Caramel Apple & Almond Cream Entremet Tart

This dazzling fall dessert features flavor-packed layers of spiced salted caramel, tart apple, sultry vanilla and elegant almond; topped with a mascarpone whipped cream and gorgeous roses made from thinly sliced apple.

With distinct layers of spiced apple caramel, vanilla almond crémeux, and mascarpone whipped cream all in a sweet and salty almond shortcrust, this stunning caramel apple mousse tart will surely be the talk of the table!

Caramel Apple Mousse Tart on a ceramic plate, with smaller tartlets and red apples in the background.

Phew. This recipe almost did me in. Turns out adding bits of apple to chewy caramel resulted in a runny, weepy mess every time, no matter how firm the caramel was to begin with. And drying out the apples enough to avoid this wasn’t nearly as pleasant in terms of texture and flavor.

In the end, the answer to this pomme puzzle was, in fact, gelatin. A little bit added to the caramel/apple mixture took care of any excess moisture and resulted in a perfectly soft and chewy caramel texture without any ooze. Success!

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Easy Candied Pecans

This candied pecans recipe is easy with classic flavor: sweet, spiced and a little salty! They store well and are extremely versatile.

Candied Pecans

They’re crunchy, irresistibly sweet and salty, and totally classic: try this homemade Candied Pecans recipe! This classic American recipe is ubiquitous for good reason: these little sweet morsels are just that good. This is our master recipe that makes perfectly crunchy, sweet candied pecans with little effort: no food thermometer needed. It’s got just the right amount of cinnamon and sweetness, and it takes a load of will power to stop eating them once you make up a batch. Throw them on salads, over ice cream, or just snack on them plain!

Ingredients for candied pecans

Candied pecans are pecans that are coated in a crunchy sugar coating. They’re typically coated in egg whites, sugar, and spices, then baked until crispy. Glazed pecans are similar, but they have a smoother, glossy exterior. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:

  • Pecan halves
  • Granulated sugar
  • Light brown sugar: a mix of brown and white sugar yields the best, most developed flavor
  • Cinnamon
  • Ground ginger
  • Vanilla
  • Egg white: egg white helps the sugar and spices adhere to the nuts and it adds a glossy, firm exterior
  • Salt
Candied Pecans

How to make candied pecans

This candied pecans recipe is straightforward, classic, and no fail, in our opinion! After much research, we landed on the baked method as the easiest option. You can use a skillet method for candied pecans, but you’ll need a candy thermometer to measure the sugar temperature. We found a 325 degree Fahrenheit oven is the most reliable and easiest way to make candied pecans.

Even though it’s not as quick as glazed pecans, the baked method is more reliable because there’s no risk of sticky nuts like with the skillet method. So it’s worth the 30 minute bake time for a perfect result! Here are the basic steps (or jump to the recipe below):

  • Mix: Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately, then toss them with the pecans.
  • Spread onto a baking sheet: Spread the nuts in a single layer on a parchment lined sheet.
  • Bake 30 minutes at 325°F, stirring once. When you stir the first time, the nuts will look very foamy: that’s ok! Give them a thorough stir and then continue to cook until they are light brown and hardened.

Also try: Candied Walnuts!

Candied Pecans

Storage info: how long do they last?

These candied pecans store well and are crunchy over the entire storage time! Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • How long do homemade candied pecans last? Store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks and frozen for up to 2 months. Store in a sealed plastic bag or jar.
  • Make sure to fully cool them before storing. They cool in about 10 minutes, after which you can eat them! Before you store them, allow them to cool for 45 minutes so they don’t have an residual moisture.
  • For holiday gifts, store in lidded jars. These candied pecans make great DIY holiday gifts. Make sure to indicate on the jar to store for up to 2 weeks.

A quicker alternative

Want a really quick way to make candied pecans for a salad? You can make this Glazed Pecans recipe on the stovetop. They’re not as reliable stored (since they can turn out sticky), but they work if you’re trying to make a quick salad garnish.

Candied pecans recipe

Ways to use candied pecans

Candied pecans are extremely versatile and work on anything from salads to desserts. Here are some of the top ways to use them:

More pecan recipes

Love this tasty nut? Here are a few more pecan recipes to enjoy:

This candied pecans recipe is…

Vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Candied Pecans

Easy Candied Pecans


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 3 cups

Description

This candied pecans recipe is easy with classic flavor: sweet, spiced and a little salty! They store well and are extremely versatile.


