Swirled Caramel Cranberry Meringue Squares Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Beat the egg whites and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until frothy (use the whisk attachment if using a stand mixer). Add the cream of tartar; increase the speed to medium high and add the superfine sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the meringue (or add the extract) and continue beating until the sugar is dissolved and the meringue is thick, glossy and forms stiff peaks, about 6 minutes.
• Fit a piping bag with a large star tip. Fill the bag with the meringue and pipe spirals on the prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Sprinkle with the coarse sugar.
• Bake 1 hour, then turn off the oven and let the meringues stand in the oven until dry, about 2 hours. Store in an airtight container up to 1 week.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F Lightly butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line pan with parchment paper or foil, extending over sides by 2 inches; set aside.
• For the crust: In a small mixing bowl, combine bake mix, butter, cream cheese and sour cream. With an electric mixer on low, beat just until combined. Form into a ball, then press into a 4-inch disc. Wrap well in plastic and chill 20 minutes. Using fingers, press dough in an even layer over the bottom of prepared pan. Sprinkle almonds over top and press firmly into dough. Using a fork, prick dough in several places. Loosely cover pan with foil; bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F and continue to bake until crust is browned, about 15 minutes more. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
• For the lemon filling: In a 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan, combine egg, egg yolks and sugar substitute. Stir in lemon zest and lemon juice. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, just until the mixture thickens, 4 to 6 minutes. Do not overcook. Remove from heat and add butter. Whisk until blended and smooth. Pour into a small bowl, place plastic wrap directly on surface of filling and refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes.
• For the meringue: In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer on medium, beat egg whites until frothy. Add cream of tartar. Increase speed to medium-high and beat just until egg whites form stiff peaks, about 2 minutes. Beat in sugar substitute, 1 tablespoon at a time, scraping down sides of bowl once or twice. Add vanilla. Beat until thick, about 30 to 45 seconds.
• To assemble: Evenly spread lemon filling over baked crust. Drop mounds of meringue over filling. Using the back of a spoon, quickly spread meringue, completely covering lemon filling. Bake until meringue is golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Run knife along unlined sides of pan and, holding extended ends of parchment, carefully lift out of pan. Cut into 9 squares. Chill until ready to serve. (If assembling completely, squares must be served on the day prepared. Can be refrigerated up to 3 hours; see note below for making ahead.) Sprinkle meringue squares with almonds before serving.
• Tip: The crust and lemon filling can be made up to one day ahead. Refrigerate filling in an airtight container. Store crust at room temperature. On the day of serving, follow step 4 to prepare meringue and assemble as instructed in step 5.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter, cream cheese and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and flavoring. Gradually beat flour into creamed mixture. Refrigerate 2 hours or until easy to handle., In a microwave-safe bowl, melt caramels; stir until smooth. Stir in cream cheese until blended; set aside. Divide dough in half. Roll each portion between two pieces of waxed paper to 1/4-in. thickness. Spread caramel mixture over dough to within 1/2 in. of edges., Roll up tightly jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Wrap rolls in plastic wrap; refrigerate 4 hours or until firm., Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap and cut dough crosswise into 1/4-in. slices. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Steps:

• Caramel: Lightly brush bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with oil. Line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides; lightly brush parchment with oil.
• Bring cream, granulated sugar, butter, and corn syrup to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to medium-high; continue cooking, without stirring but swirling pan occasionally, until a candy thermometer registers 240 degrees, 8 to 10 minutes. Immediately remove from heat; stir in salt and vanilla.
• Pour caramel onto prepared baking sheet; spread with an offset spatula. Let stand, uncovered, at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day.
• Nougat: Sift together milk powder and confectioners' sugar into a bowl.
• Place 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Continue cooking, without stirring but swirling pan occasionally, until a candy thermometer registers 250 degrees, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, as sugar starts to boil, beat together egg white and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar on medium speed until stiff but not dry peaks form. Reduce speed to low; as soon as sugar syrup reaches 250 degrees, carefully pour down side of bowl. Increase speed to high and continue beating until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes more. Beat in vanilla, then chocolate. Fold in milk-powder mixture. (Nougat will appear grainy.)
• With a rubber spatula, scrape nougat onto caramel; smooth with an offset spatula. Let stand, uncovered, until completely cool and crystallized, 8 to 12 hours.
• Using parchment, lift candy slab onto a cutting board, keeping parchment underneath. With an oiled knife, cut into 9-by-1/2-inch strips; twist into spiral ropes. To serve, cut strips into 2-inch pieces, if desired. Candies can be wrapped individually in waxed paper and stored in an airtight container up to 1 week.

Steps:

• Combine the filling ingredients, cook, stirring constantly until thick and set aside.
• For the crust, cream butter, add brown sugar and beat well.
• Blend in the flour and press into the bottom of an ungreased 9" square baking pan.
• Bake at 375° for 15 minutes.
• Allow to cool, then spread with cooled filling.
• For topping, beat egg whites, gradually add the sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
• Fold in 2 cups coconut and cover lemon filling with the topping.
• Return to oven and bake for 15 minutes longer or until browned.
• Cool and cut into squares.