Caramel Coppetta With Marshmallow Sauce And Salted Spanish Peanuts Recipes

CRUNCHY PEANUT CARAMEL NOUGAT CANDY BAR

Steps:

• Spray a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper, leaving 2 inches of overhang on each side.
• For the nougat: Combine the peanut butter, vanilla and marshmallow cream in a large mixing bowl and reserve. Combine the sugar, cream and butter in a small heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir with a heatproof spatula until the sugar dissolves. Fit the saucepan with a candy thermometer and continue monitoring until the mixture starts to turn a light amber color and the temperature reaches 250 degrees F, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Once your nougat hits 250 degrees F, remove from the heat and add to the marshmallow mixture. Mix together to completely combine, but don't overwork. The mixture should be light and fluffy. Turn out the nougat into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a rubber spatula coated in nonstick spray. Place in the refrigerator to cool and get going on your next layer, the caramel.
• For the caramel filling: Add the sugar, cream and corn syrup to a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Carefully stir to combine with a heatproof spatula until the sugar dissolves and bring the mixture to a boil. Stop stirring and boil until the mixture begins to turn an amber color and reaches 250 degrees F, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, carefully, as it will foam up. (Adding the butter at the end will stop the cooking and keeps your caramel soft and chewy.) Keep stirring until it's all dissolved, and then stir in the peanuts. As tempting as it may be, never stick your finger in hot caramel to taste, sugar burns and hurts!
• Pour the caramel over the nougat and spread evenly with the spatula. Place in the refrigerator until the caramel is completely cool, 15 minutes.
• Transfer the candy to a cutting board. Cut lengthwise into thirds and then across in nine 1-inch rectangles, using a sharp knife that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. You can mark the caramel nougat with your knife as a guide before cutting out your bars.
• For the chocolate: Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until the chocolate has melted and is smooth, 8 to10 minutes. Dip each candy piece and completely cover with chocolate on all sides, using two forks, allowing the excess to drip off. Place on a wire cooling rack for the excess to drip off while you dip all of the bars. Once the bars are dipped, transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow the chocolate to set in the fridge at least 20 minutes.

SALTED CARAMEL PEANUT BARS

Steps:

• Butter a 9 1/2-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet or quarter sheet pan and line it with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the 2 long sides. Then butter the parchment.
• Whisk the flour, cornstarch, kosher salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat to combine, scraping down the sides as needed. Slowly add the flour mixture and beat on low until the dough is just combined; do not overwork.
• Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet, spreading it out as evenly as possible with a silicone spatula. Cover with plastic wrap, then use your hands to press and flatten the dough into a smooth even layer. Pull back the plastic wrap and use a fork to prick the dough all over. Cover again and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.
• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• Uncover the dough and bake, rotating the baking sheet from front to back halfway through, until golden, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Combine the caramels and cream in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour the mixture over the shortbread and spread it evenly. Immediately sprinkle with the peanuts and a large pinch of flaky salt. Gently push down on the topping to make sure it sticks to the caramel. Let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Use the parchment overhang to gently lift the shortbread and slide it onto a cutting board. Remove the parchment and cut into 24 squares. Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

CARAMEL COPPETTA WITH MARSHMALLOW SAUCE AND SALTED SPANISH PEANUTS

Steps:

• Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 325°F.
• Put the nuts on a baking sheet, drizzle them with the oil, sprinkle them with the salt, and toss to coat the nuts with the seasonings. Spread the nuts out into an even layer and toast them in the oven until they are dark mahogany in color, 35 to 40 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally so they brown evenly. Remove the nuts from the oven and set aside to cool to room temperature. Use the nuts or transfer them to an airtight container for up to two days.
• Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of marshmallow sauce in the center of each dessert plate to keep the pizzella in place, and lay one pizzella on each plate. Scoop two small scoops of gelato on top of each pizzella. Spoon 1 tablespoon of marshmallow sauce on top of one of the scoops of gelato and spoon a tablespoon of caramel sauce on the other. Scatter 1/4 cup of peanuts on top of each serving of marshmallow sauce, push them down slightly to adhere, and serve.
• Place the egg whites in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and mix them on low speed until they form soft peaks.
• While the eggs are beating, fasten a candy thermometer to the side of a medium saucepan. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and 1/2 cup of water in the saucepan and cook over high heat, brushing down the sides of the pot to remove the sugar crystals, for 5 to 8 minutes, until the temperature reads 231°F. Increase the mixer speed to high and continue to whip the whites until they form stiff peaks. Turn off the mixer until the sugar reaches 234°F. Return the mixer to high speed and pour the hot sugar syrup in a thin, steady stream along the sides of the bowl to combine it with the egg whites. When all of the syrup has been added, continue to beat until soft peaks form. Do not overwhip, or the marshmallow sauce will be too stiff. You want the sauce to be a spoonable consistency but not so loose that it is runny. Add the vanilla and beat to incorporate it. Transfer the marshmallow sauce to a medium bowl and set it aside to cool to room temperature before serving.
• Lambrusco Frizzante Dolce (Emilia-Romagna)

MARSHMALLOW SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the egg whites in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and mix them on low speed until they form soft peaks.
• While the eggs are beating, fasten a candy thermometer to the side of a medium saucepan. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and 1/2 cup of water in the saucepan and cook over high heat, brushing down the sides of the pot to remove the sugar crystals, for 5 to 8 minutes, until the temperature reads 231°F. Increase the mixer speed to high and continue to whip the whites until they form stiff peaks. Turn off the mixer until the sugar reaches 234°F. Return the mixer to high speed and pour the hot sugar syrup in a thin, steady stream along the sides of the bowl to combine it with the egg whites. When all of the syrup has been added, continue to beat until soft peaks form. Do not overwhip, or the marshmallow sauce will be too stiff. You want the sauce to be a spoonable consistency but not so loose that it is runny. Add the vanilla and beat to incorporate it. Transfer the marshmallow sauce to a medium bowl and set it aside to cool to room temperature before serving.

CARAMEL PEANUT FUDGE

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 9x13 inch dish.
• For the bottom layer: Combine 1 cup milk chocolate chips, 1/4 cup butterscotch chips and 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook and stir until melted and smooth. Spread evenly in prepared pan. Refrigerate until set.
• For the filling: In a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter. Stir in sugar and evaporated milk. Bring to a boil, and let boil 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in marshmallow creme, 1/4 cup peanut butter and vanilla. Fold in peanuts. Spread over bottom layer, return to refrigerator until set.
• For the caramel: Combine caramels and cream in a medium saucepan over low heat. Cook and stir until melted and smooth. Spread over filling. Chill until set.
• For the top layer: In a small saucepan over low heat, combine 1 cup milk chocolate chips, 1/4 cup butterscotch chips, and 1/4 cup peanut butter. Cook and stir until melted and smooth. Spread over caramel layer. Chill 1 hour before cutting into 1 inch squares.

CANNOLI DI GELATO

Steps:

