Best Chocolate Caramel Pecan Crunch Recipes

CHOCOLATE PECAN CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line a 13x9-in. pan with foil; butter the foil with 1 tablespoon butter. Sprinkle with pecans and chocolate chips; set aside. , In a heavy saucepan, melt remaining butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook and stir until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer reads 248° (firm-ball stage)., Remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour into prepared pan (do not scrape saucepan). Cool completely before cutting.

CARAMEL PECAN CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300 degrees F. Grease 2 large cookie sheets with Crisco, set aside.
• Pour cereal and pecans into a large bowl. Set aside.
• Place caramel bits and water in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. (if 2 minutes doesn't do the trick, microwave in 30-second increments until caramel bits are melted and can be stirred smooth.
• Pour caramel over cereal and pecans and stir gently to coat. Take care not to break the cereal.
• Spread onto one of the greased cookie sheets.
• Bake for 15 minutes. Stir and flip the cereal. Bake for another 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, place the other greased cookie sheet on top of the one you removed from the oven and flip it over. Let cool completely, then break apart into clusters.
• Store in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL PECAN TART

Steps:

• Crust: Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, and salt until combined. Beat butter with confectioners' sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg yolk and beat until combined. Add flour mixture and beat on low speed until just combined and crumbly (do not overmix). Pat dough into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 2 days, or freeze up to 1 month.
• On a lightly floured piece of parchment, roll dough into a 12-inch circle. Fit into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. With a paring knife, trim dough flush with rim; refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes.
• Blind-bake crust: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prick bottom of tart all over with a fork. Bake until set and dough is dry, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Filling: Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring gently, until sugar is dissolved. Continue to cook, without stirring, until syrup comes to a boil, occasionally washing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming. Cook until syrup is amber in color, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Carefully add heavy cream (caramel will steam and spatter). Add butter, vanilla, salt, and chocolate; stir until melted and smooth. Add pecans; stir until combined. Transfer mixture to tart crust. Let stand until set and cool, about 2 hours. Tart can be served room-temperature or refrigerated, uncovered, up to 3 days. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes and sprinkle with flaky salt before serving.

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL-PECAN PRETZEL BITES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Put the pecan halves on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake, shaking the sheet once halfway through, until lightly toasted, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the nuts to a plate to cool.
• Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Arrange the pretzels neatly on the baking sheet, then top each pretzel with an unwrapped caramel. Bake until the caramels soften (but are definitely not melting), 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and gently press a pecan half onto each caramel, just enough for the caramel to fill the pretzel. Set aside to cool completely.
• Remove the cooled pretzel/caramels from the baking sheet. Spoon 24 small dollops (1 1/2-teaspoon helpings) of the melted chocolate all over the baking sheet, then lightly drop a pretzel onto the middle of each dollop, making sure the pretzel is centered. Allow them to cool completely before serving (you can hasten this along in the fridge).

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL CRUNCH PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Break the graham crackers into small pieces and place in a food processor. Pulse to blend into fine crumbs. Add the butter, cocoa powder and salt and pulse, in 2 second intervals, until combined and the consistency of wet sand. Press the mixture into and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake until toasted and fragrant, about 8 minutes. Cool before filling, about 15 minutes.
• Scoop the dulce de leche into a medium bowl. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the walnuts, chocolate chunks and orange zest. Pour the filling into the prepared pie shell and refrigerate until chilled all the way through and set, about 3 hours.
• Just before serving, use a hand-mixer to whip the heavy cream and vanilla in a medium until soft peaks form. Sprinkle the flake salt on the pie, top with the whipped cream and grate the unsweetened chocolate over the top. Serve.

CARAMEL-PECAN CHOCOLATE DESSERT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (if using dark or nonstick pan, heat oven to 325°). Grease bottom and side of 10-inch springform pan with shortening. In medium bowl, stir brownie mix, water, oil and 2 eggs until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread in pan.
• Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until puffed in center and toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat 1/2 cup whipping cream and the caramels over medium heat, stirring frequently, until caramels are melted. Stir small amount of the hot mixture into beaten egg, then stir egg back into mixture in saucepan. Cook over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Stir in pecans. Spread over brownie. Refrigerate uncovered at least 3 hours until chilled.
• Run metal spatula around side of pan to loosen dessert; remove side of pan. Transfer dessert on pan base to serving plate. In chilled small bowl, beat 3/4 cup whipping cream and the powdered sugar with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Spoon whipped cream in 12 dollops around edge of dessert. Cut into wedges to serve. Store covered in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL-PECAN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter, stirring well.
• Press mixture evenly onto bottom and 1 inch up sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Unwrap caramels; combine with milk and heat over low heat until caramels are melted, stirring often.
• Pour over graham cracker crust; sprinkle chopped pecans evenly over caramel layer and set aside.
• Beat cream cheese at high speed until light and fluffy; gradually add sugar, mixing well.
• Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each one. Stir in vanilla and chocolate; beat until blended.
• Spoon over pecan layer.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven, and run knife around edge of pan to release sides.
• Let cool t o room temperature on a wire rack; cover and chill at least 8 hours before serving.
• Top with pecan halves and serve.

CHOCOLATE, PECAN, AND CARAMEL TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Blend crackers and 2 tablespoons sugar in processor until fine crumbs form. Add melted butter; process until moist clumps form. Press mixture firmly over bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Bake crust until golden and firm, about 7 minutes. Cool completely on rack.
• Stir bittersweet chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted and smooth. Pour chocolate into tart crust. Using small metal spatula, spread over bottom of crust. Arrange 1 1/2 cups pecans in single layer over chocolate.
• Mix 1/4 cup water and 1 cup sugar in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high; boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber color, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Add 3/4 cup cream and 2 tablespoons butter (mixture will bubble vigorously). Set over low heat; stir until caramel is smooth, about 1 minute. Pour over pecans atop chocolate in crust. Chill until set, about 45 minutes. Stir milk chocolate and 1/4 cup cream in heavy saucepan over low heat until smooth. Pour over caramel; spread evenly. Arrange 1/2 cup pecans around edge of tart. Chill at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.