Cranberry Mascarpone And Pralines

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 16
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter, cut up (no substitute)
• 1/3 cup almonds, finely chopped
• 1 (8 ounce) carton mascarpone cheese
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon orange peel, finely shredded
• 1 tablespoon orange liqueur (or orange juice)
• fresh strawberry, halves

Recipe

• 1 line a baking sheet with foil. butter the foil; set aside.
• 2 for pralines, cook sugar and butter in a heavy 8-inch skillet over medium heat until sugar begins to melt, shaking skillet occasionally. do not stir.
• 3 reduce heat to medium-low; cook until sugar turns golden, stirring often with a wooden spoon. remove from heat; stir in nuts. immediately spread coated nuts in a thin layer on prepared baking sheet. cool; break into small pieces.
• 4 meanwhile, combine mascarpone cheese, cranberries, orange peel, and liqueur or juice in a medium mixing bowl. spoon mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch wide open-star tip. pipe onto strawberry halves; arrange on a small plate. garnish with pieces of praline.