Pecan Phyllo Spirals Recipes

PHYLLO PECAN CRISPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a food processor grind pecans with sugar until finely chopped. In a piece of parchment paper on a work surface arrange 1 phyllo sheet and brush with some butter. Sprinkle phyllo sheet evenly with half of pecan sugar and top with a second phyllo sheet, some butter, remaining pecan sugar, and remaining phyllo sheet, pressing down gently with your fingers and brushing with some butter. Slide a baking sheet under parchment and chill phyllo 10 minutes.
• Transfer phyllo with parchment to a cutting board and with sharp knife cut stack lengthwise into 2-inch-wide strips, cutting through parchment and discarding excess. Cut each rectangle diagonally in half and transfer triangles on parchment to baking sheet, separating triangles slightly. Cover triangles directly with another parchment sheet and bake in lower third of oven 15 minutes, or until golden. Cool crisps on baking sheet on a rack. Crisps keep in an airtight container at room temperature 1 week.

PECAN PHYLLO SPIRALS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Combine the pecans, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl.
• Unroll the phyllo dough, place on a flat surface, and separate out a stack of 12 sheets, gently lifting them off as a single unit. Cover the 12 sheets of phyllo with barely damp paper towels. (Be sure to cover the phyllo every time you take a sheet or it will dry out.) Return the remaining dough to its packaging, seal tightly, and refrigerate or freeze, depending on how soon you'll use it. Place a sheet of phyllo on a flat surface and brush with melted margarine. Continue the layering process with sheets of phyllo brushed with margarine until you have 4 phyllo sheets in the stack. Sprinkle one-third of the nut mixture over the phyllo dough, covering the entire surface, then roll the phyllo up tightly lengthwise, and brush with margarine. Place the roll seam side down, cut it into 3/4-to 1-inch pieces, and place the rolls flat in an ungreased 9 by 13-inch baking pan. Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Combine the honey and orange juice in a small bowl, stir until well combined, then pour the mixture over the rolls. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• I love cinnamon . . . or I thought I did. The name cinnamon refers to cinnamon from a tree grown in Ceylon; however, a related species, Cassia, is also often sold labeled as cinnamon. So even if you think you're buying real cinnamon, most of the powdered cinnamon sold in stores in the U.S. is actually cassia. But don't start screaming fraud just yet-they're very similar, with cassia just being stronger in flavor than cinnamon.

UPSIDE-DOWN PUMPKIN PECAN TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup melted butter, brown sugar and maple syrup. Divide among 12 greased jumbo muffin cups. Sprinkle with pecans; set aside., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs, 1 at a time, until blended. Remove 1 cup for filling. Stir in pumpkin, flour and pie spice to remaining cream cheese mixture; set aside., Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface; brush with butter. Layer with 5 additional phyllo sheets, brushing each layer. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.) Cut sheet stack in half, forming two 9x7-in. rectangles. Carefully press each stack into a prepared muffin cup. Repeat with remaining phyllo., Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon plain cream cheese mixture into each phyllo cup. Top with 3 tablespoons pumpkin mixture. Pinch corners of phyllo together and twist to seal; brush with remaining butter. Bake until golden brown, 45-50 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before inverting onto wire racks to cool completely. If desired, serve with whipped cream and sprinkle with additional pumpkin pie spice.