• Spray the cannoli forms one at a time thoroughly with cooking spray. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the egg whites together in a small bowl and have a pastry brush handy.
• Place one sheet of the prepared, sheeted cannoli dough on a floured work surface. Use a 3-inch square fluted cookie cutter to cut squares as close as you can to one another, making sure to press firmly on the cutter to cut all the way through the dough. When you have cut all the squares from one sheet of dough, carefully pull each square away, discarding the scraps, and place the squares in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat, cutting the remaining sheets of dough in the same way, cutting 3 squares for each serving.
• Flour your work surface again and, working four at a time, lay the squares of dough on the floured surface with one edge of each square parallel to the edge of the work surface. Brush the top edge of each square with the egg white. Lay one cannoli form in the center of each square, parallel to the edge, and roll it away from you so the dough wraps around the form. Gently press the dough where you brushed egg white to seal the cannoli closed. Place the dough- wrapped form on the baking sheet with the dough squares and repeat, wrapping the remaining forms in the same way. If you have more squares of dough than forms, place the dough in the refrigerator until you've fried and removed the shells from the forms you already rolled.
• Fasten a deep-fry thermometer to the side of a medium saucepan and fill the saucepan 3 to 4 inches deep with oil. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until the thermometer registers 350°F. While the oil is heating, line a baking sheet or a plate with paper towels.
• Working in batches and taking care not to overcrowd the pan, carefully drop the dough-wrapped cannoli forms into the oil in a single layer and fry until the cannoli are golden brown and blistered, turning them so they brown evenly, 4 to 5 minutes. Use tongs to lift the cannoli from the oil and transfer them to the paper towels to drain. Add more oil to the pan if it has dropped below 3 inches deep and wait for the oil to heat to 350°F before frying the remaining cannoli. When the cannoli are cool enough to handle, hold on to the metal form with a dishtowel and gently put your other hand around the cannoli, gripping it gently as you pull it so that it doesn't break as you slide it off, and return it to the baking sheet. If you are reusing the forms, place them in a bowl of ice water to chill. Dry thoroughly and spray them with cooking spray before wrapping them with dough and frying them in the same way. When you have fried all the cannoli shells, set them aside to come to room temperature. (This would be the perfect time to spin the gelati or sorbetti if you haven't already.)
• When you have fried all of the cannoli, line a baking sheet that will fit in your freezer with parchment paper. (If you have fried all the dough squares, turn the parchment from the baking sheet so the clean side is facing up and use it to line the baking sheet.)
• While the gelato is still soft (within several hours of spinning it in an ice cream maker), spoon it into a large pastry bag or a large sealable plastic bag with a 1/2-inch opening. Holding a cannolo shell in one hand and the pastry bag in the other, pipe the gelato or sorbetto into one end of the cannolo to fill it halfway. Turn the cannolo and pipe the gelato or sorbetto into the other side to fill it. Each cannolo will take about 3 tablespoons of gelato or sorbetto. Place the filled cannolo on the prepared baking sheet and repeat, piping the remaining gelato into the remaining shells in the same way. Place the baking sheet in the freezer to freeze the cannoli for at least 1 hour until firm, or up to several hours. The cannoli can be prepared up to one day in advance, wrapped tightly in plastic.
• Remove the cannoli from the freezer. One by one, place the cannoli on a cutting board and use a large sharp knife to trim off the edges of the gelato, making a clean, sharp edge. Discard (or eat!) the trimmed gelato. Dip the ends in nuts, cacao nibs, or coconut, if you are using them.
• Serve the cannoli three to a plate, laying them side by side. Spoon a teaspoon of each desired dessert sauce on each plate and lay one cannolo on top or each pool of sauce. Spoon a little more sauce over the top of each. Sprinkle the corresponding nuts over the sauce on each cannolo, and serve.
• suggested wine pairing
• Sugmoscato di Pantelleria (Sicily)

PIZZELLE

Steps:

• Toast the anise seeds in a small skillet over medium-high heat, shaking the pan constantly so they don't burn, for about 1 minute, until they are golden brown and fragrant. Pour the seeds onto a plate and set them aside to cool to room temperature.
• Combine the sugar, egg whites, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl and whisk until the ingredients are smooth. Add the butter and whisk to incorporate. Add the flour and anise seeds, and whisk until the flour is no longer visible. Transfer the batter to an airtight container and refrigerate to chill for at least 2 hours or as long as one week.
• Spray the inside surfaces of an electric or handheld pizzelle iron with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat the pizzelle iron over medium-high heat. Spoon 1 tablespoon of batter in the center. Close the iron and cook until it is deep golden on each side, 2 to 3 minutes, turning often. Open the iron and, using a small spatula or knife, carefully remove the pizzelle to a flat surface to cool. Use the spatula or knife to scrape off any excess cooked batter along the edges of the iron and repeat, spraying the iron with nonstick spray and preheating it before adding more batter, using the remaining batter to cook as many pizzelle as you are serving. When the pizzelle have cooled completely, transfer them to an airtight container and store them at room temperature for up to one day.
• suggested wine pairing
• Vin Santo del Chianti Classico (Tuscany)