Sharp Cheddar Cupcakes With Candied Pecan Topping And Honey Blue Cheese Frosting Recipes

SHARP CHEDDAR CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cake batter: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F; line cupcake pans with 24 cupcake liners.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the pastry flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda and salt and set aside. Using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter until smooth. Gradually add the granulated sugar and mix until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla. Alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk, starting and ending with the flour mixture and beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides, and then fold in the Cheddar, dried cherries and green onions.
• Spoon the batter into the liners and bake until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, at least 20 minutes. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
• For the candied ham: In a skillet set over medium heat, add the apple juice, brown sugar and maple syrup and cook until the mixture gets really thick. Add the diced ham and stir until coated.
• For the frosting: Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, honey and hot sauce in a bowl until smooth. Fold in the chives.
• For the honey simple syrup: In a bowl, combine the honey and 1/2 cup hot water and stir.
• To assemble: With a pastry brush, brush each cupcake with the honey simple syrup. Add some frosting to the top of each cupcake, and garnish with the candied ham.

PECAN CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
• Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended.
• Beat at high speed until smooth; stir in pecans.

CHEDDAR-PECAN CRISPS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and cheese until light and fluffy. In another bowl, whisk flour, salt, garlic powder and cayenne; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in pecans., Shape into eight 10-in. long logs. Wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm., Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap and cut dough crosswise into 1/4-in. slices. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until edges are crisp and lightly browned, 12-14 minutes. Cool on pans 1 minute. Remove to wire racks to cool. Refrigerate in airtight containers. Freeze option: Place wrapped logs in resealable plastic freezer bags; place in freezer. To use, unwrap frozen logs and cut into slices. If necessary, let dough stand 15 minutes at room temperature before cutting. Bake as directed, increasing time by 1-2 minutes.

CANDIED PECANS

Steps:

• Place pecans in a shallow baking pan in a 250° oven for 10 minutes or until warmed. Grease a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with 1 tablespoon butter; set aside. , Grease the sides of a large heavy saucepan with remaining butter; add sugar, water, salt and cinnamon. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar. Cover; cook 2 minutes to dissolve any sugar crystals that may form on the sides of pan., Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 236° (soft-ball stage). Remove from the heat; add vanilla. Stir in warm pecans until evenly coated. , Spread onto prepared baking pan. Bake at 250° for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Spread on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet to cool.

CANDIED PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Mix sugar, cinnamon, and salt together in a bowl.
• Whisk egg white and water together in a separate bowl until frothy. Toss pecans in the egg white mixture. Mix sugar mixture into pecan mixture until pecans are evenly coated. Spread coated pecans onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, until pecans are evenly browned, 1 hour.

CHEDDAR BISCUITS WITH PECANS

Steps:

• Place cheese, butter, flour, salt, and cayenne pepper in the bowl of a food processor; process until a dough is formed, about 10 seconds. Turn dough out onto work surface and divide into two equal pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a 1 1/2-inch-thick log; wrap with wax or parchment paper and refrigerate until dough is firm, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
• Unwrap dough and slice each log crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Place dough rounds on prepared baking sheet 1 1/2 inches apart; gently press a pecan half into the center of each. Brush with egg whites and sprinkle lightly with paprika.
• Bake biscuits until crisp, about 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes on baking sheets before transferring to a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CANADIAN SHARP CHEDDAR CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Place cream cheese and cold pack Cheddar cheese in a microwave-safe bowl; slice cheese into chunks with a knife. Microwave cheese in 30-second intervals on high just until softened, stirring between intervals.
• Stir red onion, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, paprika, and hot sauce into cheese mixture with a fork until evenly combined; spoon into an airtight container and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
• Remove cheese spread from refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving.