Bourbon Pecan Turtles with Fleur de Sel

Name: Bourbon Pecan Turtles with Fleur de Sel
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 20
Cuisine: Global
Ingredients: 2 Tbsps bourbon (I used Redemption Rye Bourbon); 1 teaspoons coarse sea salt; 118 milliliters light corn syrup; 473 milliliters chopped dark chocolate; 177 milliliters evaporated milk (unsweetened); 20 servings Fleur de sel, for garnish; 177 milliliters granulated sugar; 79 milliliters heavy (whipping) cream; 80 toasted pecan halves (a generous cup or about 4 1/2 ounces); 2 Tbsps unsalted butter; 1 vanilla bean, split open and seeds scraped out, pod reserved; or 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Bourbon Pecan Turtles with Fleur de Sel might be just the beverage you are searching for. This recipe makes 20 servings with 237 calories, 3g of protein, and 15g of fat each. This recipe covers 5% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. It is a good option if you're following a vegetarian diet. Head to the store and pick up butter, pecan halves, corn syrup, and a few other things to make it today. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes roughly 45 minutes.

Instructions

Stir together the sugar, evaporated milk, heavy cream, and vanilla bean and seeds (if using) in a large (6-to 8-quart) saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, uncovered and without stirring.

Ingredients you will need

Evaporated Milk

Vanilla Bean

Heavy Cream

Seeds

Sugar

Equipment you will use

Sauce Pan

While the caramel mixture is heating up, arrange the nuts on the prepared baking sheet (lined with parchment): place 4 or 5 whole pecans in a star shape for each turtle, about 20 stars in all, leaving at least 1 inch between stars.

Ingredients you will need

Caramel

Pecans

Nuts

Equipment you will use

Baking Sheet

Once the caramel mixture has come to a boil, insert a candy thermometer.

Ingredients you will need

Caramel

Candy

Equipment you will use

Candy Thermometer

Add the light corn syrup, and stir gently with a heatproof spatula until everything is mixed well. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often and making sure to scrape the bottom of the pot to keep the mixture from burning, until the mixture reaches 230F/100C, about 30 minutes.

Ingredients you will need

Light Corn Syrup

Equipment you will use

Spatula

Pot

Add the butter to the caramel mixture, and fish out the vanilla bean with a slotted spoon. Stirring continuously, cook the caramel until it reaches 241°F/116°C, 15 to 20 minutes; it will be a deep tawny color and have slow, rolling bubbles in the center.

Ingredients you will need

Vanilla Bean

Caramel

Butter

Fish

Equipment you will use

Slotted Spoon

Remove it from the heat.

Stir in the salt, bourbon, and the vanilla extract (if using), making sure to mix well so that they're distributed evenly. Wearing oven mitts, carefully pour the caramel into candy funnels. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes, stirring it a couple times, until it thickens up a little bit and has the consistency of hot fudge. (Alternately, spoon directly from the pot after letting cool for about 5 minutes.)

Ingredients you will need

Vanilla Extract

Bourbon

Caramel

Candy

Fudge

Salt

Equipment you will use

Oven Mitt

Funnel

Pot

Pour a couple tablespoons' worth of caramel onto each pecan cluster. Allow them to set up until they are no longer warm, about 20 minutes.

Ingredients you will need

Caramel

Pecans

Meanwhile, temper the 2 cups chocolate in a heat-proof bowl over boiling water.

Ingredients you will need

Chocolate

Water

Equipment you will use

Bowl

Once the caramel has set up, pour some prepared chocolate into a clean funnel. Top each turtle with about a tablespoon of chocolate. (Alternately, spoon directly from bowl.) You want enough chocolate so that it covers most of the caramel, but the turtles' heads and tootsies should still be visible. Gently tap the baking sheet on the counter, one end first and then the other, to even out the chocolate.

Ingredients you will need

Chocolate

Caramel

Equipment you will use

Baking Sheet

Funnel

Bowl

Garnish the center of each turtle with a few flakes of the fleur de sel - but make sure to do it before the chocolate sets up completely.

Ingredients you will need

Fleur De Sel

Chocolate

Store the turtles, layered with wax or parchment paper, in an airtight container at cool room temperature for up to 1 week.