Rum Raisin Clusters Recipes

Steps:

• Bring rum almost to a simmer in a small saucepan. Remove from heat; add raisins, cover, and let cool. Drain and blot dry.
• Melt chocolate and butter in microwave, 1 minute, 20 seconds. Stir until smooth, then stir in coarse salt, cornflakes, and raisins. Drop mixture onto parchment-lined baking sheets in 1 1/4-inch mounds. Sprinkle with flaky salt. Chill until set, about 30 minutes or up to 5 days.

Steps:

• For the simple syrup: In a saucepan bring 2 cups sugar and 1 cup water to a boil, stirring, and boil until sugar is completely dissolved. Cool syrup.
• For the Raisin-oni: Combine chocolate and simple syrup in a heat-proof bowl. Microwave for 1 minute 15 seconds, remove from microwave and stir to smooth consistency. Add raisins and 1 tablespoon water to the bowl and mix to completely cover all raisins. Using a spoon or small ice-cream scoop, scoop out raisins into clusters onto a waxed paper lined sheet pan. Once all RAISIN-ONI are formed, cover them with a sheet of waxed paper and plastic wrap, place in refrigerator and chill until firm.

Steps:

• Place the raisins in a mixing bowl or glass jar and add water so that it covers the raisins by at least 1/2-inch. Stir in the rum or flavored alcohol. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 24 hours. It is even better to allow the raisins to hydrate for 2 to 3 days. They will become very plump as they absorb the liquid. You can keep them in the refrigerator for a few weeks. When you are ready to use them, strain the amount that you need through a fine-mesh sieve before adding them to the recipe.

Steps:

• For the pancakes: In a small saucepan over high heat, combine the rum, orange juice and raisins, and bring to a simmer. Remove the pan from heat and let sit for 15 minutes. Drain the raisins and reserve the soaking liquid.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, cardamom and nutmeg. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, melted butter, orange zest, vanilla and eggs. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold in the rehydrated raisins. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Brush a generous coat of clarified butter onto a large cast-iron griddle over medium heat. Add a scant 1/4 cup of the batter to the pan and cook until the bottom is lightly golden brown and bubbles appear on the surface of the pancake, about 3 minutes. Flip the pancake over and continue cooking until the bottom is golden brown. Transfer to a plate. Repeat for the remaining pancakes.
• For the glaze: Beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Thin out the glaze with some of the raisin soaking liquid¿it should be just pourable.
• Serve 3 pancakes per person, drizzle each stack with the glaze and top with warm maple syrup or honey, if desired. Garnish with confectioners' sugar and fresh mint.