Candied Nuts And Brie Dip Recipes

CANDIED NUTS

Steps:

• Grease a baking sheet or line with a silicone mat.
• Cook and stir peanuts, sugar, and water together in a wide, heavy skillet over medium heat until liquid evaporates and nuts begin to crust with the hardening sugar; about 5 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and continue to cook and stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to coat peanuts with syrup as the sugar begins to melt and darken to a deep caramel color, about 10 minutes. Tilt pan away from the heat as needed to allow peanut mixture to darken without burning. Remove from heat immediately when peanuts are deeply bronzed; stir.
• Sprinkle peanuts with sea salt and cinnamon or chili powder; tilt peanuts onto prepared baking sheet to cool completely. Break up clumps. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

BRIE AND CANDIED NUTS GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Top 1 granola bar with 1 oz sliced Brie and 1 tablespoon candied walnuts. If desired, serve warm; microwave 5 to 8 seconds or until cheese just begins to melt.

BAKED BRIE WITH CANDIED PECANS AND BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until golden and crisp, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain and cool and then finely chop.
• Mix the bacon, cherries, pecans, vinegar, rosemary, thyme, pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper in a small bowl.
• Trim off the top rind of the Brie, leaving a 1/4-inch border around the edges and put in a small baking dish. Top with the pecan mixture, letting it mound and fall into the dish around the Brie. Cover the dish with foil, and bake until the cheese is warm and gooey, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Serve warm with bread and/or crackers.

BAKED STUFFED BRIE WITH CRANBERRIES & WALNUTS

Steps:

• Score the side of a wheel of brie all the way around with a sharp paring knife. Cut directly on the "equator" through the rind. Using a long piece of string or dental floss, wrap the string around the brie on the newly made cut. Loop one end of the string over the other (a half knot). Then pulling the ends of the string in opposite directions, cut the brie in half.
• Press the dried cranberries on one cut side of the brie, and the walnuts on the other. Quickly put the 2 sides back together with the cranberries on top of the walnuts. Press together and stuff back in any cranberries or walnuts that fell out.
• Roll out a thawed sheet of puff pastry on a floured surface to about 1/8-inch thickness. Place brie in center of pastry. Gently pull up edges to ensure you have enough dough to entirely wrap the brie. You can trim off the corners if there is too much dough. Brush the dough with the egg wash. Fold one edge of the dough over the brie and then the opposite side. Fold over the remaining edges and complexly encase the brie. You can trim off excess pieces of dough, if necessary. Flip the brie over so the seam is at the bottom; gently press in the sides to snug the dough against the brie. Brush the top and sides of the wrapped brie with egg wash.
• If you choose to decorate the brie with cut-out shapes of additional puff pastry, use very cold (almost still frozen) dough to ensure sharp lines. Lightly brush the decorative pieces with egg wash. Place the brie in the freezer for one hour (this is a crucial step; see note below).
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the brie on the prepared baking sheet. Bake on the center rack in preheated oven until it is browned and leaking cheese, about 20 minutes. (Only rarely does the brie not leak through, but 20 to 25 minutes is about how long it takes to melt the cheese and brown the pastry.)

SPINACH SALAD WITH CANDIED PEARS, PECANS AND BRIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking sheet with vegetable spray.
• To make the candied pecans, rinse the pecans with cold water.
• Drain but do not let dry.
• In a small bowl, combine the icing sugar, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg.
• Dip the pecans in this mixture to coat well.
• Spread them on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 15 minutes.
• Cool and Chop.
• To make the salad, combine the spinach, radicchio, pear and brie in a large bowl.
• To make the dressing, whisk together the orange juice concentrate, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, honey and mustard.
• Pour over the salad and toss to coat.
• Garnish with the candied pecans and chicken/seafood (if using.).

CANDIED NUTS AND BRIE DIP

Steps:

• Stir together brown sugar, nuts, and brandy. Place cheese in a baking dish a little larger than the Brie wheel. Bake at 425 for about 6 minutes until cheese begins to soften in the middle.
• Sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over the cheese.
• Bake until the sugar melts (3-5 minutes more).
• Serve with apples, crackers or sliced baguettes. *You can use a 17.6 oz wheel of Brie for this recipe for a larger crowd. Just triple the other ingredients.