Mocha-Pecan Mud Pie

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Mocha-Pecan-Mud-Pie
Round out your meal with a slice of decadent mocha-pecan mud pie. This dessert is so rich, your guests will never know it was lightened.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • Vegetable cooking spray
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 pint light coffee ice cream, softened
  • 1 pint light chocolate ice cream, softened
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped reduced-fat cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, divided (about 10 cookies)
  • 1 (6-ounce) ready-made chocolate crumb piecrust
  • 2 tablespoons light chocolate syrup

Preparation

  1. Place pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with sugar.
  2. Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cool.
  3. Stir together ice cream, 3/4 cup cookie chunks, and 1/3 cup pecans; spoon into piecrust. Freeze 10 minutes. Press remaining cookie chunks and pecans evenly on top. Cover with plastic wrap, and freeze 8 hours. Drizzle individual slices evenly with chocolate syrup.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Keebler Chocolate Ready Crust, Häagen-Dazs Light Coffee Ice Cream, and Häagen-Dazs Light Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream.

Salted Caramel-Chocolate Pecan Pie

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Salted Caramel-Chocolate Pecan Pie
A cross between a fudge pie and pecan pie, this is all the more stunning if you arrange the pecans from the center in a spiral pattern.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup 100% cacao unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup toasted chopped pecans
  • 1 (9-inch) unbaked deep-dish piecrust shell
  • 1 recipe
  • Salted Caramel Topping

Preparation

  1. Prepare Filling: Preheat oven to 350°. Stir together first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Add eggs, stirring until well blended. Fold in chopped pecans. Pour mixture into pie shell.
  2. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes. (Filling will be loose but will set as it cools.) Remove from oven to a wire rack.
  3. Arrange pecan halves on pie. Top with warm caramel. Cool 15 minutes; sprinkle with sea salt.

Note: We tested with Hershey’s 100% Cacao Special Dark Cocoa and Maldon Sea Salt Flakes.

Salted Caramel Topping

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon table salt
  • 2 cups toasted pecan halves
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Preparation

  1. Bring sugar, lemon juice and cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. (Do not stir.)
  2. Boil, swirling occasionally after sugar begins to change color, 8 minutes or until dark amber. (Do not walk away from the pan, as the sugar could burn quickly once it begins to change color.)
    Remove from heat; add cream and butter.
  3. Stir constantly until bubbling stops and butter is incorporated (about 1 minute).
  4. Stir in table salt.

Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

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Crunchy-Pecan-Pie-Bites
Cram all the amazing flavor of pecan pie into these bite-sized treats that are perfect for parties and gift-giving alike.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups chopped pecans
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup dark corn syrup
  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 5 (2.1-oz.) packages frozen mini-phyllo pastry shells

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 350º. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant.
  2. Stir together sugar and corn syrup in a medium bowl. Stir in pecans, eggs, and next 3 ingredients.
  3. Spoon about 1 heaping teaspoonful pecan mixture into each pastry shell, and place on 2 large baking sheets.
  4. Bake at 350º for 20 to 22 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks, and let cool completely (about 30 minutes). Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Mini Pecan Pies:

Substitute 1 1/2 (8-oz.) packages frozen tart shells for frozen mini-phyllo pastry shells. Prepare recipe as directed through Step 2. Spoon about 1/4 cup pecan mixture into each tart shell. Place tart shells on a large baking sheet. Proceed with recipe as directed in Step 4, increasing bake time to 25 to 30 minutes or until set. Garnish with currants, if desired. Makes 1 dozen. Prep: 15 min., Bake: 30 min.
Note:

Baking time is 22 minutes per batch.

Chocolate Velvet Cake With Coconut-Pecan Frosting

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Chocolate-Velvet-Cake-With-Coconut-Pecan-Frosting
A lavish amount of melted chocolate and sour cream gives these moist cake layers a tender, velvet-textured crumb. The recipe is a favorite with our Foods staff – one we use often for celebrations throughout the year. You’ll find lots of imaginative ways to bake and frost the cake layers listed with the recipe for the batter.