Ingredients

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups (12 ounces) pecan halves

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
  2. Whisk the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, ground ginger, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg white, water and vanilla extract until foamy. Toss the pecans with the egg white mixture with a spatula until well coated. Add half the sugar mixture and stir with a spatula until fully coated, then add the remaining sugar mixture and stir until coated.
  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pour the nuts in an even layer on top. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the tray from the oven and stir (the nuts will look foamy at this point). Bake for another 15 minutes until lightly browned. Cool about 10 minutes before eating and completely (about 45 minutes) before storing. Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks and frozen for up to 2 months. 
  • Category: Essentials
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Candied pecans, candied pecans recipe, how to make candied pecans, candied pecans recipe

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Amaretto Chocolate Chip Cookies

Almond lovers, this recipe is for you! A perfectly chewy and gooey chocolate chip cookie infused with a double dose of almond flavor, with puddles of melted dark chocolate and a sprinkle of flake sea salt to finish it off right.

As if a classic chocolate chip cookie wasn’t good enough, we take it up a notch with almond paste and a healthy glug of amretto liqueur for a wonderfully unique flavor. These aren’t your average chocolate chip cookies, that’s for sure!

Overhead, baking sheet with randomly arranged Amaretto Chocolate Chip Cookies, with visible flakes of sea salt and melted chocolate puddles.

In this episode of boozy baking… we’ll infuse a classic chocolate chip cookie with almond paste and a generous glug of amaretto.

What’s not to love?

These are larger and thicker than my pistachio dark chocolate chunk cookies, though they might seem similar. I used a large cookie scoop for these babies, a whopping 60g of dough per cookie, which results in a palm-sized treat of epic proportions.

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Ultimate Antipasto Platter

An antipasto platter is ideal for entertaining! Pile a board with Italian antipasti like cheeses, cured meats, olives, marinated vegetables, and more. 

Antipasto Platter

Entertaining and not sure where to start? Try an Antipasto Platter! This board of Italian appetizers is an explosion of colors and flavors, and it’s almost guaranteed to be the centerpiece of any party. Add traditional antipasti like cheese, meats, marinated vegetables, olives, crackers, breads, and more to a platter and serve with small plates to let your guests get to snacking. You can make homemade components, or grab a bunch of items from your local deli counter or olive bar. Here’s how to put together this beautiful tray!

What is an antipasto platter?

An antipasto is the first course of an Italian meal: a starter or appetizer. Antipasto is the singular, and antipasti is the plural for more than one dish. Traditional antipasti you might enjoy in Italy include cured meats like prosciutto and salami, cheeses, olives, marinated vegetables, pepperoncini, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and more.

An antipasto platter is a tray layered with Italian antipasti (cured meats, cheeses, marinated vegetables, and so forth). Similar to a cheeseboard, it’s an easy appetizer to whip up for entertaining because it’s more about arranging items than cooking them.

Antipasto platter

Ingredients in an antipasto platter

The ingredients you’ll use for an antipasto platter can vary greatly based on your tastes and what’s available to you! Check your local grocery store deli counter or olive bar for ideas. Some groceries have whole displays dedicated to marinated vegetables and olives, which is where we stocked up on many of the items for this platter. You can also make a few components homemade (which we recommend!). Here are some ideas for an antipasto platter:

  • Marinated mozzarella: It’s fast and easy to make homemade Marinated Mozzarella Balls, but you can also find them purchased
  • Marinated mushrooms: These Marinated Mushrooms have incredible flavor
  • Olives
  • Aged cheeses
  • Jarred marinated artichoke hearts
  • Jarred roasted peppers or pepperoncini
  • Other marinated items from a grocery olive bar or deli counter
  • Cured meats (prosciutto, salami, chorizo, sopressata, bresaola, etc)
  • Cherry tomatoes or other fresh vegetables
  • Crackers
  • Italian breadsticks
  • Focaccia bread slices
Antipasto platter

Tips for styling the platter

It’s one thing to assemble all the ingredients for an antipasto platter: it’s yet another to style it into an attractive platter! Here are a few tips for making a beautiful board, similar to styling a killer cheeseboard.

  1. Place the largest ingredients on the board first, then fill in with smaller ingredients. In this case, it’s small bowls of olives and marinated vegetables. Make sure the bowls aren’t too large so they don’t crowd the board.
  2. Fill in the remainder of the space on the board with piles of marinated vegetables, crackers, breads and other items. Arrange the ingredients with variation in color and shape in mind. Start with the largest ingredients and gradually fill in the smaller items.
  3. Add garnishes like herbs or flowers. Once the board is mostly complete, tuck in a few sprigs of fresh herbs to complete the tray. Serve with small plates, forks and toothpicks if desired.
Antipasto platter

How long can an antipasto platter sit out?

