Caramel For Cranberry Almond Tarts Recipes

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the almonds and brown sugar and grind until the almonds are finely chopped. Add the melted butter and pulse on and off, just until the butter is incorporated into the mixture. Place 6 (4-inch) tart pans with removable bottoms on a baking sheet. (Or you can use a 10-inch pan with removable bottom.) Divide the almond mixture evenly among the tart pans, pressing the crust firmly against the sides and bottoms. Set aside.
• In a small saute pan, slowly heat the brandy, and pour it over the cranberries in a heatproof bowl. (Caution: Do not heat alcohol over a high heat or it will ignite. If this happens, simply let it burn away, making sure that there is nothing flammable near the stove. It will burn away in a matter of seconds.) Let the cranberries sit for 20 minutes and then drain.
• In a medium-size bowl, combine all the filling ingredients and stir vigorously until the mixture is very creamy.
• TO ASSEMBLE: Place the tart pans on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the cranberries into the crust. Carefully pour the cheese mixture just until it reaches the top of the crust. Bake the tarts in a preheated 325 degree oven for 45 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown. Let them cool completely before serving. As the tarts cool, the filling will fall and shrivel slightly. Nonetheless, they will still look irresistible. Remove tarts from pans just before serving.

Steps:

• In a small heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine 1/2 cup water with sugar and corn syrup. Place over high heat and cook, brushing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush, until mixture is amber in color. Immediately remove from heat and slowly stir in cream. Let cool to room temperature before using.

Steps:

• Line an 8-in. square dish with foil; grease foil with 1 teaspoon butter., In a large heavy saucepan, combine sugar, cranberries, corn syrup, cream, salt and remaining butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Using a pastry brush dipped in water, wash down the sides of the pan to eliminate sugar crystals. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 248° (firm-ball stage)., Remove from heat. Immediately pour into prepared pan (do not scrape saucepan). Let stand until firm, about 5 hours or overnight., Using foil, lift candy out of pan; remove foil. Using a buttered knife, cut caramel into 1-in. squares. Wrap individually in waxed paper; twist ends.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Cranberries: bring orange juice and sugar to a boil.
• Add cranberries, remove from heat and let cool.
• Filling: Beat almond paste and sugar until smooth.
• Add remaining ingredients and beat until blended.
• Assembly: Spread filling in tart shell.
• Drain cranberries and place on top of filling.
• Sprinkle with almonds to cover.
• Bake until puffed, crust is done and almonds are golden, then cool.
• Tart dough, cranberries and almond filling can all be made a couple of days ahead. Filling should be brought to room temperature or beat in a mixer to facilitate spreading.

Steps:

• For the caramel almonds: In a nonstick saucepan heat the ingredients for the caramel almonds over med. high heat for about 8 min until thick and bubbly. Spread out on a non stick pan, and cool in the fridge. Once cool seperate into little pieces and leave at room temperature.
• For the dough: In a VERY large bowl add the yeast, then the water, flour, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix well until all the flour has been incorporated. Cover bowl with plastic wrap (sprayed with butter spray). Set in a warm area to rise for 2 hours (I turn my oven to warm for 3 minutes, turn it off, and then put my dough to rise in there. Just make sure it's not too hot.).
• When the dough has risen, you may at this point put it in the fridge to use at a latter time or use now.
• When ready to use, cut away about 1/4 of the dough from the rest, and gently mix in a 1/4 of the cranberries and caramelized almonds, until well incorporated. Form into a ball by tucking the edges of dough under until it forms a tight ball.
• Place on a non stick pan (I like to use the non stick foil) and let it rise in a warm area for another 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 degrees, with a shallow metal pan on the bottom rack. Mix together the topping ingredients.
• Once the dough has risen, top off with 1/4 of the topping and place on the middle rack. Before closing the door, toss the 1 cup of hot water into the metal pan, closing the door quickly to trap the steam. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place one disk of dough on a floured work surface, sprinkle dough with flour, and roll out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out 25 to 30 circles using a 2 1/4-inch round cutter, re-rolling dough once if necessary. Place each circle in a 1 3/4-inch nonstick petit four brioche mold, gently pressing down on the bottom and sides. Place filled molds on a baking sheet; transfer to a freezer for 20 minutes.
• Transfer baking sheet to oven and bake tart shells until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer tart shells, in their molds, to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Place frangipane in pastry bag fitted with a small, plain round tip. Fill each tart shell with 1/4 teaspoon frangipane. Place tart shells, in their molds, on a baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until frangipane springs back when touched with your fingertip, 15 to 17 minutes. Transfer tart shells to a cooling rack; let cool completely.
• In a large bowl, mix together cranberries, almonds, and enough caramel to hold cranberries and almonds together, about 1 cup. Remove almond tarts from their molds and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Spoon cranberry mixture on top of frangipane; transfer to oven and bake until cranberries just begin to pop, 6 to 8 minutes. Drizzle with caramel and serve.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 1/4 cup sugar, almonds and flour; cut in the butter until crumbly. Beat egg and vanilla; add to flour mixture and stir until moistened. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. , Coat fingers with flour and press pastry mixture into the bottom and 1-1/2 in. up the sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. P;lace on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. , Meanwhile, soften gelatin over cold water; let stand for 1 minute. Set aside. In a saucepan, combine the cranberries, jelly and remaining sugar. Cook over medium heat until berries pop. Remove from the heat; stir in gelatin until dissolved and cool. Pour into crust. Refrigerate at least 4 hours. Garnish with whipped cream and almonds if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.