Caramelito Cookies With Vanilla Whipped Cream And Candied Nuts Recipes

TANGERINE SORBET WITH VANILLA CREAM AND CANDIED PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• For the sorbet: Combine the tangerine juice, sugar and Campari if using in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes then process the sorbet in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a bowl, cover tightly and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.
• For the pistachios: Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Stir the sugar, 1 tablespoon water and the salt together in a medium bowl. Add the pistachios and stir to coat. Spread the pistachios on the prepared baking sheet and bake until the nuts are golden and crisp, about 8 minutes. Allow the nuts to cool, then coarsely chop and set aside.
• For the vanilla cream: Place the cream in a small bowl. Use a paring knife to scrape the beans from the pod into the cream. Add the empty pod and refrigerate until ready to use.
• To serve, pour 2 tablespoons of the vanilla cream into a martini glass. Add a scoop of sorbet and garnish with pistachios.

GLAZED CANDIED FRUIT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and baking soda; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in pineapple, pecans and cherries. Divide dough in half; shape each into a 9-in.-long roll; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm., Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap and cut into 1/4-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 7-9 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool completely., In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and butter. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir 30 seconds. Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes. Beat in confectioners' sugar and milk. Immediately drizzle over cookies. Let stand until set., To Make Ahead: Dough can be made two days in advance. Wrap in plastic and place in a resealable plastic bag. Store in the refrigerator., Freeze option: Place wrapped rolls in a resealable plastic freezer bag. To use, unwrap frozen rolls and cut into slices. If necessary, let dough stand a few minutes at room temperature before cutting. Bake and decorate as directed, increasing time by 1-2 minutes.

CHOCOLATE SANDWICH COOKIES WITH VANILLA-CREAM FILLING

Steps:

• Set 2 racks in the middle and upper third of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees. In a food processor or the bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar. While pulsing or on low speed, add the butter, then the egg. Process or beat until the dough is thoroughly blended and massed together. Drop rounded teaspoons of batter onto nonstick or parchment-lined cookie sheets at 2-inch intervals. With moistened fingers, round out the cookies and flatten them a little. Bake for 9 minutes, turning the pans once for even baking, until the cookies are set. Set the cookie sheets on a rack to cool.
• Vanilla-Cream Filling: Put the butter and shortening in a mixing bowl and, at low speed, gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla, until blended. Turn the mixer up to high and beat for 2 or 3 minutes more, until fluffy.
• With a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch tip, pipe teaspoon size blobs of filling onto the tops of half the cookies. Keeping the smooth bottoms of the cookies facing up, flip the remaining cookies on top of the filling and lightly press to form sandwiches.

HAZELNUT AND CHOCOLATE PIE WITH VANILLA WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the lower 1/3 of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Put 1/2 of the chocolate chips, hazelnuts, and flour in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the hazelnuts are coarsely chopped. Pour the hazelnut mixture into a small bowl and set aside. Combine remaining chocolate chips and sugar in the food processor. Blend until the mixture is finely ground. With the machine running, gradually add the hot water until the chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Add the eggs, butter, vanilla and cinnamon. Pulse until mixture is blended. Return the hazelnut mixture to the food processor and pulse to incorporate. Pour the mixture into a buttered and floured 9-inch pie dish. Bake for 35 minutes. Place the pie on a cooling rack and cool for 1 hour. (Top may crack during cooling.) Refrigerate for 2 hours. (Pie can be made 1 day in advance and stored in the refrigerator). Allow the pie to return to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream until it forms soft peaks. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Continue to beat until cream holds stiff peaks.
• To serve: Cut the pie into slices and dollop with the Vanilla Cream.