Fruit Filled Jewels Recipes

FRUIT JEWELS (PATE DE FRUIT)

Steps:

• Place the applesauce, apricots, and sugar into a non-reactive 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Mix together, then add the raspberries. The raspberries will dominate the flavor. If you want apricot-flavored Pate de Fruit, omit the raspberries. Using a hand-held immersion blender or whisk, combine all of the ingredients until smooth and homogenous. As the mixture cooks, the natural pectin in the fruit will cause the mixture to thicken. Continue to cook until it is thick, mixing constantly. To test for the correct consistency, dip a whisk in the mixture and hold horizontally in front of you. Watch as the mixture drips off the whisk and back into the pan. If the mixture stays on the whisk and beads up into small balls, like pearls, it is ready. If it drips back into the pan in thin strands, it needs to be cooked a little longer.
• When the mixture is a bit thicker than jam, pour it into a spouted container. Fill either a half-dome or triangle shaped flexipan, depending on the desired design of the jewels and let rest for 4 hours at room temperature. When the mixture has set, remove and roll each jewel in sugar. If you do not have a flexipan, you can pour the Pate de Fruit into a 10-inch bottomless tart mold or cake ring placed on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet. Let the Pate de Fruit cool and set, about 3 hours at room temperature. When the mixture has set, remove and roll each jewel in sugar. To unmold, run a sharp paring knife between the fruit and the mold and lift off the mold. (At this point the Pate de Fruit can be stored, well wrapped in plastic and in an airtight container, for up to 2 months.) Sprinkle the top of the Pate de Fruit with a thin layer of sugar and flip it onto another sheet of parchment paper. Remove the parchment that is now on top. Sprinkle this side with more sugar. Using a wet chef's knife or cutter, cut the Pate de Fruit into any shapes. Roll each piece completely in sugar and serve. Do not store in the refrigerator, as the humidity will make the sugar melt.

PECAN CANDIED JEWELS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
• In large bowl, beat butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar and the granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium-high speed. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. On medium-low speed, beat in apple juice, flour, baking soda, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. Stir in nuts and fruit until incorporated (mixture will be stiff and sticky).
• On cookie sheet, drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack; cool 10 minutes.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat all glaze ingredients to boiling; cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Brush over tops of cookies.

JEWELED FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300°F. Line loaf pan, 9x5x3 or 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2 inches, with aluminum foil; grease foil. Mix all the ingredients except corn syurp. Spread in pan.
• Bake about 1 hour 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. If necessary, cover with aluminum foil for last 30 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning.
• Remove fruitcake from pan (with foil) to wire rack. For a glossy top, immediately brush with corn syrup. Cool completely before cutting, about 24 hours. Wrap tightly and store in refrigerator no longer than 2 months.

RASPBERRY GELATIN JEWELS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in fruit. Pour into a greased 11x7-in. dish. Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm. Cut into squares.

FRUIT FILLED JEWELS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 325F. In a medium bowl, cream butter with an electric mixer set a medium speed. Add sugar and beat until smooth. Add egg yolks and vanilla, and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the flour and blend at low speed until thoroughly combined.
• 2. Gather dough into a ball and flatten to a disk. Wrap dough tightly in plastic wrap or plastic bag. Refridgerate for 1 hour.
• 3. Using a floured rolling pin, roll dough on floured board to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut circles with a 2-inch-diameter cookie cutter or drinking glass, and place on ungreased cookie sheets, 1 inch apart. Continue using dough scraps, rerolling and cutting until all the dough is used.
• 4. Drop 1/2 tsp. of fruit jam in center of each cookie, then top with another cookie. using a fork to seal the edges of cookies. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until edges begin to brown.