Pecanclustercrunch Recipes

PECAN SHORTBREAD SQUARES

Steps:

• Cover a 9-inch square baking pan with heavy duty aluminum foil. Push foil neatly into corners and up sides of the pan, using two pieces if necessary to ensure it overlaps all edges (the overhang will help removal from pan). Spray foiled pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Place the flour, cornstarch, confectioners sugar and salt in a bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal with pea-size clumps of butter within. It will seem dry; that's okay. Transfer mixture to the prepared pan and press firmly with your fingers into an even layer over the bottom. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. While the crust is in the refrigerator, adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350° F. Bake the crust until crust is set but not browned, about 17 minutes. Set on rack to cool. Leave oven on.
• In a heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine butter, brown sugar, honey, vanilla and salt. Stir with a wooden spoon until sugar dissolves. Turn up the heat and boil gently for 3 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and chopped pecans.
• Pour pecan mixture over crust (it's fine if the crust is still warm). Bake until filling is bubbling and caramel in color, about 20 minutes. Cool completely on rack. To cut, use the foil overhang to lift baked square out of pan and onto cutting board. Loosen the foil from the edges, then cut with a sharp knife into 2-inch squares. Store finished pecan squares in air-tight container and serve at room temperature.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: These can be frozen for up to 3 months. After they are completely cooled, double-wrap them securely with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap with the layers separated by wax or parchment paper. Thaw overnight on the countertop before serving.

PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Bring 1 1/2 cups sugar, the milk, and salt to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat (mixture may look separated).
• Bring water and remaining 3/4 cup sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Wash sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Cook, undisturbed, until sugar begins to turn light gold, about 5 minutes. Swirl pan, then cook until caramel turns amber, about 2 minutes. Immediately remove pan from heat. Carefully stir in milk mixture (liquid may bubble up), then pecans. Place pan over medium heat, and cook, stirring often, until caramel registers 242 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 7 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat, and stir in butter, vanilla, and rum. Continue stirring until caramel cools and becomes very thick and difficult to stir, about 10 minutes. Drop small mounds of caramel onto a baking sheet lined with a nonstick baking mat, and let cool.
• Place melted chocolate in a medium bowl. Using an offset spatula, dip bottom of each pecan cluster into chocolate, leaving top partially undipped. Place dipped pecan clusters on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and let stand until chocolate is set.

PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a 15x10x1-in. baking pan, combine pecans and butter. Bake at 250° for 20-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes., Remove from the oven; transfer to a bowl. Add candy coating and stir until evenly coated. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. Cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300 degrees F. Grease 2 large cookie sheets with Crisco, set aside.
• Pour cereal and pecans into a large bowl. Set aside.
• Place caramel bits and water in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. (if 2 minutes doesn't do the trick, microwave in 30-second increments until caramel bits are melted and can be stirred smooth.
• Pour caramel over cereal and pecans and stir gently to coat. Take care not to break the cereal.
• Spread onto one of the greased cookie sheets.
• Bake for 15 minutes. Stir and flip the cereal. Bake for another 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, place the other greased cookie sheet on top of the one you removed from the oven and flip it over. Let cool completely, then break apart into clusters.
• Store in an airtight container.

PECAN BUTTER CRUNCH

Steps:

• Cook sugar, syrup and water until mixture thickens and bubbles (about 230 degrees). Add butter and pecans. Stir continuously and continue cooking until nuts begin to brown or start popping (290 degrees). Remove from heat. Add vanilla and soda and stir thoroughly. Pour quickly in several pieces on large buttered surface. Do not spread with knife or spoon. Allow to cool slightly. Stretch and pull with hands until very thin. (The thinner it is stretched, the more brittle it will be.) When cooled and hardened, break into small pieces. Store in airtight container.

PECAN CLUSTER CRUNCH

Steps:

• Mix cereal,nuts and cinnamon in large bowl;set aside.
• Mix brown sugar,butter and corn syrup in medium saucepan.
• Bring to boil over medium heat,stirring constantly.
• WITHOUT STIRRING,boil 2 minutes.
• Stir in baking soda.
• Pour over cereal mixture;until peices are coated spread evenly on lightly greased baking sheet.
• Bake at 250*F (120*C),30-35 minutes,stirring occasionally.
• Cool.
• Store in airtight container.
• TIP It is important to boil without stirring or mixture will form crystals.

