Caramel Walnut Macaroons Recipes

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL MACARONS

Steps:

• Line two or three baking sheets with parchment or nonstick baking mats.
• In a bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar, almond flour, cocoa powder and salt.
• Place egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed until egg whites are white in color and hold onto the bottom of the whisk, 2 to 3 minutes. Continue to beat, slowly adding 40 grams (3 tablespoons) granulated sugar until peaks are stiff, about 1 minute.
• Using a rubber spatula, gently fold almond mixture into egg whites in 4 batches, until there are no traces of egg whites.
• Spoon batter into a pastry bag or a heavy-duty plastic bag, cutting a small hole in a corner of the plastic bag. Pipe 1-inch rounds of batter, an inch apart from one another, onto the baking sheets.. (Alternatively, use a 1/2 teaspoon measure to form the rounds.) Pick up baking sheets and bang them against work surface. Let sheets sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to dry tops. (Don't skip this step; it helps the macarons rise nicely.)
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake macarons until puffed and firm, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through baking. Transfer sheets to rack to cool completely, then overturn cookies on the baking sheets so that flat bottoms are facing up.
• To make the caramel, combine the remaining 215 grams (1 cup) granulated sugar with 1/4 cup water in a clean, dry skillet over medium heat. Cook, swirling the pan occasionally to help distribute the sugar until it completely melts and turns a rich reddish brown (imagine the color of an Irish setter), about 15 minutes.
• Working quickly, spoon caramel over half the overturned cookies; immediately sandwich with remaining, unfilled cookies. If the caramel hardens before you're done, gently melt it over low heat and continue filling cookies.
• Fill a small saucepan with water and bring to a simmer. Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl and place over pot. Heat, stirring frequently, until melted. (Or melt chocolate in the microwave.) Using a fork, drizzle cookies with melted chocolate. Let the caramel and chocolate set at room temperature or in the refrigerator. The caramel should harden to the texture of hard candy.

COCONUT-NUT MACAROONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together egg whites, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix well with a rubber spatula or your hands.
• Use a nonstick baking sheet, or line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Wet your hands and make small piles of the mixture, each 1 to 2 tablespoons; place on sheet about an inch apart.
• Bake until firm to the touch and lightly browning on edges, about 15 minutes. Remove baking sheet and cool on a rack for at least 30 minutes before eating. These keep well in a covered container for up to 3 days.

WALNUT CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line a 13x9-in. pan with foil; grease foil with 2 teaspoons butter., In a large heavy saucepan, combine cubed butter, sugar, 1 cup cream and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 238° (soft-ball stage). Stir in remaining cream very slowly so that mixture does not stop boiling., Using a pastry brush dipped in water, wash down the sides of the pan to eliminate sugar crystals. Cook and stir until thermometer reads 245° (firm-ball stage)., Remove from heat; stir in walnuts and vanilla. Immediately pour into prepared pan (do not scrape saucepan). Let stand until firm, about 5 hours or overnight., Using foil, lift candy out of pan; remove foil. Using a buttered knife, cut caramel into 1-in. squares. Wrap individually in waxed paper; twist ends.

SALTED CARAMEL COCONUT MACAROONS

Steps:

• Arrange racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick foil.
• Stir coconut, flour, and salt together in a large bowl. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract until well blended. Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop and drop 2-inch balls of dough onto the prepared sheets. Using your thumb, make an indentation in each dough ball.
• Bake in the preheated oven until coconut is toasted and bottoms are golden, 15 to 17 minutes, rotating pans halfway through. If cookies puff, re-press centers with the rounded side of a measuring teaspoon. Cool on the sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; cool completely.
• Spoon a scant teaspoon of caramel topping into each indentation. Sprinkle each with several flakes of sea salt.

5 MINUTE CARAMEL WALNUTS

Steps:

• Place a piece of parchment on a dinner plate (approximately the size of the plate) or any other heat proof plate. Set aside.
• Place all ingredients (except two pinches salt) in a medium non-stick skillet.
• Place skillet over high heat and cook (stirring occasionally) for 5 minutes (stirring constantly in the last minute and reduce heat to medium during the last minute), until all moisture evaporates and the nuts get darker, glossy and begins to clump together (refer pictures). It is important to make sure that all the liquid is evaporated before removing from heat.
• Immediately transfer nuts (scraping any remaining caramel off the pan) on the prepared parchment. Spread the nuts, so that they are in a single layer and sprinkle 2 pinches salt evenly on top of nuts. Let cool to room temperature and break apart with your fingers.
• Store nuts in a container for several days

MOCHA-WALNUT MACARONS

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 275°. Place confectioners' sugar, walnuts, cocoa and coffee in a food processor; process until finely ground and set aside., Add salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks. Gradually add superfine sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form. Carefully fold in walnut mixture until blended., Pipe or drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 1 in. apart onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Air dry for 30 minutes before baking. Bake 18-20 minutes. Remove macaroons from baking sheet to a wire rack; cool completely. Remove from parchment; store in an airtight container.