Cocoa Pecan Ring Recipes

CRISP COCOA-PECAN COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk flour, cocoa, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon (generous) salt in medium bowl. Stir butter and next 5 ingredients in another medium bowl until smooth. Stir in flour mixture, then nuts. Cover and chill until firm enough to scoop, at least 4 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.
• Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 325°F. Line 3 large baking sheets with parchment. Measure 2 level tablespoonfuls dough; roll between palms into ball. Place on prepared sheet. Using fingers, spread out dough to 3-inch-diameter disk. Repeat with remaining dough, spacing 5 inches apart.
• Bake cookies 8 minutes; reverse sheets. Bake cookies until flat and beginning to darken around edges, about 10 minutes. Transfer cookies on parchment to rack (cookies will crisp as they cool). DO AHEAD: Can be made 4 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
• Place rack inside rimmed baking sheet. Place chocolate chips in small microwave- safe bowl. Heat chips in microwave in 15-second intervals until smooth, stirring occasionally. Place cookies on rack. Drizzle melted chocolate over cookies. Let stand until chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.

COCOA PECAN RING

Steps:

• In large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add cocoa, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the shortening, salt, egg and 1 cup of the flour. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Scrape dough from side of bowl. Cover; let rise in warm place about 1 hour or until double in size.
• Grease 12-cup fluted tube cake pan with shortening or cooking spray. In small bowl, mix 1/4 cup granulated sugar and the pecans. Stir down dough by beating about 25 strokes. Drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls into sugar-pecan mixture, coating each ball of dough. Place in pan, making 2 layers of balls. Cover; let rise in warm place about 40 minutes or until double in size.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Bake about 25 minutes or until golden brown. Place heatproof serving plate upside down onto pan; turn plate and pan over. Carefully remove pan. Cool slightly. In small bowl, mix all glaze ingredients with spoon until smooth and thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle glaze over coffee cake. Garnish with almonds. Serve warm.

SPICY COCOA GLAZED PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, then use a vegetable oil spray to lightly coat a large but shallow baking sheet.
• In a bowl combine the 1/2 cup of sugar & the warm water, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Add pecans & let soak 10 minutes before draining & discarding the water.
• In a large bowl, stir together the 1/4 cup of sugar, cocoa, chili powder & cayenne pepper.
• Add pecans to this spicy cocoa mixture & toss until all the cocoa mixture coats the pecans, then spread the nuts evenly on the prepared pan.
• Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until pecans start to glisten & appear dry, stirring several times while baking.
• Remove from the oven & let the baking sheet cool completely on a wire rack.
• Store nuts in a tightly covered container, placed in a cool, dry spot.
• Serve as a snack, with beverages, or sprinkle in salads.