Chocolate Molasses Maple Toffee Recipes

CHOCOLATE-MOLASSES COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Melt butter in a small pot over medium heat and add ginger, if using. Remove from heat and let sit a few minutes while you prepare everything else.
• In a large bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ground ginger and salt.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, molasses, egg and ginger butter. Using a spatula, slowly mix into dry ingredients, mixing until no dry spots remain.
• Using your hands, roll small balls of dough about the size of a quarter (dough will be soft - if it is too soft for you to handle, pop into the fridge for a few minutes to firm up). Roll the balls in the sanding sugar and place on the prepared baking sheets about 1-inch apart.
• Bake until just puffed and baked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Let cool completely before eating.

OLD FASHIONED MOLASSES TAFFY

Steps:

• Lightly grease a baking sheet. Bring the sugar, molasses, water, and vinegar to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir until the sugar has reached the hard ball stage, 250 to 265 degrees F (121 to 129 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a rigid ball.
• Remove from the heat, and stir in the butter and baking soda. Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, and allow to cool until cool enough to handle, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Once cool enough to handle, fold the taffy in half, then pull to double its original length. Continue folding and pulling until the taffy has turned golden brown, and is too stiff to pull anymore. Cut the taffy into bite sized pieces, and wrap in waxed paper. Store in an airtight container.

MAPLE LEAF SHAPE CHOCOLATE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• In a shallow pan, melt butter slowly. Using your preferred cookie cutter, cut shapes from the white bread and brown in the butter. Be sure to lightly brown both sides. Remove and place croutons on a cookie sheet. Once all shapes are done, place cookie sheet into oven and "dry" thoroughly, making sure that the croutons are no longer soft in the middle. Melt the chocolate in the microwave, according to package instructions, and dip shapes into the chocolate. Place them on a piece of waxed paper to dry.

MAPLE TOFFEE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Beat butter and vegetable shortening with brown sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and maple extract until smooth; stir in flour and salt. Lightly press the dough into a 10x15-inch baking dish.
• Bake until the crust is set and lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
• Melt chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. Remove crust from oven and spread melted chocolate in a layer on top. Sprinkle with walnuts. Cut bars while still warm; let chocolate set, about 1 hour, before serving.

CHOCOLATE MOLASSES PORK ROAST

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the first 12 ingredients. Cut roast in half; place in a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. Pour sauce over top. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until meat is tender., Remove pork to a serving platter; keep warm. Skim fat from cooking juices. Transfer juices to a small saucepan; bring to a boil. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water until smooth; gradually stir into pan. Return to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with pork.