CHOCOLATE PECAN RECIPES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix flour and salt; cut in lard until crumbly. Gradually add ice water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Shape into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 30 minutes or overnight., Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim pastry to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Line unpricked pastry with a double thickness of foil. Fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice., Bake 11-13 minutes or until bottom is lightly browned. Remove foil and weights; bake 6-8 minutes longer or until light brown. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven setting to 350°., In a microwave, melt chocolates in a large bowl; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Whisk in milk, egg yolks and vanilla; stir in pecans. Pour into crust. Bake 16-19 minutes or until set. Cool 1 hour on a wire rack., Meanwhile, in a small heavy saucepan, combine brown sugar, cream and butter. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat., In a small bowl, whisk a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to pan, whisking constantly. Cook 2-3 minutes or until mixture thickens and a thermometer reads 160°, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in coconut and vanilla; cool 10 minutes., Pour over filling; sprinkle with pecans. Refrigerate 4 hours or until cold.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of 2 greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper. Grease 12 muffin cups. , Prepare spice cake mix batter according to package directions. Transfer 1-1/2 cups batter to 1 of the prepared pans. Remove pumpkin pie from pan; place upside down on top of batter. Top with 2-1/2 cups additional batter; tap pan on counter to remove any air bubbles (batter should not completely fill pan). Pour remaining batter into 6 muffin cups. , Prepare chocolate cake mix batter according to package directions. Transfer 1-1/2 cups batter to remaining prepared pan. Remove pecan pie from pan; place upside down on top of batter. Top with 2-1/2 cups additional batter; tap pan on counter to remove any air bubbles (batter should not completely fill pan). Pour remaining batter into 6 muffin cups., Bake cupcakes according to package directions, and cake layers until cakes start to pull away from edge of pans and tops are completely set, 50-60 minutes. Cool in pans 1 hour before removing to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely., If cake layers have rounded tops, trim with a serrated knife to make level. Place 1 cake layer, bottom side up, on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. If desired, press chopped pecans onto side of cake and sprinkle ground cinnamon on top of cake. Decorate cupcakes as desired. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour. Refrigerate leftovers.