Caramelized Brazil Nut Strudel Recipes

SALTED CARAMEL-APPLE STRUDEL

Steps:

• Make the caramel: Combine the granulated sugar, 1/3 cup water and the salt in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Cook, gently swirling the skillet occasionally but not stirring, until amber, 8 to 10 minutes. Brush any sugar crystals off the side of the skillet with a wet pastry brush. Remove from the heat and whisk in 3 tablespoons butter and the vinegar (the mixture will bubble).
• Add the apples and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 12 minutes. Strain the apples and transfer to a bowl; set the caramel aside. Toss 1 tablespoon gingersnap crumbs and the cinnamon with the apples; let cool completely.
• Melt the remaining 5 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Let cool, then skim off the foam and discard. Spoon the melted butter into a bowl, leaving any solids in the pan.
• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a sheet of phyllo on a clean kitchen towel or piece of parchment with a long side in front of you. (Keep the remaining phyllo covered with a damp towel.) Lightly brush the phyllo with some of the melted butter and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Layer another sheet of phyllo on top; brush with more butter and sprinkle with more sugar. Repeat with the remaining 4 sheets of phyllo. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons gingersnap crumbs on top.
• Spoon the apple filling onto the phyllo in a strip along the bottom edge, leaving a 1-inch border. Use the towel or parchment to help roll the phyllo into a log, starting at the bottom edge. Place seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with more butter and sprinkle with more granulated sugar. Make a few slits on top with a knife to vent. Bake until golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Beat the heavy cream in a bowl with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, then gently fold in some of the reserved caramel (you may need to whisk the caramel first to loosen). Dust the strudel with confectioners' sugar and cut into pieces. Serve with the caramel whipped cream and more caramel; sprinkle with salt.

CARAMELIZED BRAZIL-NUT STRUDEL

Steps:

• Combine the raisins, apricots and rum. Set aside.
• Melt the two tablespoons of butter in a large heavy skillet just until foaming. Stir in the apple and let it cook over medium heat for about five minutes until softened. Add the brown sugar, lemon juice, zest, cinnamon, cloves, salt and raisin-apricot mixture. Mix well. Turn up the heat and allow the mixture to boil gently until thickened and slightly reduced - five to six minutes.
• Add the chopped Brazil nuts and stir to blend. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Butter a cookie sheet or jelly-roll pan.
• On a clean work space, spread a large towel, place one sheet of phyllo on it and brush a 1-inch strip along the top with melted butter. Place the lower edge of a second sheet of phyllo along the buttered edge of the first sheet, overlapping about 3/4-inch. Brush both sheets lightly with butter and sprinkle about two tablespoons of bread crumbs evenly over this. Repeat with the third and fourth, and again with the fifth and sixth, sheets of phyllo. Place the seventh phyllo sheet on top, brush the edge with butter and place the eighth sheet on top, but do not brush all over with butter.
• Transfer the nut mixture to lower edge of phyllo, forming it into an even cylinder, and leaving a 1 1/2-inch border on each side. Holding the towel by the lower edge, flip it, causing the phyllo to roll over on itself. Turn in the phyllo edges and continue to roll.
• Carefully roll the strudel onto a cookie sheet, seam side down. Brush the top and ends with butter and bake in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes, or until crisp and golden.
• Remove from the oven and let stand at least 10 minutes before serving. Dust with confectioners' sugar and garnish with the three whole Brazil nuts. To serve, use a serrated knife to cut 1-inch slices and garnish with unsweetened whipped cream.

CARAMELIZED NUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Combine almonds, cashews, pecans, and walnuts in a large bowl.
• Line baking pan with foil and lightly oil.
• Bring sugar, water, and honey to a boil in a small saucepan over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Pour over nuts and stir until nuts are well coated.
• Transfer nuts with a slotted spoon to baking pan (discarding syrup) and roast in 1 layer in middle of oven, stirring nuts occasionally, until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.
• (gotta watch them, they burn easily) Lightly oil another sheet of foil, spread nuts in 1 layer on foil and cool completely.
• Break apart any nuts that are stuck together.

CARAMELIZED APPLES WITH CHEDDAR STREUSEL

Steps:

• For the streusel: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a bowl, combine flour, butter, brown sugar, pecans, and smoked paprika. Using a pastry cutter, work the ingredients until a rough dough forms; it should resemble large grains. Place streusel on a nonstick baking sheet in an even layer. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake until toasty, 15 to 20 minutes.
• For the apples: In a medium saute pan over medium-high heat, add sugar and water. Bring to a low boil, occasionally swirling the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes until the sugar begins to caramelize and turn light brown to amber; this is a little tricky and needs to be watched continuously. When light brown, turn off the heat, add the apples and whisky, and light on fire to flambe (this will cook out some of the alcohol). Then, add the butter and turn heat to low. Cook the apples, flipping to coat in the caramel, about 2 to 4 minutes. In the meantime, combine the whipped cream and creme fraiche.
• To assemble: Divide the apples into 8 individual serving dishes or one large one. Top with a dollop of the creme fraiche mixture and some streusel.

CARAMELISED NUTS

Steps:

• Mix together all the ingredients in a pan and place over a moderate heat. Stir constantly, allowing the mix to caramelise and turn brown and making sure all the nuts are well coated.
• Pour the nuts onto some greaseproof paper. Don't worry if they are stuck together, as they can be separated when cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

APPLE-NUT STRUDEL

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Brush a large baking pan with melted butter; set aside. Combine almonds and walnuts in a small bowl; set aside.
• Combine apples, raisins, 2 tablespoons sugar, lemon zest, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Bring 3/4 cup water and cornstarch to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring constantly until thick and smooth. Add 4 remaining tablespoons sugar, and stir until dissolved. Pour over apples. Stir to combine.
• Place a sheet of phyllo on a flat work surface to form a square. Brush with butter. Place a second sheet over the first. Brush with butter. Repeat four times.
• Spread 1/4 cup nuts over bottom third of phyllo in a 1-inch-wide line parallel to and about 3 inches from the edge of pastry. Top with a sheet of phyllo. Brush with butter. Spread half of apple mixture in a 3 1/2-inch-wide line covering the nuts; sprinkle with cinnamon. Top with a sheet of phyllo. Brush with butter. Fold in right and left sides of phyllo about 1 inch. Fold phyllo over once to cover apples. Brush with butter. Roll like a cigar almost to end, brushing all surfaces with butter. Fold in ragged edges, and brush with butter. Finish rolling, and place, seam-side down, in prepared pan.
• Brush with butter. Cut six 1-inch diagonal slits in top of roll. With fingers, slightly widen slits. Repeat with remaining phyllo and filling.
• Transfer to oven, and bake until golden, about 10 minutes. Lower heat to 350 degrees. Continue baking until juices are bubbling and apples are tender when pierced with a knife, 30 to 40 minutes more.