Kentucky Christmas Pecans Recipes

KENTUCKY PECAN BARS

Steps:

• For the crust: Adjust the oven rack to the bottom position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• In a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar, salt and butter until the butter is pea-sized. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse until the dough begins to pull from the sides of the bowl. Transfer the dough to a floured surface, gather together and pat into a rectangle. Roll the dough into an 1/8-inch-thick rectangle that measures about 13 by 15 inches. Trim the rough edges and ease the dough into the prepared pan, pressing it onto the bottom and about halfway up the sides (trim the dough more on the sides as needed). Prick the dough a couple times with a fork. Cover with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the dough starts to set up, about 15 minutes. Remove the weights and foil and continue to bake until the crust is just golden, about 5 minutes more. Let it cool completely.
• For the filling: Meanwhile, lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and spread the pecans out on a baking sheet. Bake until toasted and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool and then coarsely chop.
• Bring a couple of inches of water to a simmer in a small saucepan. Put the white chocolate in a heat-safe bowl that sits comfortably in the saucepan without touching the water. Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Spread it evenly on the crust and let it set up.
• Beat the honey and brown sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in the eggs. Pour in the melted butter and continue to beat. Add the flour, bourbon, orange zest and vanilla. Sprinkle the pecans over the white chocolate and pour in the honey mixture.
• Bake until the top of the filling is golden brown and the center sets up, 30 to 40 minutes. Cover and put in the refrigerator until cool. When ready to serve, cut into 36 even bars.

KENTUCKY CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, yolks, brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, bourbon if desired, vanilla and salt. Stir in nuts. , Brush pastry shell with egg white. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Pour filling over chips. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack. , In a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Dollop on pie just before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

KENTUCKY PECAN PIE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, flour, vanilla and salt. Stir in pecans, chocolate chips and butter. Pour into crust. Cover edge with foil. , Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Remove foil; bake 15-20 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate leftovers.

KENTUCKY CHRISTMAS PECANS

Steps:

• In a large, heavy saucepan, combine the sugar and evaporated milk and bring to a low boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook until the syrup registers 240°F on a candy thermometer.
• Remove pan from heat. Add the salt, bourbon and pecans and stir until the nuts are thoroughly coated with the syrup. Pour the pecans onto wax paper and cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

KENTUCKY CHRISTMAS CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325F and grease and flour a 10" tube pan.
• Soak the nutmeg in the whiskey for ten minutes.
• Stir together pecans, raisins, and 1/4 cup flour; set aside.
• Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy.
• Add eggs, one at a time until well incorporated.
• Fold in remaining 1 1/4 cups flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, soaked nutmeg and pecan/raisin mixture until well combined.
• Spoon into prepared pan.
• Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until cake pulls away slightly from the edge of the pan.
• Let stand in the pan for 30 minutes, then turn out onto cooling rack for complete cooling.
• Store in an airtight container.