Southern Pecan Puffs Food

PECAN PUFFS

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat egg whites and salt until soft peaks form. Gradually add brown sugar, beating until stiff peaks form, 5-8 minutes. Fold in vanilla and pecans. Drop by well-rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 225° for 50-55 minutes or until firm to the touch. Store in airtight container.

SOUTHERN PECAN CHEESE WAFERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat the butter and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce until smooth and creamy.
• Add 2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika, if you're using it. Beat well, scraping the sides.
• Add the cheddar cheese and beat well, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl.
• Cover the dough and chill well, at least 2 or 3 hours or up to 3 days.
• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place on the baking sheet 1 inch apart. Press the top of each ball with a fork (if the fork sticks, coat with flour).
• Place a pecan half on top of each wafer.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, until the edges are quite brown.
• Let cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store covered on the counter. Best served within 2 days.
• Re-heating: I made these a day in advance as Thanksgiving appetizers. They lose a bit of their crunch by day 2, so I spread them out on baking sheets and baked at 350 for about 5 minutes until they got crispy again. Worked great!

PECAN PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°.
• Put on some Christmas music.
• Chop pecan in a food processor or by knife.
• Beat butter until soft with a mixer. Add sugar, vanilla, and pecans. Carefully add flour and blend well.
• Coat hands with flour. Use a teaspoon scoop or a teaspoon and shape into cherry-size and place on a parchment-lined or greased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 300° 15-20 minutes.
• (These should be light in color. Do not brown!) While cookies are still quite warm, roll them in confectioner's sugar. When cool, roll in confectioner's sugar again.

BESS LONDON'S PECAN TASSIES

Steps:

• With an electric mixer, beat the 1/2 cup butter and the cream cheese until smooth. Add the flour and beat until fully combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 24-cup mini-muffin pan with cooking spray.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, egg, brown sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth. Set aside.
• Shape the chilled dough into 24 balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Press each ball into a cup of the muffin pan, spreading evenly and up the sides, then spoon 1 teaspoon of the pecans into each muffin cup. Fill each cup with the egg mixture until evenly distributed, about 1 teaspoon in each. Bake until the filling is set, about 25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes, and then remove from the muffin pan.

SOUTHERN PECAN CRISPS

Steps:

• THAW pastry sheet at room temperature 40 min. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Mix brown sugar, butter and pecans.
• UNFOLD pastry on lightly floured surface. Roll into 15"x 12" rectangle. Cut into 20 (3") squares. Press squares into bottoms of 3" muffin-pan cups. Place 1 heaping tsp. pecan mixture in center of each.
• BAKE 12 minutes or until golden. Remove from pans. Let cool. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Makes 20 pastries.

SOUTHERN COATED PECANS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except pecans in heavy pot and cook 10 minutes or until bubbles cook down.
• Add pecans and stir until all are coated.
• Continue stirring until syrup turns to sugar.
• Pour onto cookie sheet and separate.