CRANBERRY CRUNCH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix apples, cranberries, 1 cup pecans, 1 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup butter together in a bowl; divide between two 8x8-inch baking dishes.
• Stir 1 cup pecans, oats, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup butter together in a bowl; sprinkle over each cranberry mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling and topping is lightly browned, 30 to 40 minutes.

BUTTER PECAN CRUNCH

Steps:

• Mix crumbs and butter; press into bottom of 9x13 pan.
• Chill.
• Beat pudding mixes and milk until well blended.
• Fold in ice-cream and Cool Whip.
• Spoon over crust.
• Sprinkle with crushed Heath bars.
• Freeze.
• Thaw about 20 minutes before cutting.

PECAN CRUNCH CREAM CHEESE POUNDCAKE

Steps:

• Set an oven rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with butter and line with two pieces of crisscrossed parchment: Lay the first sheet in the pan, butter it lightly, then lay the other sheet across. Both pieces should extend a few inches above the edges of the pan, making a sling that you'll use to lift the cake out.
• Make the pecan crunch, if desired: Break the crackers into a few pieces and add to the bowl of a food processor. Add the nuts and sugar. Process until you have fine crumbs. Add the melted butter and pulse it in until evenly incorporated.
• Spoon about half of the crunch mixture into the prepared pan and press it evenly across the bottom. Press the remaining mixture against the sides, stopping about 1 inch from the top of the pan: Begin by tilting the pan to one side and use a bench scraper or the flat side of a metal spatula to lift, spread and press the coating against the side of the pan. Without tilting the pan, repeat with the remaining three sides. Use the back of a small spoon to even the coating on the sides and against the corners of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, up to 3 days.
• Make the batter: In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks with 2 tablespoons sour cream and the vanilla, just until lightly combined.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt on low speed for 30 seconds.
• Add the butter, cream cheese and the remaining 6 tablespoons sour cream. Mix on low speed until the flour mixture is moistened. Raise the speed to medium and beat for 1 1/2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Starting on medium-low speed, gradually pour the egg mixture to the batter in two parts, beating on medium speed for 30 seconds after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
• Gently spoon the batter into the crunch coating-lined pan and smooth the surface. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Let the cake cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Use a small knife to dislodge the crunch coating at the corners and lift the cake out, using the parchment paper "sling."
• Let cool completely before gently removing the parchment and transferring to a serving plate or cutting board. (Or, wrap well and store at room temperature for 3 days or in the refrigerator for 5 days.) To serve, use a serrated knife to cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices.

CHOCOLATE-PECAN BUTTER CRUNCH

Steps:

• Butter a 9-inch square baking pan, and line the bottom with a piece of parchment paper that extends up and over two sides. Butter the parchment, and set the pan aside.
• Place the butter and water in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until the butter is melted. Add the sugar, and stir constantly until dissolved and the mixture comes to a boil. Using a pastry brush dipped in water, brush away any sugar crystals on the side of the pan to prevent recrystallization. Cook until the mixture is dark amber in color. Remove from heat, and stir in the pecans. Pour into the prepared baking pan, and let stand at room temperature to cool completely.
• Place the chocolate and corn syrup, if using, in a small heat-proof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until combined and completely melted. Let cool slightly, and spread over the top of the cooled toffee. Arrange the pecan halves on top, and let sit at room temperature until the chocolate has cooled completely and set, at least 2 hours or overnight. Carefully unmold by lifting out the parchment paper. Break or cut into pieces, and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.

BUTTER PECAN CRUNCH

Steps:

• Combine cracker crumbs and butter; press into a 13-in. x 9-in. dish. Chill., In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mixes for 2 minutes (mixture will be thick). Fold in ice cream and whipped topping. Spoon over crust. Sprinkle with candy. , Freeze for at least 2 hours. Remove from the freezer 20 minutes before serving.

SUPER EASY AMISH PRALINE PECAN CRUNCH

Steps:

• 1. Combine corn syrup, brown sugar and butter in microwave save bowl. Microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes. Stir and microwave another 1/2 to 1 1/2 minutes (I did 1/2 only in new microwave) or until boiling.
• 2. Add vanilla (or other flavor) and baking soda and stir thoroughly. It will begin to foam. Pour mixture over pecans. Stir until coated evenly.
• 3. Spread on baking sheet lined with silpat or wax paper and bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour. Stir every 20 minutes. Cool before storing in container. Pecans will stick together but easily break apart into crunch size pieces.