Chocolate Covered Marzipan And Walnut Pralines Recipes

CHOCOLATE-COVERED MARZIPAN AND WALNUT PRALINES

Steps:

• Knead marzipan with 3/4 cup powdered sugar, chopped walnuts, rum, and maraschino liqueur on a clean work surface until smooth.
• Sprinkle remaining powdered sugar on a clean work surface. Roll out marzipan and cut out circles, squares, or rectangles.
• Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and set a wire rack on top.
• Place 3/4 of the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in remaining dark chocolate until smooth.
• Stick a toothpick or metal skewer into each praline and dip into the melted chocolate, letting excess drip off. Set onto the wire rack. Allow chocolate to set a little, then place 1 walnut half on top of the chocolate.
• Allow chocolate to harden completely. Store pralines in airtight containers.

CHOCOLATE MAPLE WALNUT PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Toast the walnuts on a baking sheet in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature.
• Heat the maple syrup in a 1 1/2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. When the syrup begins to boil, reduce the heat to medium and allow the syrup to continue to boil and thicken for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally with a metal spoon. Remove the very hot syrup from the heat. Immediately add the walnuts to the syrup and stir to combine. Transfer the glazed walnuts to a baking sheet with sides. Use a metal spoon to spread the walnuts evenly over one half of the baking sheet. Set aside.
• Place the sugar and lemon juice in a 3-quart saucepan. Stir with a whisk to combine (the sugar will resemble moist sand). Caramelize the sugar by heating for 10 to 10 1/2 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a wire whisk to break up any lumps (the sugar will first turn clear as it liquefies, then light brown as it caramelizes. Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the unsweetened chocolate and stir to dissolve. Immediately and carefully pour the caramelized mixture over the walnuts, covering all the nuts. Allow to harden at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
• Invert the praline onto a clean, dry cutting board (it should pop right out of the baking sheet), this will keep the shiny side looking shiny after cutting. Use a sharp serrated slicer to cut (use a sawing motion) the praline into desired size pieces. Store the pralines in a tightly sealed plastic container until ready to devour.

CHOCOLATE-TOPPED PRALINES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and have a tablespoon-sized cookie scooper ready.
• Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, butter and baking soda to a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon occasionally, until the sugars are dissolved and the mixture begins to boil. Clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the pot and continue to cook until the mixture reaches between 235 to 240 degrees F. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the mixture to cool for 5 minutes. Add the pecans, vanilla and salt and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the candy begins to dull and the mixture starts to thicken, about 4 minutes. Working quickly, drop heaping tablespoon-sized mounds with the cookie scooper onto the prepared baking sheet (see Cook's Note). Cool completely until set and the pralines have reached room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Add the chocolate chips to a heat-resistant metal or glass bowl set over a pot of simmering water and stir until completely melted. Remove bowl from the heat. Using a spoon, add a dollop of chocolate on the top of each of the praline mounds and use the back of the spoon to spread slightly and create a swirl in the chocolate. Sprinkle with the flaked sea salt, if using. Let cool completely until set (see Cook's Note). Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator with wax paper between the layers of pralines.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED ALMOND PRALINES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast almonds in a single layer on a baking sheet until fragrant, about 15 minutes. Let cool.
• Bring sugar and 1/4 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Continue to cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reaches 235 degrees, about 3 minutes.
• Add toasted nuts. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar begins to crystallize, about 1 minute. Stir in 1 1/4 teaspoons salt. Continue to cook, stirring, until sugar forms a thin, sandlike coating on nuts, 2 to 3 minutes more. Pour mixture out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and let cool for 30 minutes.
• Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring constantly.
• Working in batches, sift nuts in a colander to remove excess sugar, and transfer nuts to a large bowl. Add chocolate, stirring to coat nuts completely. Pour mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and separate clusters into individual nuts using a fork. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Toss pralines with cocoa in a large bowl, tapping off excess. Fill 75 mini baking cups with 4 pralines each.

WALNUT PRALINES

Steps:

• Combine sugars and milk in saucepan over medium heat. Stirring, with a wood spoon, do not scorch milk.
• Spray baking non-stick spray on cookie sheet or aluminium foil laid on top of thick towels.
• Once mixture boils, stir in butter, walnuts, spices and honey. Continue to heat, without stirring, until between 235 to 240 degrees F. (113 to 116 degrees C) Recommended you purchase a digital thermometer-great investment!
• Once temperature has been reached, remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes.
• Beat until thickened until liquid poured from wooden spoon starts to pour slowly.
• Immediately drop by one spoonfull onto sprayed cookie sheet or foil.
• Let cool and freeze in small bags of 3 to 4 per bag. THESE ARE SOO GOOD YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EAT JUST ONE!