Best 5 Pine Nut Caramel Shortbread Recipes

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Pine nut caramel shortbread is an exquisite treat that combines the nutty flavor of pine nuts with the sweet richness of caramel and the delicate texture of shortbread. This delectable confection can be enjoyed as an afternoon snack, a dessert after a meal, or even as a special gift for friends and family. Its unique flavor profile and elegant appearance make it a favorite among dessert enthusiasts. whether you are a seasoned baker or a novice cook, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and step-by-step instructions you need to create this delightful sweet treat in your own kitchen.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

PINE NUT CARAMEL SHORTBREAD



Pine Nut Caramel Shortbread image

"I have a love affair with pine nuts and decided to use them in place of pecans in a friend's caramel bar recipe. I think you'll like the results as well as my family does." -Dara Michalski, Sandy, Utah

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 50m

Yield 4 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
FILLING:
3/4 cup butter, cubed
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups pine nuts
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Coarse salt, optional

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Pat onto the bottom of a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Prick dough thoroughly with a fork., Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce temperature to 325°., In a large saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, honey, sugar, cream and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until a candy thermometer reads 234° (soft-ball stage). Remove from the heat; stir in pine nuts and vanilla. Spread evenly over crust., Bake for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly. Place pan on a wire rack., Sprinkle the top with coarse salt if desired. Cool completely. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 167 calories, Fat 10g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 20mg cholesterol, Sodium 103mg sodium, Carbohydrate 17g carbohydrate (11g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 2g protein.

CARAMEL CHOCOLATE SHORTBREADS



Caramel Chocolate Shortbreads image

Shortbread alone is a treat, but when topped with layers of caramel, chocolate and toasted coconut, it becomes akin to a candy bar. Using mini chocolate chips makes this recipe super easy -- they melt right into the cookie.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     dessert

Time 2h

Yield 12 pieces

Number Of Ingredients 9

3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting (see Cook's Note)
One 11-ounce bag caramels, pieces unwrapped
Nonstick cooking spray, for spraying the spoon
1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving about a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides. Spread the coconut in a single layer on a baking sheet and set aside.
  • Beat the butter, vanilla and salt with an electric mixer on medium speed in a large bowl until smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix on low until just incorporated. Beat in the flour in 2 batches to make a smooth dough.
  • Lightly flour your hands and press the dough into the prepared baking pan. Bake the shortbread until the edges are firm and the top is dry, 28 to 30 minutes. Top the shortbread with the caramels in an even layer. Return to the oven along with the baking sheet of coconut and cook, tossing the coconut once, until the caramels are melted and the coconut is golden, about 10 minutes.
  • Spray the back of a spoon with cooking spray and use it to spread the caramel all over the shortbread. Sprinkle with the chocolate and let sit until the chips are melted, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the toasted coconut and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
  • Using the foil overhang as handles, lift the shortbread out of the pan and cut into 12 pieces.

PINE NUT CARAMEL BARS



Pine Nut Caramel Bars image

Yield Makes 16

Number Of Ingredients 11

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
6 tablespoons firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 3/4 cups pine nuts (about 8 1/2 ounces)
1 1/2 tablespoons whipping cream

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 8-inch square glass baking dish with foil. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until light. Add sugar and lemon peel and beat until light and fluffy. Mix flour, cornstarch and salt in small bowl. Add to butter mixture and mix until beginning to gather together. Press dough over bottom and 1 inch up sides of prepared dish. Pierce dough all over with fork. Bake until beginning to color, about 35 minutes. Remove crust from oven; maintain oven temperature.
  • Combine butter, packed dark brown sugar and honey in heavy medium saucepan. Whisk over medium-high heat until mixture comes to boil. Boil without whisking until mixture thickens and bubbles enlarge, about 1 minute. Stir in pine nuts. Remove from heat; stir in whipping cream.
  • Spread topping in crust. Bake until caramel bubbles, about 20 minutes. Cool completely in pan on rack. Remove from pan, using foil as aid. Cut into squares. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Store in airtight container.)

