Noel Pecan Logs Recipes

Steps:

• Butter an 8-in. square pan with 2 teaspoons butter; set aside. Combine confectioners sugar and milk powder; set aside. In a heavy saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter, sugar and corn syrup; cook and stir until sugar is dissolved and mixture comes to a boil. Stir in confectioners' sugar mixture, about a third at a time, until blended. , Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Continue stirring until the mixture mounds slightly when dropped from a spoon. Spread into prepared pan. Cool. , Cut candy into four strips; cut each strip in half. Shape each into a log; wrap in waxed paper and twist ends. Freeze or refrigerate until firm. , Meanwhile, in a microwave, melt caramels with milk, stirring often. Roll logs in caramel mixture, then in pecans. Wrap in waxed paper. Store at room temperature in airtight containers. Cut into slices with a serrated knife.

Steps:

• Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Put the mini marshmallows in the skillet with a flat side down. Cook, undisturbed, until golden brown on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Let cool in the skillet.
• Slice a thin piece off both ends of 6 of the Swiss roll cakes to reveal the swirls (discard the end pieces). These will be the logs. Next, slice off the end of one of the remaining cakes on a 30-degree angle, then slice the cake into thirds, making parallel cuts to the end angle and finishing by cutting the second end on the same angle. If the chocolate coating falls off, that's okay; discard it. Discard the ends. Repeat with another cake. These angled pieces will be the branches. (Note that you will have 2 unused cakes, in case you mess up; if you don't mess up, you can just eat them.)
• Cut out six 3-inch parchment squares. Flip a water glass upside down and place one of the parchment squares on the flat bottom. Place a cake log on the parchment. With a butter knife or small offset spatula, spread a thin layer of frosting over the chocolate coating. Run the tip of the knife or spatula down the length of the log to create wide ridges. Stick the end of one branch onto the side of the log and spread frosting over the chocolate coating (or where the chocolate coating would be). Stick 3 of the marshmallows, browned-side up, onto the side of the yule log. Carefully slide the parchment with the yule log off of the glass; set aside. Repeat with the remaining logs, branches, frosting and marshmallows to create 5 additional yule logs.
• Freeze the yule logs on their parchment squares until the frosting is set, at least 30 minutes and up to 3 days (in an airtight container). To serve, transfer each log to a plate, remove the parchment and arrange 2 sprigs of rosemary under each one. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Add the flour, beating on low speed just until combined. Stir in pecans. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until easy to handle., Shape 1/2 cups into 1/2-in.-thick logs. Cut logs into 2-in. pieces. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Roll warm cookies in confectioners' sugar; cool on wire racks.

Steps:

• Mix sugar, marshmallow cream, and vanilla together.
• Shape into logs and freeze.
• Melt margarine and caramel. Dip logs in caramel mix and quickly roll in pecans.
• Wrap in plastic wrap.
• These can be made ahead and frozen.
• To make a pretty gift, use colored plastic wrap and tie ends with ribbon.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325*F.
• Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or leave the sheets ungreased.
• Using electric mixer on medium speed, cream butter, sugar and vanilla in medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy, about 1 1/2 minutes. Stop the mixer once or twice to scrape down bowl with rubber spatula.
• Add flour and salt and blend on medium speed about 1 minute. Scrape the bowl and add the nuts with several more turns of the mixer.
• Measure out slightly rounded tbls. of dough and shape them into little logs 2 1/2" long. Place the logs 1 1/2" apart on prpared cookie sheets. Flatten slightly with your palm so they are about 1 1/2" wide.
• Bake cookies until lightly golden, about 30-35 minutes. Cool on cookie sheets.
• When cookies are cool, melt the chocolate in top of double boiler placed over simmering water.
• Pour the melted chocolate into a small deep bowl and dip half of each cookie into the chocolate, using the rim of the bowl to scrape any excess chocolate off the bottom of the cookie.
• As they are dipped, place the cookies on a large sheet of waxed paper and allow to set until the chocolate hardens, several hours. If it is a humid day, refrigerate them in order to speed the procees. Enjoy!

Steps:

• Place egg whites in large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan with waxed paper; grease the paper and set aside. , Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, beat egg yolks on high speed for 5 minutes or until thick and lemon-colored. Gradually beat in 1/3 cup sugar. Sift flour, baking cocoa, baking powder and salt together twice; gradually add to yolk mixture and mix well (batter will be very thick). , With clean beaters, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff peaks form. Gradually fold into batter. Spread evenly into prepared pan. , Bake until cake springs back when lightly touched, 10-12 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes. Turn cake onto a kitchen towel dusted with cocoa powder. Gently peel off waxed paper. Roll up cake in towel, jelly-roll style, starting with a short side; cool completely on a wire rack., Meanwhile, for the filling, beat cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and almond extract, beating until stiff peaks form. Unroll cake; spread filling to within 1 in. of edges. Roll up again. , In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in chocolate, milk and vanilla until smooth. Frost the cake, using a metal spatula to create a bark-like effect.

