Best Candy Corn Cheese Tower Recipes

LAYERED CANDY CORN PIE

Steps:

• For the cookie crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Stir the cookie crumbs, sugar and salt together in a medium bowl until combined. Stir in the butter and continue to mix until the mixture looks like wet sand and holds together when pinched.
• Firmly press the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. Bake until the crust is set and lightly toasted, 12 to 15 minutes. If the crust puffs while baking, use the bottom of measuring cup to gently press the crust back down while it's still warm. Cool completely.
• For the lemon filling: Once the crust is cool, combine the lemon juice and gelatin in a small microwave-safe bowl and set aside to let gelatin soften, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, add the coconut milk, sugar, turmeric and salt to a blender and blend on medium speed until combined. Microwave the juice-gelatin mixture until just hot and liquefied, about 30 seconds. Stir to make sure the gelatin is dissolved, then add to the coconut-milk mixture in the blender and puree until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into the cooled crust, then refrigerate until set, about 45 minutes.
• For the mango filling: Combine 1/4 cup of the orange juice and the gelatin in a small microwave-safe bowl and set aside to let gelatin soften, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, add the mango, raspberries, sugar, salt, and remaining 1 tablespoon orange juice to a blender and blend on medium speed until smooth and combined, scraping down the sides of the jar with a rubber spatula as needed. Microwave the juice-gelatin mixture until just hot and liquefied, about 30 seconds. Stir to make sure the gelatin is dissolved, then add to the mango mixture in the blender and puree until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve directly on top of the set lemon layer, pressing on the solids in the sieve with a rubber spatula to extract as much filling as possible. Spread into a smooth and even layer using an offset spatula, then refrigerate until set, about 45 minutes.
• For the coconut filling: Combine 1/4 cup of the coconut milk and the gelatin in a small microwave-safe bowl and set aside to let gelatin soften, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, add the remaining 3/4 cup coconut milk, sugar, coconut extract and salt to a blender and blend on medium speed until combined. Microwave the coconut milk-gelatin mixture until just hot and liquefied, about 30 seconds. Stir to make sure the gelatin is dissolved, then add to the coconut mixture in the blender and puree until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve directly on top of the set mango layer, then refrigerate until the filling is firmly set and with only the slightest jiggle when moved, at least 2 hours or up to overnight (wrap tightly in plastic wrap).
• For the toasted meringue topping: Combine the egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar and cornstarch in a large heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over a medium saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) and cook, whisking constantly, until the sugar dissolves and the egg whites are warm to the touch, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy and stiff peaks form, about 4 minutes. Beat in the coconut extract, then transfer to a piping bag fitting with a round pastry tip.
• Pipe 1-inch dollops of meringue on top of the pie, layering upward as you go, until all the meringue is used. Use a small kitchen torch to toast the meringue until deep golden brown. Nestle candy corn throughout the toasted meringue, then cut into wedges to serve.

CORN CHEESE

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the top third of the oven and preheat the broiler to high.
• Heat the canola oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the corn and cook, stirring, until the corn is softened and browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Set aside for 10 minutes.
• Toss the corn mixture in a large bowl with the mayonnaise, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper until well coated. Layer the corn mixture evenly back in the skillet. Sprinkle the cheese on top and broil until the mozzarella is bubbly and golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with gochugaru and sliced scallions if using.

CANDY CORN SUCKERS

Steps:

• If you have lollipop collar molds, lay them on a silicone baking mat-lined sheet pan, fit them with sticks, and place 1 piece of candy corn in each collar. Or, just lay out the sticks in rows on a silpat mat, leaving 3 inches of space between them and place a piece of candy corn above the stick.
• Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a clean, dry small saucepan (preferably 1 with a pouring spout) fitted with a candy thermometer, and bring to a boil over high heat. Without stirring, cook until the mixture reaches 305 degrees F or "hard crack" stage on the candy thermometer. (While the syrup is cooking, occasionally wash down the sides of the pan with a clean brush dipped in water, to prevent crystallization.)
• When the mixture is done, remove the pot from the heat and dip it into an ice bath for 15 seconds to stop the cooking. Add the extract and food coloring and stir very gently with a wooden skewer so that the color is evenly distributed. (To avoid air bubbles in the finished lollipops, stir the mixture gently in both directions, but be careful not to over mix.)
• Pour or carefully spoon the syrup into the molds or just over the sticks and candy corns, if not using collars, to make a quarter-sized disk. Cool until hard, at least 20 minutes.
• Lift the suckers off the mat and remove from the molds. Slip plastic bags over the lollipops and gather the bag shut with a plastic spider finger ring. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

CANDY CORN CHEESE TOWER

Steps:

• Place 2 blocks of the yellow cheese side by side on a cheese board. Press them together so they touch. Stack the remaining 2 blocks of yellow cheese on top of them. Stack the blocks of white cheese on top of the yellow in the same way. If desired, insert 2 skewers down through the top of the blocks to hold them together.
• Using a sharp knife, carve away the sides of the cheese blocks to resemble the bottom two-thirds of a piece of candy corn. (You will add the white tip at the end using the goat cheese.) Reserve the cheese scraps for another use, such as queso sauce or grilled cheese sandwiches. After carving, remove the skewers from the tower if using.
• Using your hands, mold the goat cheese into the tip of the candy corn and add it to the cheese stack. Shape it to a point using a butter knife or offset spatula. Whisk together the red wine and paprika in a small bowl and paint it onto the white Cheddar cheese portion with a pastry brush. Serve with an array of crackers.