Directions: |
Directions:Toss pecans into a large skillet. Toast them over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, until they have darkened just a bit and smell fragrant and wonderful. Should only take a few minutes.
Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Arrange the pecans into clusters, 3 to a group in a flower petal pattern. Make sure they are touching in the center of each cluster. Leave 1 inch space between each cluster.
Make caramel. Place butter into a medium sized sauce pan. Melt it over medium high heat. Add brown sugar, corn syrup and sweetened condensed milk. Increase the heat just a bit and stir it continually. Cook and stir until it reaches 234 º. Remove from heat. You want it to get to 235º-240º. It will continue to rise in temperature just a bit even without the direct heat, making the caramel just the right texture. Stir in vanilla
Carefully drizzle about 1 1/2 teaspoons of caramel over each nut cluster. You'll need to work quickly, as the caramel will begin to set up. Be sure there is caramel touching all the nuts in each cluster. The caramel works like glue, sticking the nuts together.
Pour the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Heat in microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each cooking interval until melted and smooth.
Add shortening to the melted chocolate. Allow it to sit for a minute or two ( so it can melt and make the chocolate chips more spreadable). Stir it all together.
Spoon about 1 1/2 teaspoons of melted chocolate over the top of the caramel and nuts. Swirl it around along the top making a pretty swoop with your spoon.
Allow the chocolate to set up. Once it has hardened and cooled serve or transfer to an air tight container. |
This recipe for Texas Millionaires or Pecan Turtle Clusters is from