Pumpkin Napoleons With Sugared Pecans And Caramel Sauce Recipes

PECAN CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Stir butter and brown sugar together in a saucepan over medium heat until melted. Stir in heavy whipping cream and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat to cool slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in chopped pecans.

CARAMEL-PECAN PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Beat the eggs, pumpkin, and half-and-half together in a mixing bowl until smooth. Stir in the sugar, flour, lemon zest, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice until evenly blended. Pour the pumpkin mixture into the prepared pie shell. Cover the edges of the pie with aluminum foil strips to prevent burning.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the pecan caramel topping by mixing the brown sugar, pecans, and butter together in a bowl until evenly blended. Carefully spoon over the top of the pie. Continue baking the pie until the topping is golden and bubbly, and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes more. Cool on a wire rack.

PUMPKIN NAPOLEONS WITH SUGARED PECANS AND CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the pecans, preheat the oven to 225 degrees. Mix the sugar and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg white and water together until frothy. Toss the pecans in the egg-white mixture to coat well. Drain, then toss in the sugar mixture. Grease a baking sheet and spread the pecans on it. Bake until dry, about 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Set aside.
• To make the pastry, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Pulse the pecans and sugar together in a food processor until ground. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo dough out on a work surface, keeping the rest covered with a damp cloth until ready to use. Brush with butter and sprinkle with about 3 tablespoons of the ground pecan mixture. Top with another sheet of phyllo, brush with butter and sprinkle with pecans. Top with a third sheet of phyllo and brush with butter.
• Trim the phyllo layers to make a 16-by-12-inch rectangle. Cut into 16 4-by-3-inch rectangles. Divide between the baking sheets and bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining phyllo, butter and pecan mixture. Set the pastries aside; you'll have extra.
• To make the sauce, place the sugar in a medium saucepan and stir in the water. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to wash down any sugar crystals on the side of the pan. Place over medium heat and cook without stirring until mixture turns a deep caramel color. Remove from heat and carefully add the cream. Return the pan to the heat and stir until all the caramel is dissolved. Set aside.
• To make the filling, combine the pumpkin, butter, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, vanilla extract and cream in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until smooth and hot.
• The napoleons can be prepared ahead up to this point. Reheat the caramel sauce and the pumpkin filling. To assemble, spread the mascarpone over 8 of the pastries, using about 2 tablespoons for each. Top with another pastry and spread with about 1/4 cup of the pumpkin mixture. Top with another pastry.
• Coat 8 plates with caramel sauce. Top with the napoleons and scatter the sugared pecans around them. Serve immediately.