Making your antipasto platter in advance? If you’re making this for a party, here are a few serving tips to make prep a breeze:

  • A cheese board can sit out for up to 2 hours at room temperature. This source suggests a 2 hour maximum for cheese.
  • Make the board up to 24 hours in advance, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate. This makes party prep easy! Allow it to come to room temperature 30 minutes before serving.
Antipasto platter

More appetizer ideas

Looking for entertaining ideas? Here are a few more fun appetizer ideas:

This antipasto platter recipe is…

Vegetarian. For gluten-free, use gluten-free crackers or omit.

 

Print
Antipasto Platter

Ultimate Antipasto Platter


Description

An antipasto platter is ideal for entertaining! Pile a board with Italian antipasti like cheeses, cured meats, olives, marinated vegetables, and more. 


Ingredients

  • 1 recipe Marinated Mozzarella Balls (or purchased)
  • 1 cup Marinated Mushrooms (or purchased)
  • 1 cup mixed olives
  • 2 blocks aged cheese
  • 1 cup jarred marinated artichoke hearts or roasted peppers (or other marinated items from a grocery olive bar or deli counter)
  • 2 types cured meats (prosciutto, salami, chorizo, sopressata, bresaola, etc)
  • 1 handful cherry tomatoes
  • 2 handfuls crackers
  • 1 handful Italian breadsticks
  • Optional other items: focaccia bread slices, roasted nuts, jarred pepperoncini, etc

Instructions

  1. If using homemade, make the Marinated Mozzarella Balls and/or Marinated Mushrooms.
  2. Prepare the other ingredients as necessary: cut the cheese or meats, and place the olives and nuts in small bowls.
  3. Place the ingredients onto a large board. Place the bowls of items first, then fill in with cheese slices, meats, marinated veggies, crackers and breadsticks. Once the board is mostly complete, tuck in a few sprigs of fresh herbs to complete the tray (like rosemary or thyme sprigs).
  4. Serve immediately, with small plates, forks and toothpicks if desired. The antipasto platter can sit out for up to 2 hours at room temperature. Make the board up to 24 hours in advance, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate: allow to come to room temperature 30 minutes before serving.

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60 Best Thanksgiving Recipes

Here are all the best Thanksgiving recipes to add to your table! These fresh and healthy spins on the classics are absolutely full of flavor.

Best Thanksgiving recipes

Thanksgiving is the top cooking holiday of the year, and we take it very seriously around here. We’ve put together a list of the best of the best Thanksgiving recipes to make your table shine. The approach? Our recipes are full of colorful vegetables, seasonal flavors and cozy vibes. You’ll find ideas for all types of diets: vegetarian and vegan Thanksgiving ideas, gluten free spins, and overall healthier spins on classics. The theme? Each recipe is undeniably delicious.

Looking for something specific? Go to these lists of Thanksgiving side dish recipes, salads, desserts and cocktails. Otherwise, scroll to the list below: your family will thank you later!

And now…our top Thanksgiving recipes!

More recipe ideas

We’ve got lots more lists of great ideas for Thanksgiving entertaining! If you didn’t see something that fits your fancy, pick from one of the following:

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Mashed sweet potatoes

60 Best Thanksgiving Recipes: Mashed Sweet Potatoes & More!


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 to 8

Description

These mashed sweet potatoes are at the top of our Thanksgiving recipes! Go savory with garlic and fresh chives. For the remaining Thanksgiving recipes, scroll up!


Ingredients

  • pounds sweet potatoes
  • pounds Yukon gold potatoes
  • ½ cup milk (or dairy free milk for vegan)
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • 2 tablespoons chopped chives
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Peel and dice the potatoes.
  2. Place the Yukon gold potatoes in a large pot and cover with 3 to 4 inches of water; add a generous amount of kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then add the sweet potatoes after 5 minutes. Boil 10 to 15 minutes more until both types of potatoes are tender. Drain and reserve ½ cup of the water. Return the potatoes to the pot. 
  3. In the pot, pour back the ½ cup water to potatoes. Add the grated garlic (you can grate it right in), milk, kosher salt, chopped chives, and fresh ground black pepper. Mash until the desired consistency is reached. Serve immediately.
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Thanksgiving recipes

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Chewy Chocolate Molasses Cookies

Chewy, chocolatey and perfectly spiced, these chocolate molasses cookies are the perfect addition to your holiday cookie boxes. With a deep ...