Almond Praline Food

ALMOND PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place almonds on a baking sheet, and toast until golden brown and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool.
• Butter a 10-by-15-inch rimmed baking sheet. Spread toasted almonds in an even layer on pan. Place sugar and water in a medium saucepan; stir to combine. Place over medium-high heat; bring to a boil, brushing down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystals from forming. Once sugar is dissolved, cook without stirring until sugar is deep amber. Add lemon juice; immediately pour over almonds, coating with a thin layer. If caramel doesn't cover all the nuts, tilt pan slightly to distribute, or stir in nuts with a wooden spoon, being careful not to touch caramel or hot pan. Cool completely. Gently twist pan to release praline. Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

AMARETTO PUMPKIN PIE WITH ALMOND PRALINE

Steps:

• Make the dough: Pulse the flour, cookies and salt in a food processor until the cookies are finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal with pea-size bits of butter. Drizzle in 1/4 cup ice water and pulse until the dough begins to come together. Turn out into a 9-inch glass pie plate (not deep dish) and press into the bottom and up the sides about 1/4 inch above the rim. Pierce all over with a fork and chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the crust with foil, then fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges are golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and continue baking until the crust is golden all over, 10 to 15 more minutes. Cool completely on a rack.
• Make the filling: Whisk the pumpkin, cream, sugar, eggs, liqueur, nutmeg, vanilla and salt in a bowl. Pour into the crust and bake until the edges are set but the center still quivers, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool completely on a rack.
• Meanwhile, make the praline: Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper and brush with vegetable oil. Stir the sugar and 1 tablespoon water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, swirling the pan but not stirring, until amber, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the almonds and salt. Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, spreading it as thinly as possible with a rubber spatula. Cool completely.
• Coarsely chop or break the praline and sprinkle over the pie right before serving.

ALMOND PRALINE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with foil. In a dry heavy saucepan cook sugar over moderately low heat, stirring slowly with a fork (to help sugar melt evenly), until melted and pale golden. Cook caramel, without stirring, swirling pan, until deep golden. Add almonds, stirring until coated well, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Working quickly, with a metal spatula spread mixture onto foil about 1/4 inch thick and cool until set, about 3 minutes. Chill praline on foil until hard, about 15 minutes. Chop praline. Praline may be made 1 week ahead and kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

ALMOND PRALINE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Combine graham cracker crumbs, almonds, sugar and butter; press firmly on bottom of nine inch springform pan.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy.
• Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth.
• Add eggs and almond extract; mix well.
• Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake 55-60 minutes or until center is set.
• Cool.
• Top with almond praline topping (as follows).
• In small saucepan, combine brown sugar and whipping cream (not whipped).
• Cook and stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Simmer 5 minutes or until thickened.
• Remove from heat; stir in almonds.
• Spoon evenly over cheesecake.
• Store covered in refrigerator.

ALMOND PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the almonds on a baking sheet, and toast until golden brown and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Butter a 10 × 15-inch rimmed baking sheet. Spread the toasted almonds in an even layer on the pan. Place the sugar and water in a medium saucepan; stir to combine. Place over medium-high heat; bring to a boil, brushing down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystals from forming. Once the sugar is dissolved, cook without stirring until the sugar is a deep amber color.
• Add the lemon juice; immediately pour mixture over almonds, coating with a thin layer. If the caramel doesn't cover all the nuts, tilt the pan slightly to distribute, or stir in the nuts with a wooden spoon, being careful not to touch the caramel or the hot pan. Cool completely.
• Gently twist the pan to release the praline. Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

ALMOND PRALINE FOR GENOISE TORTE

Steps:

• Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray; set aside. Bring sugar and 1/4 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Swirl pan to dissolve sugar. Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming. Boil until sugar turns light amber, about 7 minutes.
• Add almonds and salt; cook, stirring constantly, until almonds are toasted and caramel turns dark amber. Pour onto prepared sheet. Let cool completely.
• Break into shards. Transfer to a food processor; pulse until finely ground with a few larger pieces remaining.

ALMOND AND HAZELNUT PRALINE

Steps:

• Line a plate with wax paper.
• Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Add sugar, almonds, and hazelnuts, stirring continuously until almonds and nuts are evenly coated with caramel, about 10 minutes.
• Carefully tip nut-sugar mixture onto the wax paper--mixture will be very hot. Let cool for 5 to 7 minutes.
• Break praline in large pieces and serve as-is or place in a food processor with a blade and chop to desired consistency.