Cheddar Pecan Thumbprints With Jalapeno Jelly And Cranberries Recipes

CHEDDAR PECAN THUMBPRINTS WITH JALAPENO JELLY AND CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, mix butter, cheese, pecans, cayeene and salt. Gradually mix in flour. Result will be a stiff dough like shortbread. Form into logs 1-inch thick by 10 inches long. Wrap in wax paper and refrigrate until firm, at least 3 hours. (Refrigerate up to 5 days, frozen up to 6 months.).
• Preheat oven to 350°F Remove dough from wax paper and slice into 1-inch pieces. Lightly press each piece in palm of hand; using thumb make a 1/4 inch indentation in center of each. Fill thumbprint with 1 teaspoon jelly and sprinkle with cranberries on top.
• Place on nonstick cookie sheet, spacing 1 inch apart. Bake 15- 20 minutes or until firm and slightly browned at edges. For best flavor do no overcook. May be served warm at room temperature.

TASTY PECAN PEPPER APPETIZER

Steps:

• Pulse pecans in a food processor until very finely ground.
• Stir pecans, Cheddar cheese, green onion, and mayonnaise together in a large bowl until mixture holds together. Transfer to a serving platter and top with jelly.

PECAN PIE THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• To make dough, combine butter and cream cheese in bowl of electric mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until well blended, about 1 minute. Mix in sugars and beat on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes more. Blend in vanilla extract. With mixer on low speed, mix in pecans, salt and flour just until fully incorporated. Cover bowl and transfer to refrigerator. Chill dough for about 30-60 minutes.
• While dough is chilling, make filling. In medium bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, corn syrup, egg yolk, vanilla and salt. Whisk just until blended. Stir in pecans.
• Preheat oven to 350?F. Line baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. Scooping about 2 tablespoons of dough at a time, roll dough into balls. Place dough balls on baking sheets 2-3 inches apart. Use your thumb (or wine cork) to make a small round indentation in the center of each dough ball, about 1 inch in diameter. Fill each indentation with some of pecan filling mixture.
• Bake cookies, rotating pans halfway through, until light golden and set, about 16-18 minutes total. Cool briefly on baking sheets, then transfer to wire rack set over wax paper or foil. Let cool completely.
• To make caramel drizzle, combine the caramels and heavy cream in small microwave safe bowl. Heat in 20 second intervals, stirring in between, until caramels are fully melted and mixture is smooth. If needed, add more cream, 1 teaspoon at a time, mixture reaches drizzling consistency. Drizzle caramel over cooled cookies on wire rack. If caramel begins to harden, microwave for 10 more seconds and stir to rewarm.

THUMBPRINT COOKIES (SAVORY CHEDDAR)

Steps:

• In food processor, pulse together Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses and butter until smooth.
• Add egg yolk and pepper; pulse until blended.
• Add flour; pulse just until soft dough forms.
• Place pecans on plate.
• Place 1 cup water in bowl.
• With hands, roll scant tablespoonfuls of dough into 1-inch balls.
• Wet balls with water; roll in nuts to coat pressing nuts lightly into dough ball.
• Place on ungreased baking sheet.
• With thumb or finger, make indentation in center of each.
• Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• Bake in center of 350°F oven for about 15 minutes or until firm outside and lightly golden.
• Let cool on baking sheet.
• (Can be prepared to this point and frozen in layers separated by waxed paper in rigid airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Bake in 350°F oven for about 3 minutes to recrisp).
• Fill indentations with hot pepper jelly.

CHEESY THUMBPRINT APPETIZERS WITH HOT PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• Blend Cheddar cheese, flour, and butter in a food processor until dough is a coarse-meal texture and forms into a ball. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls and place 1 inch apart on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes. Remove from oven; press thumb into top of each ball, creating an indentation. Spoon about 1 teaspoon pepper jelly into indentation. Bake until edges are golden brown, about 5 minutes.

JALAPENO-PECAN CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat cream cheese, cheddar cheese, pecans and green onions until blended. On a serving plate, form mixture into desired shape. Refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours., In a microwave, warm jelly until melted; spread over cheese spread. Serve with crackers.