Praline Parfaits Recipes

PRALINES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• In large saucepan over medium heat, combine pecans, sugar, butter, brown sugar, milk and vanilla. Heat to between 234 and 240 degrees F (112 to 116 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface.
• Drop by spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet. Let cool completely.

PRALINE PEACH PARFAITS

Steps:

• In 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over low heat. Stir in sugar. Add pecans; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden brown and sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat. Stir in cereal.
• Into each of 4 parfait glasses, spoon 1/4 cup cereal mixture, 2 tablespoons yogurt, 1/3 cup peaches, 1/4 cup cereal mixture, 2 tablespoons yogurt and remaining cereal mixture. Top with remaining peaches. Serve immediately.

CRANACHAN PARFAIT

Steps:

• Chill a large bowl in the fridge for the cream. Place the egg yolks in another large bowl, heat the honey without boiling it (I put it a few seconds in the microwave) and pour it over the yolks and beat with electric beaters (or a stand mixer) for about 10 minutes until thick and moussy. Add the Whisky and beat again until well mixed.
• In the chilled bowl, whisk the cream like a Crème Chantilly until soft peaks and the same consistency as the yolk-honey mixture. Gently fold the 2 mixtures together and spoon either into spherical silicone moulds (this used 10 spheres), greased muffin tins, or in a lined cake tin. Transfer to the freezer and leave overnight to set.
• In a saucepan, heat the sugar with a few drops of water. Just as it starts to change colour after about 5 minutes, stir using a wooden spoon until the sugar is completely dissolved and the caramel is medium golden. Add the butter and stir to mix well then pour in the oats. Stir until the oats are well covered then immediately transfer to a baking tray.
• Once cool, break the praline into small pieces and reserve in a jam jar. (This can keep for about 10 days)
• Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/360°F/Gas 4.Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until pale and creamy (either by hand or in a stand mixer). Gradually add the flour, rice flour and salt until the mixture comes together into a dough that's easy to work with.
• Spread the mixture into a greased non-stick baking tin and thinly even it out using a palette knife. Alternatively roll the dough out with a rolling-pin until about 1cm thick and bake in the oven for about 25 minutes until golden brown.
• When the mixture is still soft and warm, cut out disks with a cookie cutter (the same size as the moulds). Leave to cool on a wire tray.
• When ready to serve, place the shortbread disk on each plate (spread each with raspberry jam if no fresh raspberries), turn out the frozen parfaits at the last minute and place on top. Sprinkle with the oat praline and, if using, serve with fresh raspberries.

PRALINE PARFAITS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the corn syrup, sugar and water; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; stir in pecans. Cool completely. Spoon half of the ice cream into four parfait glasses or dishes. Top each with 2 tablespoons sauce. Repeat layers. Refrigerate leftover sauce.

FROZEN BANANA & PRALINE PARFAIT

Steps:

• To make the praline, put the sugar into a heavy-based pan with 3 tbsp water. Place over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved and is clear. Don't stir, or it will crystallise. Increase the heat and bubble to a dark caramel (see video technique), about 5 mins. Remove from the heat, stir through the nuts, then tip onto a lightly greased non-stick baking tray. Spread to level and leave to cool. Be careful as the tray will get very hot.
• When the praline is cold and brittle, break it into pieces. Then, using the end of a rolling pin, smash it up until fairly well crushed. If this is proving hard work, tip into a food processor and pulse until it's the texture of coarse breadcrumbs.
• Line a 1.2-litre loaf tin with a strip of baking parchment (this size tin gives a neat shape, but you can set the parfait in any shaped tin, or individual pudding basins or ramekins). In a bowl, mash the bananas with half the lemon juice until you have a rough purée, then set aside.
• Put the cream into a bowl and whip until it holds its shape but is still a little soft. In another very clean bowl and using a very clean electric whisk, beat the egg whites with a squeeze more lemon juice until stiff. Slowly add the sugar until you have a stiff, shiny meringue.
• Gently fold the whipped cream and meringue together, then add the banana and most of the praline, leaving about 4 tbsp to serve. Spoon into the loaf tin, smooth the top and freeze until firm, preferably overnight.
• To serve, remove the parfait from the freezer 10 mins before serving and leave in the fridge to soften slightly. Meanwhile, slice the bananas on a slant, allowing 3 slices for each serving. Lay the slices on a baking tray set on a wooden board and scatter heavily with the sugar. Use a blowtorch to caramelise the banana, then set aside. Be very careful as the tray will be extremely hot. If you don't have a blowtorch, place the slices into a hot, dry frying pan and sear the sugar-coated sides until caramelised. Lift and flip them over to a tray.
• To plate up, sprinkle a neat line of praline just off-centre on each plate. Arrange the slices of caramelised banana at opposing angles. Unmould the parfait, then use a warmed knife to neaten the sides and cut into finger-thick slices. Lay the slice on the opposite side of the plate to the banana and serve straight away.

PRALINE PARFAITS

Steps:

• Add first 3 ingredients to a saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Remove saucepan from the heat; stir in pecans.
• Cool completely.
• Spoon half of the ice cream into 4 parfait dishes.
• Top each with 2 tablespoons sauce.
• Repeat layers; top with whipped cream and serve immediately.