Steps:

• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 17x12x1-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment; butter paper. Pulse nuts and flour in processor until nuts are finely chopped (not ground). Using electric mixer, beat egg whites and salt in very large bowl until foamy. With mixer running, gradually beat in 1/4 cup sugar, beating just until stiff peaks form. Using electric mixer, beat yolks with 1/3 cup sugar and bourbon in large bowl until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add yolk mixture to egg-white mixture. Sprinkle nuts over; gently fold until almost incorporated. Add butter; fold gently just to blend. Pour into prepared baking sheet, spreading batter gently to form even layer.
• Bake cake until edges begin to brown and cake is firm to touch, about 14 minutes. Cool in pan on rack.
• For frosting and caramel sauce:
• Stir 1 1/4 cups sugar and 1/3 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until deep amber, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with wet pastry brush, about 9 minutes (time will vary, depending on size of pan). Remove from heat; immediately add cream (mixture will bubble vigorously). Whisk in butter, bourbon, and salt. Stir over medium heat until any caramel bits dissolve. Transfer 1 cup caramel sauce to small pitcher. Add chocolate to remaining caramel in saucepan. Let stand off heat 5 minutes; whisk until smooth. Transfer to bowl. Let frosting stand until spreadable, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
• Spread 1 cup frosting over cake in even layer. Beginning at 1 long side and using parchment as aid, roll up cake jelly-roll style. Starting 1 inch in from each end of cake, cut off 3-inch-long diagonal piece from each end. Arrange cake, seam side down, on platter. Spread cut side of each 3-inch cake piece with some of frosting. Attach 1 cake piece, frosting side down, to top of cake near 1 end. Attach second piece to side of cake near opposite end. Cover cake with remaining frosting. Run fork in concentric circles on cake ends. Do ahead Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover loosely with waxed paper and let stand at room temperature.
• Garnish platter with leaves. Sprinkle cake lightly with powdered sugar. Cut cake into slices and serve with bananas, if desired, ice cream, and sauce.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Stir in the shredded cheeses, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder and Worcestershire sauce. Shape mixture into two logs, about 6 in. long. Roll in pecans, pressing down gently., Wrap each in plastic wrap; refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Serve with crackers.

Steps:

• Line a 9x5 inch loaf pan with buttered wax paper; set aside.
• Combine corn syrup, water and sugar in small heavy saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a boil.
• Wash down side of pan with pastry brush dipped in hot water frequently, to remove sugar crystals.
• Add candy thermometer.
• Continue to cook until mixture reaches the hard-ball stage (255 degrees F).
• Meanwhile, beat egg white and cream of tarter with heavy duty electric mixer, until stiff but not dry.
• Slowly pour hot syrup into egg white, beating constantly.
• Add vanilla extract.
• Beat until candy forms soft peaks and starts to lose its gloss.
• Spoon fondant into the prepared pan.
• Cut into three strips lengthwise, then crosswise in center.
• Freeze until firm.
• Roll into logs.
• Place back in freezer.
• Line another baking sheet with wax paper, set aside.
• Melt caramels with water in small but heavy saucepan over low heat.
• Stir occasionally.
• Arrange pecans on wax paper.
• Working quickly, drop 1 piece of the frozen fondant into melted caramels to coat.
• While still warm, roll in pecans to completely coat the outside.
• Place on prepared baking sheet to set.
• Repeat with remaining fondant pieces.
• Reheat the caramel mixture if it becomes too thick.
• Cut finished logs into 1/2 inch slices.
• Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container between layers of wax paper or freeze for up to three months.

Steps:

• In a bowl mix together cream cheese, shredded cheddar, blue cheese, green onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, parsley and black pepper until well combined.
• Cover and chill a minimum of 8 hours or overnight to blend flavors.
• Shape into 4 equal size logs, then roll the logs completely into the chopped nuts.
• Cover and chill or freeze for up to 3 weeks wrapped tightly in foil.

Steps:

• Set aside 1 cup of the pecans to roll the logs inches.
• Mix remaining ingredients (I use a mixer).
• Refrigerate for several hours.
• Divide cheese mixture in half, and roll each half into a log (or make 1 huge log).
• Roll each log in reserved pecans, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until serving time.
• Unwrap, place on platter, and serve with crackers.

Steps:

• Cream butter until light and fluffy. Beat in sugar slowly. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk one tablespoon at a time until mixture is the consistency of a stiff cookie dough. Form dough into eight small logs and roll in the chopped pecans. Press pecans into the surface of the dough.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Process pecans in a food processor until finely ground; set aside.
• Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Put butter and confectioners sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla; mix until well combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture and half of the ground pecans; mix untiljust combined. Wrap dough in plastic; refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Roll tablespoons of dough into 2-inch-long logs. Rolllogs in remaining pecans. Place on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing about 1 inch apart.
• Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until pale golden and slightly cracked, 14 to 15 minutes. Transfer logs to wire racks to cool, about 5 minutes. Sift confectioners' sugar over cookies before serving, if desired. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 3 days.