Raspberry Candy (Fondant)

Raspberry Fondant

Raspberry Fondant is made with fresh raspberries, so it packs plenty of flavor into these smooth raspberry creams. They’re delicious on their own, but these raspberry fondants are even better dipped in chocolate. Be sure to check out this photo tutorial showing how to make fondant if you have any questions about making old-fashioned fondant.This recipe calls for citric acid, which adds a pleasant sourness. It can be found in many specialty baking stores and large grocery stores—I found mine in the bulk spices section of a nearby grocery store. It can be omitted, but the fondant might be missing a fruity “bite.”

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup cream
  • 3 tbsp light corn syrup
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup fresh or thawed frozen raspberries
  • ½ tsp citric acid
  • 1/3 cup marshmallow cream
  • Pink or red food coloring (optional)
  • 1 lb white or chocolate candy coating

Preparation:

1. Place the cream, corn syrup, sugar, salt, baking soda, and raspberries in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then brush down the sides of the saucepan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Insert a candy thermometer.

2. Cook the candy without stirring until the thermometer reads 240 degrees F (115 C). Once it reaches the proper temperature, remove it from the heat and take out the thermometer.

3. Pour the candy onto a greased baking sheet and allow it to sit until it feels just warm to the touch. Depending on the temperature of the room, this might take 10-20 minutes.

4. Once warm but no longer hot, sprinkle the citric acid on top, and stir in the marshmallow cream and a few drops of pink or red food coloring. The food coloring is optional, but without it the candies are more of a dull reddish-pink.

5. Begin to stir everything together with a wooden spoon. This is called “creaming” the fondant and it works best if you move in a figure-8 pattern, scraping the fondant together, working it into an 8 shape, then scraping it back into the center.

6. As you cream the fondant, it will go from shiny and translucent to shiny and opaque and start to get thicker. Continue to work it, and it will eventually lose its shine and become more opaque and have a fudge-like texture and dull finish. This creaming process takes awhile, perhaps 20 minutes, so prepare yourself and alternate arms if necessary.

7. Once the fondant is thick and stiff, test it out by rolling a piece into a ball. If it holds its shape and doesn’t collapse, the fondant is ready. If it doesn’t, continue working it with the spoon until it is stiff enough. You can either wrap it in cling wrap and store it at room temperature, or roll it into balls right away for dipping.

8. If you have rolled it into balls, store them in the refrigerator to firm up while you melt the candy coating in the microwave.

9. Once the coating is melted, dip the raspberry fondant centers into the chocolate one at a time, and place the dipped centers on a foil- or waxed paper-lined baking sheet to set. Sprinkle the tops with any desired decorations while the chocolate is still wet.

10. Place the tray in the refrigerator to harden the chocolate for about 15 minutes. Store dipped Raspberry Fondant in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, and allow them to come to room temperature before serving for best taste and texture.

Cranberry Orange Trifle with Candied Walnuts

Cranberry Orange Trifle with Candied Walnuts

Cranberry Orange Trifle with Candied Walnuts
TasteFood

While there are several components to this trifle, each one may be prepared in advance, and each one is stand alone good, so feel free to use them on their own. Serve in a trifle bowl or individual goblets. Makes 8-10 servings.

For the buttermilk pound cake:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 325 F. (170 C.) Butter a 9-by-5 inch loaf pan. Line bottom with parchment; butter parchment. Whisk flour, baking soda and salt together in a bowl; set aside.

Beat sugar and butter in bowl of electric mixer until light and fluffy, 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Add half of the flour, then the buttermilk, then the remaining flour, mixing well to combine after each addition. Pour into loaf pan. Bake in oven until wooden skewer inserted in center comes clean, about 55 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool 10 minutes. Invert cake onto rack and cool completely. Pound cake may be prepared up to 2 days in advance. Wrap with plastic and refrigerate until use.

For the cranberry compote:
12 ounces cranberries, fresh or frozen
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cranberries pop and release juices. Remove from heat and cool completely. Refrigerate, covered, for up to 4 days.

For the candied walnuts:
1 1/2 cups walnut halves
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 F. Arrange walnuts on a baking tray. Bake in oven 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Heat sugar over medium heat in a small saucepan. As soon as it begins to dissolve, stir with a wooden spoon until sugar is liquid and amber colored. Add walnuts and stir to coat. Add salt and cinnamon. Remove from heat and pour walnuts onto a baking tray lined with parchment or silpac sheet. Allow to cool completely. Break into pieces. Store at room temperature in an air-tight container for up to 1 week.

For the orange mascarpone cream:
2 cups heavy cream, chilled
8 ounces mascarpone cheese, chilled
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
1 tablespoon Gran Marnier or Cointreau
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine cream and mascarpone in bowl of electric mixer. Beat until traces of whisk are visible. Add remaining ingredients and continue to beat until peaks form. Refrigerate until use. (May be made 4 hours in advance.)

Assemble the trifle:
Reserve a few whole cranberries from the compote for garnish. Pour a thin layer of cranberry compote into the bottom of the trifle dish or individual glasses. Cut the pound cake in 3/4 inch cubes. Arrange a layer of pound cake over the compote. Top with a layer of cream. Sprinkle with a few of the nuts. Repeat layering process, finishing with a layer of cream and nuts. Garnish with reserved cranberries and finely grated orange zest. Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered up to 24 hours before serving.

Optional: Brush each layer of pound cake with Cointreau or Gran Marnier for an adult version of this dessert.

Brown Sugar Toffee Cookies

Recipe from http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/brown-sugar-toffee-cookies/

Yield:  26 cookies
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10-12 minutes

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose Gold Medal flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup Heath toffee bits
Extra dark brown sugar for rolling cookies, about 1/2 cup

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with a Silpat baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, cornstarch, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.

3. Place butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Add the egg and vanilla extract, and beat on medium speed until combined.

4. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients. Mix until the just combined. Stir in the toffee bits.

5. Using a spoon or cookie scoop, form tablespoons size balls of cookie dough. Roll balls in brown sugar. Place on balls on prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges. Do not over bake. Cool on the pan for 2 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack and cool completely. Store in an air-tight container for up to 4 days.