Chocolate Velvet Cake Batter

This smooth and creamy chocolate velvet cake batter is the basis for many of our most beloved and delicious layer cakes.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 (16-ounce) package light brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 8-ounce container sour cream
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preparation

  1. Melt semisweet chocolate morsels in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH for 30-second intervals until melted (about 1 1/2 minutes total time). Stir until smooth.
  2. Beat butter and brown sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer, beating about 5 minutes or until well blended.
  3. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating just until blended.
  4. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Gradually add to chocolate mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition.
  6. Gradually add 1 cup hot water in a slow, steady stream, beating at low speed just until blended.
  7. Stir in vanilla
  8. Spoon batter evenly into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cakepans. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove layers from pans, and let cool completely on wire rack.
  9. Spread Coconut-Pecan Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake.

Note

The addition of hot water at the end of this recipe makes for an exceptionally moist cake.

Coconut-Pecan Frosting

Ingredients

  • 1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
    1 1/2 cups sugar
    3/4 cup butter or margarine
    6 egg yolks
    1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    2 cups chopped pecans, toasted
    1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut

Preparation

  1. Stir together first 4 ingredients in a heavy 3-quart saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly, 12 minutes.
  2. Remove from heat; add remaining ingredients, and stir until frosting is cool and of spreading consistency.

Pecan Pie Cupcakes

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Pecan-Pie-Cupcakes
Pecan Pie is the quintessential dessert of fall. Crunchy toasted pecans and buttery Piecrust Leaves enhance the rich creamy frosting for a cupcake you’ll make again and again.

Butter Cake Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose soft-wheat flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Paperbaking cups
  • Vegetable cooking spray

Pecan Pie Frosting Ingredients

  • 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 cup dark corn syrup
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Toppings

  • 1 cup toasted pecans

Piecrust Leaves

  • 1/2 14.1-ounce package refrigerated piecrusts

Preparation

Butter Cake:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
  3. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla.
  4. Place paper baking cups in 2 (12-cup) muffin pans, and coat with cooking spray; spoon batter into cups, filling two-thirds full.
  5. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely.

Pecan Pie Frosting:

  1. Whisk together first 6 ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Boil, whisking constantly, 1 minute or until thickened.
  2. Remove pan from heat; stir in butter and vanilla, whisking until butter melts. Place a sheet of plastic wrap directly on surface of mixture (to prevent a film from forming); chill about 3 hours or until thick. Makes 4 cups. Frost each cupcake.

Piecrust Leaves:

  1. 1. Unroll piecrust on a flat surface.
  2. Using a 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out leaves. Bake according to package directions. Makes about 48 leaves.
  3. Top each cupcake with toasted pecans and 1 piecrust leaf.

Note

Pecan Pie Frosting is best when made the night before.

Cranberry-Apple Pie with Pecan Shortbread Crust

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Cranberry-Apple-Pie-with-Pecan-Shortbread-Crust
Savor the flavors of cranberries and apples as they come together with a holiday favorite—pecan shortbread—in this stunning presentation.

Crust Ingredients

  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans
  • 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

Filling Ingredients

  • 3 pounds Gala apples
  • 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • Garnishes: Toasted pecan halves, powdered sugar

Preparation

  1. Prepare Crust: Preheat oven to 350°. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 4 to 5 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Cool completely (about 20 minutes).
  2. Meanwhile, beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer 1 minute or until creamy; add powdered sugar, beating well. Gradually add flour, beating at low speed until mixture is no longer crumbly and starts to come together into a ball. Stir in pecans. Shape one-third of dough into an 8-inch log; wrap in plastic wrap, and chill until ready to use. Press remaining dough on bottom and up sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Cover and chill crust.
  3. Prepare Filling: Peel apples. Cut into 1/4-inch-thick wedges. Toss together apples and next 4 ingredients. Spoon mixture into prepared crust. Drizzle with melted butter.
  4. Cut reserved dough log into 8 (1-inch) pieces. Gently shape each piece into a 6- to 8-inch rope. Lightly press each rope to flatten into strips. Arrange strips in a lattice design over filling.
  5. Bake at 350° for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until juices are thick and bubbly, crust is golden brown, and apples are tender when pierced with a long wooden pick, shielding with foil during last 30 minutes to prevent excessive browning. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Remove sides of pan.