Caramelized Sugar Shards Recipes

"BROKEN GLASS" CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the cupcakes: Line cupcake tins with baking cups. Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 3/4 teaspoon salt into a medium bowl. Combine milk and vanilla in a measuring cup.
• Beat butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to medium, and gradually add granulated sugar in a slow, steady stream. Beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour.
• In a clean bowl, whisk egg whites with a mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold one-third of the whites into the cupcake batter. Fold in remaining egg whites in 2 batches.
• Divide batter among baking cups, filling each halfway full. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of each comes out clean and the tops spring back when lightly touched, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely in tins set on wire racks.
• Meanwhile, make the caramel: Bring granulated sugar and water to a boil in a small high-sided saucepan, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium-high, and cook until mixture just starts to turn pale gold around edges. Remove from heat, and immediately pour caramel onto a rimmed baking sheet. Working quickly, tilt pan to spread caramel to edges to make a very thin layer. Let cool to harden.
• Make the frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Gradually add confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Beat until creamy and spreadable.
• Frost each cupcake using an offset spatula. Twist pan to release and break caramel in order for it to resemble broken glass. Place a shard or 2 of caramel "glass" in the center of each cupcake. Drizzle or pipe cherry preserves where caramel has entered the cupcake.

CARAMEL SHARDS

Steps:

• Lightly oil a 12-inch square of foil. In a heavy saucepan boil 1 1/4 cups sugar and 1/4 cup water over moderate heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Boil syrup without stirring, washing down sugar crystals on side of pan with a brush dipped in cold water, until pale golden. Continue cooking syrup without stirring, swirling pan, until deep golden. Immediately pour caramel onto foil and cool completely, about 20 minutes. Break caramel into shards. Shards keep, layered between sheets of wax paper, in an airtight container at room temperature 1 day. Recommended for garnish on chocolate and coffee desserts.

CARAMELIZED SUGAR SHARDS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and lightly coat it with a nonstick vegetable spray.Combine the water and sugar in a medium heavy saucepan bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue to cook for 6 to 7 minutes or until mixture turns golden in color, occasionally swirling the pan. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow it to sit for 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly pour the caramel mixture in a free-form pattern onto the baking sheet and allow it to cool. When cool, break the caramelized mixture into irregular triangular shapes. The shards can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.From ULTIMATE SMOOTHIES: delicious recipes for over 125 of the best smoothies, freezes, and blasts. Copyright © 2000 Donna Pliner Rodnitzky. All Rights Reserved.