for 5 to 10 minutes, until the mixture becomes a clear golden brown, swirling the pan constantly at the end. (Careful, the caramel is very hot!) Off the heat, quickly add the vanilla (it will bubble up!) and swirl the pan to combine. Working quickly (the caramel will continue to cook in the pan), add the nuts and the kosher salt and toss with 2 large spoons until the nuts are completely coated.
• Pour the nuts and any extra caramel in the pan onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Spread the nuts out in one layer, pulling them apart with two forks. Sprinkle with the fleur de sel and set aside to cool. When they¿re completely cooled, carefully break the nuts into large clusters with your hands, trying not to break the nuts too much.

SALTED CARAMEL PEANUT BARS

Steps:

• Butter a 9 1/2-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet or quarter sheet pan and line it with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the 2 long sides. Then butter the parchment.
• Whisk the flour, cornstarch, kosher salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat to combine, scraping down the sides as needed. Slowly add the flour mixture and beat on low until the dough is just combined; do not overwork.
• Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet, spreading it out as evenly as possible with a silicone spatula. Cover with plastic wrap, then use your hands to press and flatten the dough into a smooth even layer. Pull back the plastic wrap and use a fork to prick the dough all over. Cover again and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.
• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• Uncover the dough and bake, rotating the baking sheet from front to back halfway through, until golden, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Combine the caramels and cream in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour the mixture over the shortbread and spread it evenly. Immediately sprinkle with the peanuts and a large pinch of flaky salt. Gently push down on the topping to make sure it sticks to the caramel. Let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Use the parchment overhang to gently lift the shortbread and slide it onto a cutting board. Remove the parchment and cut into 24 squares. Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

SALTED CARAMEL CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a 12-hole cake tin with paper cases.
• Beat the butter and sugar together with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla extract. Briefly mix in the flour until just combined, and stir in the milk until the batter just falls off the beaters.
• Divide the mixture between the cases, leaving about 2 tbsp batter in the bowl. Add a pinch of salt to the caramel sauce if it's not salted caramel, then add ½ tsp to the tops of each cupcake. Use a teaspoon to cover the caramel sauce with the remaining batter. Bake for 15-20 mins until springy and golden. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, make the icing. Beat the butter and half of the icing sugar together, then tip in the remaining icing sugar and whisk vigorously until pale and fluffy. Stir in half of the caramel sauce, then spoon the mixture into a piping bag with a round or star nozzle.
• Pipe swirls of icing on top of the cooled cupcakes. Stir the remaining caramel sauce with a pinch of salt, if unsalted, then use to drizzle over the icing. Sprinkle over a small pinch of sea salt over each, if you like.

SALTED CARAMEL COOKIE CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, combine cookie mix and flour. Beat in butter and egg until blended. Shape dough into 1-1/4-in. balls; press onto bottom and up sides of greased mini-muffin cups., In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, chocolate chips and confectioners' sugar. Place a rounded teaspoon of filling in each cup. Press one caramel into the filling in each cup. Bake until edges are golden brown and caramel is melted, 9-11 minutes. Sprinkle with sea salt; top with a pecan half. Cool completely in pan on wire racks.

CARAMEL TASSIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle. , Roll dough into 1-in. balls; press onto the bottom and up the sides of ungreased miniature muffin cups. Prick bottoms with a fork. Bake at 375° for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks., In a large heavy saucepan over low heat, melt caramels with milk. Remove from the heat; cool slightly. Transfer to a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag; cut a small hole in a corner of the bag. Pipe filling into pastry cups. Cool to room temperature., For frosting, in a small bowl, beat shortening and butter until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and milk until fluffy. Pipe onto filling. Store in the refrigerator.

CARAMEL CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine the cream cheese, butter or margarine and flour. Mix to form a dough. Pinch off 48 equal pieces and press into mini tassie pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15 minutes or until lightly brown. Cool slightly. Be careful taking out of pans, they break easily.
• In the microwave on medium high heat. Melt the caramels and 1/2 cup evaporated milk. Stir until creamy. Pour into melted caramel into shells and top with frosting.
• To Make Frosting: Beat the sugar, 1/3 cup evaporated milk, shortening and vanilla until light and creamy.