CARAMEL-NUT TART



Caramel-Nut Tart image

Provided by Sarah Patterson Scott

Categories     Mixer     Dessert     Bake     Thanksgiving     Almond     Cashew     Pine Nut     Honey     Bon Appétit     Kidney Friendly     Vegetarian     Pescatarian     Peanut Free     Soy Free     Kosher

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

Crust:
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, separated
1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Filling:
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons finely grated orange peel
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup roasted unsalted cashews (about 2 1/2 ounces)
1/2 cup pine nuts (about 2 1/2 ounces), lightly toasted
1/2 cup walnut pieces (about 2 1/2 ounces), lightly toasted

Steps:

  • For crust:
  • Using electric mixer, beat butter, powdered sugar, and salt in medium bowl to blend. Add egg yolk and cream; beat until smooth. Add flour and beat just until dough comes together. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead briefly to combine. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
  • Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 12-inch round. Transfer to 9-inchdiameter tart pan with removable bottom. Gently fit dough into pan, trimming all but 1/2 inch of overhang. Fold overhang in, forming double-thick sides. Pierce bottom of crust all over with fork. Freeze 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line crust with foil. Fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until sides are set, about 20 minutes. Remove foil with beans. Bake crust until golden, pressing with back of fork if crust bubbles, about 20 minutes longer.
  • Meanwhile, whisk egg white in small bowl until thick and foamy.
  • Brush hot crust lightly with some beaten egg white and place on rack to cool. Maintain oven temperature.
  • For filling:
  • Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to boil, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush. Cook until syrup is deep amber, swirling pan occasionally, about 9 minutes. Remove from heat and pour in juice, then cream. Whisk over low heat until smooth. Whisk in butter, honey, orange peel, vanilla, and salt. Stir in cashews, pine nuts, and walnuts.
  • Pour filling into crust. Bake tart until filling is bubbling thickly all over, about 22 minutes. Cool tart completely on rack. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with foil and store at room temperature.
  • Cut tart into wedges and serve.

PECAN CARAMEL SHORTBREAD



Pecan Caramel Shortbread image

This bar cookie takes inspiration from old-fashioned pecan pie.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Yield Makes about 10 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 5

3 1/2 cups pecans
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Caramel for Bar Cookies

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread pecans on a baking pan. Bake until golden and fragrant, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool. Chop roughly, and set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light in color. With the mixer on low speed, add flour, and mix until just combined.
  • Line an 11-by-17-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Press dough into the bottom of baking pan in an even layer. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, using a microwave or double boiler, heat caramel until liquid; stir in pecans. Spread mixture over the cookie layer. Return pan to oven, and bake until caramel is slightly darkened in color, about 10 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack to cool. Cut into 2 3/4-by-1/2-inch rectangles.

Tips:

  • For the perfect shortbread texture, use cold butter and flour. You can even chill the bowl and utensils before starting.
  • Work the butter and flour together until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Avoid overworking the dough, as this will make the shortbread tough.
  • Press the dough firmly into the prepared pan. Use a fork to prick the top of the dough all over. This will help prevent the shortbread from puffing up during baking.
  • Bake the shortbread in a preheated oven until the edges are golden brown and the center is set. Do not overbake, as this will make the shortbread dry and crumbly.
  • Allow the shortbread to cool completely before cutting into bars or wedges. This will help prevent the shortbread from crumbling.
  • For the caramel, use a heavy-bottomed saucepan to prevent scorching. Stir the sugar and water constantly until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture begins to turn amber in color.
  • Remove the caramel from the heat and stir in the butter and cream. Return the saucepan to the heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the caramel has thickened and is smooth.
  • Pour the caramel over the cooled shortbread and sprinkle with pine nuts. Allow the caramel to set completely before cutting into bars or wedges.

Conclusion:

This pine nut caramel shortbread is a delicious and easy-to-make treat that is perfect for any occasion. The shortbread is buttery and crumbly, while the caramel is rich and decadent. The pine nuts add a nutty flavor and texture that takes this dessert over the top. Whether you are serving it to guests or enjoying it yourself, this pine nut caramel shortbread is sure to be a hit.

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