Amish Pecan Desserts
One Amish craft which is highly regarded world wide is the craft of wood working. Amish craftsmen use wood, not particle board or fabricated material, to create their beautiful, detailed and high quality furniture which lasts for generations. The workers try to use hardwoods which are locally grown. There are many types of hardwoods used: oak, cherry, maple, walnut, hickory, birch and the soft wood pine.
Oak and cherry are probably the most commonly used woods for furniture. The hickory is also a great versatile hardwood which is sturdy and elastic. In addition to use in furniture construction it is used in buggy construction (wheel spokes), for tool handles, for flooring and for sporting equipment. Another use is for fuel burning and is also used to as smoke cure wood. This deciduous tree (genus Carya) is a native to the eastern part of North America. There are many species of hickory. One species of hickory produces the pecan, a very popular nut for eating in the United States.
The pecan derives its name from an Algonquin word which means “nut which requires a stone to crack.” The pecan is a very nutritious food. They have natural antioxidants and because they contain plant sterols they are able to reduce cholesterol levels. Other nutritional benefits include being nutrient dense in minerals and vitamins in addition to having very little saturated fat. The fats in pecans are of the unsaturated variety which is very heart healthy.
Probably the most common dessert made with pecans is the pecan pie. The Amish have a very good and fairly simple recipe for making pecan pie.
Amish Pecan Pie
2 tbsp butter
¼ c. sugar
2 eggs
¾ c molasses
1 tbsp flour
1 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
¾ c water
½ c pecans
1 9 inch unbaked pie shell
Preheat oven to 450 ° F. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar and eggs. Add molasses, flour, vanilla and salt and mix well. Add water and pecans and stir into mix. Pour into the pie shell and bake for ten minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 °F for 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool on baking rake. Serve with a dollop of whip cream or pie.
Some days you may need to whip up a sweet dessert fast. The following is a simple four ingredient dessert which is very tasty in addition to being easy to prepare.
Pecan Toffee Snacks
Club crackers
1 c chopped pecans
1 c butter
½ c granulated sugar
Preheat oven to 350 °F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the club crackers along the bottom of the lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the pecans over the crackers. In a heavy saucepan boil the butter and sugar for three minutes. Pour this sauce over the crackers and pecans. Bake in oven for ten minutes. Allow to cool on baking rack. This dessert can be served warm or it can be allowed to cool.
Pecans can be used for more than just the typical caramelized, very sweet dessert. Here’s a recipe for a Pecan Pudding Cake. Not your typical frosted cake!
1 pkg. butter pecan instant pudding mix
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
4 eggs
1 c. water
¼ c. canola oil
1 tub whip cream
1/3 c. cold milk
1/3 c. chopped pecans
Preheat over to 350 °F. Reserve 1/3 of the butter pecan instant pudding and set aside. Combine remaining instant pudding mix, cake mix, eggs, water and oil in a large mixing bowl. Beat together until thoroughly combined for about three to four minutes. Pour into greased 9 x 13 inch cake pan and bake for 40-45 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on baking rack until completely cooled. Mix reserved pudding mix and 1/3 cup cold milk until pudding sets. Fold this pudding into the cool whip. Spread onto thoroughly cooled cake and top with chopped pecans. Refrigerate any unused servings.
