Miss Amies Nut Clusters Recipes

FRUIT AND NUT MILK CHOCOLATE GRANOLA CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Line a mini muffin tin with mini (1 1/4-inch) cupcake/candy liners, or set them on a baking sheet or other rigid surface. Set aside.
• Fill a medium saucepan with about an inch of water and put over high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and set a double boiler or metal bowl on top of the pan. Pour the chocolate chips in the bowl and stir constantly just until melted. Remove from heat.
• Pour two cups of granola into the chocolate and stir until coated.
• Using two spoons or a cookie scoop, scoop melted chocolate and granola mixture by the tablespoonful into liners. Sprinkle with granola (I try to include a nut and a piece of fruit on top of each one to help people know what to expect when they bite into one).
• Let sit at room temperature for about 2 hours, or until hard.
• Clusters keep at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan over low heat, cook and stir candy coating and chips until melted and smooth. Cool for 10 minutes; stir in peanuts., Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 45 minutes.

NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Prepare the caramel mou: Place the corn syrup, sugar and just enough water to melt the sugar into a saucepan and place on high heat. Cook until the sugar is very dark brown and begins to burn. You will see white smoke. Remove from the heat and add the 1-ounce of water. Allow this to cool slightly.
• Place the roasted nuts on a silpat baking mat lined baking sheet.
• Place the butter and cocoa butter in a large heat-proof mixing bowl.
• Prepare the caramel: Place the sugar, corn syrup, Caramel Mou, cream, vanilla bean, butter, salt, and lemon juice in a saucepan placed over high heat. Insert a candy thermometer and cook to 250 degrees F (121 degrees C). Remove from the heat and pour over the butter and cocoa butter. Let cool for 5 minutes. Spoon the caramel over the nuts to make the clusters.
• Place the bittersweet chocolate in a paper cornet or small piping bag and drizzle chocolate over the nut cluster. Serve.
• Jacques' tip: To make a more kid friendly recipe, use store bought caramel squares. Unwrap them and place them on top of the nuts. Put in a warm oven until the caramel melts.

MISS AMIES NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Melt chocolate in a pan over low heat. (you can also use a double boiler or microwave).
• Once chocolate has completely melted add nuts.
• Spoon out (heaping tablespoon amount) onto waxed paper.
• Let cool completely.
• May want to keep refrigerated.

CRUNCHY NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Line 4 miniature muffin pans with candy cups; set them aside. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the coconut and nuts on separate cookie sheets. Bake each until golden brown, about 9 minutes for the nuts and 10 for the coconut, stirring every few minutes to keep them from burning. Let them cool.
• Combine the toasted coconut and nuts in a medium-size bowl. Melt the chocolate chips -- white or semisweet -- in the microwave according to the package directions. Add the melted chocolate to the coconut mixture; stir well. Drop the mixture by heaping teaspoonfuls into the candy cups. Chill until set, about 45 minutes.
• Melt the remaining chocolate according to the package directions. Pour the contents into a ziplock bag. Snip off a small corner of the bag, then drizzle the chocolate over the clusters. Chill until the glaze is set, about 15 minutes. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Roast the nuts in a 350 degree oven until aromatic and lightly browned.
• Depending on the nut's it could be 5-12 mins Melt the chocolate with the oil and coffee in a double boiler over low heat.
• The water should not touch the pan and shouldn't be over 160 degrees f.
• Remove the chocolate as it starts to melt and stir, the ambient heat should be enough to finsih melting it.
• If not return to heat for a couple minutes.
• This can be done in a microwave if you stop it every 15 seconds to stir.
• Stir chocolate until it's, add nuts, drop onto sheets of wax paper with a heaping measuring teaspoon.
• Let cure, will take 1-4 hours depending on heat and humidity.
• Note, you may have too much chocolate depending on the nuts you use.
• This amount worked well for pecans and walnuts, but was a bit too much for almonds and cashews.
• Store in an airtight container for weeks.

NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In microwave safe bowl melt white chocolate on defrost, stirring every minute.
• Once melted set aside.
• In another microwave safe bowl melt semi-sweet chocolate chips and milk chocolate chips on defrost, stirring every minute.
• Pour melted white chocolate into semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips, mixing thoroughly.
• Add walnuts and cashews, mixing thoroughly.
• Drop by tablespoonful onto waxed paper.
• Let harden and store in covered container.

MIXED NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips, milk and honey over low heat; stir until blended. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla; add nuts., Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm. Store in refrigerator.