Cloverbloom Praline Cookies Recipes

PRALINE COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl. Set aside.
• With an electric mixer (or Kitchenaid with paddle attatchement), cream butter and 1 1/2 cups brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Add egg and vanilla. Beat until fully combined.
• Add dry ingredients, and beat on low speed until combined.
• Drop batter by rounded teaspoons on to an ungreased baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
• Bake until firm and barely golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Wait 5 minutes before transferring cookies to a wire rack.
• In a small saucepan, combine remaining 1 cup brown sugar and cream.
• Bring to a boil over a medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.Remove from heat.
• Add powdered sugar, and whisk until smooth.
• (If frostening thickens too much, thin with heavy cream.).
• Add pecan pieces.
• Place cookies on a cooling rack over a lined baking sheet.
• Spoon about 1/2 teas praline mixture onto each cookie.

BEST PRALINE COOKIES

Steps:

• Grease a large baking sheet with butter; set aside.
• Stir together the 1/3 cup granulated sugar and water in a heavy medium saucepan. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until boiling.
• Cook for 2 -/2 to 3-1/2 minutes more or until syrup is a deep golden brown. Remove from heat.
• Stir in nuts. Immediately pour onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Cool completely on a wire rack until firm.
• Transfer the firm praline to a heavy plastic bag.
• Using a rolling pin, crush the praline into small pieces; set aside.
• For cookies, beat the 1 cup butter in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.
• Add brown sugar, the 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and baking soda; beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.
• Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can. Stir in remaining flour and crushed praline.
• Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 13 to 15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transfer to wire racks and cool completely.
• Drizzle melted chocolate over cookies.

CRUNCHY PRALINE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix the topping ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.
• Cream together butter and sugar, then add the egg.
• Sift dry ingredients together, then add together.
• Roll dough into half-inch balls and place on a greased cookie sheet.
• With the end of a wooden spoon, or with a dowel, make a small well in each ball.
• Place 1/4 teaspoon pecan topping in each cookie.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, keeping an eye on them towards the end as they can burn quickly.
• Cool on a rack and store in an airtight container.
• Note: Original recipe called for 1 Tablespoon whiskey, bourbon or orange juice to be added along with the egg, but I've never used it and found they turn out fine without.

CHOCOLATE PRALINE COOKIES

Steps:

• Set oven to 375°F.
• Cream butter and brown sugar together with an electric hand mixer, or if you would rather do it by hand, a heavy spatula will work.
• Add the baking powder and egg until the mixture looks smooth and creamy.
• Beat in the vanilla extract.
• Slowly beat the flour into the mixture, a quarter cup at a time until you use all the flour.
• Add your pecans or walnuts. (I have used both together, and apart, either way they taste wonderful! In fact I have even altered this recipe and used ground almonds).
• If you think the dough is too warm you may want to put it in the freezer. When I bake in the winter I often will put all my cookie doughs in the freezer for fifteen minutes before working with them. If the dough is too warm, it will spread while baking and you will get pancakes rather then cookies :).
• Take the dough from the freezer and drop it by the teaspoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet approx 2 inches apart.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes until the cookie looks golden, when you lift the cookies they should have an even color on the bottom.
• Cool the cookies on a wire rack until they are cool to touch.
• While the cookies cool gather your semisweet chips and vegetable shortening in a small sandwich baggie. If you want you can use a chocolate melting double boiler. Personally I like to do things the quick and easy way, so take your baggie of chocolate and shortening and seal it closed, then put it in a bowl of warm water. Wait approximately five minutes and the chocolate should have melted. If not repeat with warmer water. Use your finger to make sure the chocolate and shortening have mixed.
• Using a scissors snip the corner of the sandwich baggie and drizzle the chocolate over the cooled cookies. For small drizzles make only a slight cut in the corner of the bag, for larger chocolate lines, make a larger cut. I usually make designs on the cookies with the chocolate. Simple criss cross lines look elegant and sophisticated.
• These cookies are one of my favorites, and I often bring them to parties or special occasions because of their beautiful appearance and interesting flavor.
• **To Toast Nuts**.
• Set oven to 350°F.
• Place nuts on baking sheet in a single layer.
• Bake for approximately 5-8 minutes checking frequently, and stirring them about on the sheet. They should become a golden bronze color, depending on the nut. The toasting of nuts will allow for a richer flavor usually.

PEANUT BUTTER PRALINE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat shortening, and peanut butter until combined.
• Add sugars; beat till fluffy. Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla.
• Beat in flour and baking soda. Stir in peanuts.
• Drop on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or till set.
• Cool cookies on wire rack.
• To make the praline frosting: In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and cream, heat and stir until bubbly. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Beat in powdered sugar till smooth. Immediately drizzle over cookies.
• Makes about 36 cookies.