Nutty Mozart Recipes

MOZART BIRTHDAY BALLS

Steps:

• For the hazelnut filling: Heat the chocolate chips and heavy cream together in a small microwaveable bowl for 30 seconds, then stir until smooth and homogenous. Stir in the hazelnuts and freeze until firm, 15 to 20 minutes.
• For the pistachio marzipan: Blend the pistachios in a food processor until they're finely ground (but don't overblend or you'll end up with pistachio butter). Add the powdered sugar, almond extract and salt and pulse to combine. With the motor running, drizzle in the corn syrup and blend to form a dough. (It may still look crumbly in the food processor, but if you squeeze it in your hand it should stick together.) Pile it into a ball and wrap it in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, or up to overnight.
• For the almond marzipan: Combine the almond meal, powdered sugar, almond extract and salt in a food processor and pulse to combine. With the motor running, drizzle in the corn syrup and blend to form a dough. (It may still look crumbly in the food processor, but if you squeeze it in your hand it should stick together.) Pile it into a ball and wrap it in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, or up to overnight.
• To assemble, divide both the almond marzipan and the pistachio marzipan into 12 equal portions. Keep the marzipan covered with plastic wrap when you're not working with it. Take one of the pistachio marzipan portions and smash it with your palm to make a flat round. Fold it over a rounded 1/4 teaspoon hazelnut filling and roll it into a ball. Smash one of the almond marzipan portions with your palm and fold that over the pistachio ball. Roll it into a ball and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining marzipan and filling and freeze the balls for 15 minutes.
• For the coating: Melt the dark chocolate either in a double boiler or microwave, heating in 30-second increments and stirring after each, until it is smooth and melted. Continue stirring until it is no longer hot to the touch.
• One by one, dip the marzipan balls in the chocolate to fully coat. Allow the excess chocolate to drip off, and then place back on the parchment. Sprinkle with some sanding sugar. Harden them in the refrigerator or at room temperature for 1 hour or up to overnight.

NUTTY NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place pecan halves in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven 7 to 10 minutes, or until browned.
• In a food processor, mix together cream cheese, stilton cheese, port wine, honey and pepper. Process until smooth. Transfer to a sealable plastic bag.
• Arrange half the pecans on a large, flat serving dish, flat side down. Cut the tip off plastic bag. Pipe approximately 1/4 teaspoon cream cheese mixture onto each half. Top with remaining pecan halves, flat side down. Pipe another 1/4 teaspoon cream cheese mixture onto each. Garnish with chives.

NUTTY CINNAMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 11x7-inch baking dish.
• Combine flour, sweetener, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl; mix until well combined.
• Whisk together egg, oil, applesauce, and honey in a second bowl until well combined. Stir into the dry ingredients. Fold in nuts. Transfer batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth out the surface.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 18 to 22 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
• For the icing, combine powdered sugar substitute, butter, honey, almond milk, vanilla, and cinnamon in a bowl. Spread or drizzle icing onto the cooled bars.

NUTTY FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Place bread in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. In a large bowl, beat eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon; pour over the bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. , Meanwhile, in a bowl, cream butter, brown sugar and syrup until smooth; spread over bread. Sprinkle with nuts. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 hour or until golden brown.

NUTTY SWEETHEARTS

Steps:

• Grease cookie sheet and insides of two or more heart-shaped cookie cutters 4 inches long and 2 inches deep. Place cutters on cookie sheet, set aside.
• In large bowl, combine cereal, chocolate chips, marshmallows, candied cherries and pecans, set aside.
• In small heavy saucepan over very low heat, stir white chocolate and shortening until melted and smooth. Remove from heat, cool slightly. Pour chocolate mixture over mixture in bowl, stir gently to coat completely.
• Using greased fingers, press about 2/3 cup mixture firmly and evenly into each prepared cutter on cookie sheet to thickness of up to 3/4 inch. Refrigerate 30 minutes until firm. Depending on number of molds available, you may have to work in batches. Keep unused mixture at room temperature between batches.
• To unmold: Run wide metal spatula under cutters to loosen from cookie sheet. Using fingers, gently push each sweetheart free of the cutter.

NUTTY MOZART

Steps:

• Pour the fresh coffee into a large cup or mug.
• Stir in the Mozart.
• Add sweetening , whipped cream and chocolate if using.