Sugars Browned Butter Pecan Balls Food

PECAN BUTTER BALLS

Steps:

• Cream sugar and butter in a large bowl, then add flour, vanilla and pecans.
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350° F. Roll into small balls (about 1-inch across) and place on baking sheet.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Let stand on cookie sheet about 2 minutes, then gently roll each one in powdered sugar. Let cookies cool. Once they cool, roll again in powdered sugar.
• Store loosely covered.

PECAN BALLS (CHRISTMAS COOKIES)

Steps:

• Mix ingredients together until well blended.
• Hand form into small balls.
• Bake at 300° up to 15 minutes. (These will not brown).
• While balls are still warm, roll into powdered sugar.

PECAN BUTTER BALLS

Steps:

• Sift together into a medium sized bowl the flour, sugar and vanilla. Work in the margarine with a spoon or hands until well blended. Add chopped pecans and mix well.
• Shape dough into 1 inch balls and put on ungreased pans. Bake in a preheated 325 degree F (165 degrees C) oven for about 25 minutes or until pale brown. When slightly cool roll or shake in confectioners' sugar. Store in an air tight container.

BROWN SUGAR-PECAN FUDGE BALLS

Steps:

• Coat inside of medium metal bowl with 1/2 teaspoon butter. Place remaining butter in same bowl; set aside.
• Combine sugars, half and half and salt in medium saucepan that's at least 4 inches deep. Let stand 10 minutes. Stir over medium-low heat until sugars are almost dissolved, frequently brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 12 minutes. Increase heat to medium. Continue to stir until syrup comes to boil, occasionally brushing down sides of pan, about 10 minutes longer. Attach candy thermometer. Boil syrup without stirring until candy thermometer registers 234°F, about 16 minutes (caramel will bubble vigorously in pan).
• Attach thermometer to bowl with butter. Pour caramel over butter (do not scrape pan). Add vanilla (but do not stir). Cool caramel just to 112°F, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Using electric mixer, beat caramel until sheen just begins to disappear and mixture thickens slightly, about 4 minutes. Stir in chopped pecans. Cool mixture until thick enough to roll into balls, about 2 hours.
• Line 4 baking sheets with waxed paper. Using about 1 tablespoon mixture for each ball, spoon mixture in 48 mounds on 1 sheet. Press or roll each mound between palms of hands into ball. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Stir chocolate in medium bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water until smooth and candy thermometer registers 115°F (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Remove from over water. Drop 1 ball into chocolate. Using fork, turn to coat. Using fork tines, lift ball from chocolate, allowing excess to drip into bowl. Using knife as aid, slide ball off fork onto second prepared sheet. Repeat with 15 balls, rewarming chocolate as needed to maintain temperature of 115°F. While chocolate is still wet, sprinkle with 1/4 cup sprinkles. Repeat with remaining fudge balls and sprinkles in 2 more batches, placing 16 balls on each of remaining 2 unused sheets.
• Chill balls until coating is firm, about 30 minutes. (Can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. Refrigerate in covered containers.) Let stand 20 minutes at room temperature before serving.

BROWN SUGAR-PECAN FUDGE BALLS

Steps:

• Coat inside of medium metal bowl with 1/2 teaspoon butter.
• Place remaining butter in same bowl; set aside.
• Combine sugars, half and half and salt in medium saucepan that’s at least 4 inches deep.
• Let stand 10 minutes.
• Stir over medium-low heat until sugars are almost dissolved, frequently brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 12 minutes.
• Increase heat to medium.
• Continue to stir until syrup comes to boil, occasionally brushing down sides of pan, about 10 minutes longer.
• Attach candy thermometer.
• Boil syrup without stirring until candy thermometer registers 234°F, about 16 minutes (caramel will bubble vigorously in pan).
• Attach thermometer to bowl with butter.
• Pour caramel over butter (do not scrape pan).
• Add vanilla (but do not stir).
• Cool caramel just to 112°F, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Using electric mixer, beat caramel until sheen just begins to disappear and mixture thickens slightly, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in chopped pecans.
• Cool mixture until thick enough to roll into balls, about 2 hours.
• Line 4 baking sheets with waxed paper.
• Using about 1 tablespoon mixture for each ball, spoon mixture in 48 mounds on 1 sheet.
• Press or roll each mound between palms of hands into ball.
• Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Stir chocolate in medium bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water until smooth and candy thermometer registers 115°F (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water).
• Remove from over water.
• Drop 1 ball into chocolate.
• Using fork, turn to coat.
• Using fork tines, lift ball from chocolate, allowing excess to drip into bowl.
• Using knife as aid, slide ball off fork onto second prepared sheet.
• Repeat with 15 balls, rewarming chocolate as needed to maintain temperature of 115°F.
• While chocolate is still wet, sprinkle with 1/4 cup sprinkles.
• Repeat with remaining fudge balls and sprinkles in 2 more batches, placing 16 balls on each of remaining 2 unused sheets.
• Chill balls until coating is firm, about 30 minutes.
• (Can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. Refrigerate in covered containers.) Let stand 20 minutes at room temperature before serving.
• Makes 48.