Copper Kettle Elegant Appetizer

# What You Need:

→ Caramelized Onion Jam

01 - 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced

02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

05 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar

06 - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Nut & Fruit Mixture

08 - 3/4 cup pecan halves

09 - 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted and quartered

10 - 2 tablespoons honey

11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 - 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

13 - Pinch of flaky sea salt

→ Assembly

14 - 6 small copper ramekins or small oven-proof dishes

15 - Fresh thyme leaves, for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Melt butter with olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions soften and turn golden, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in brown sugar and balsamic vinegar, cooking an additional 8 to 10 minutes until deeply caramelized. Season with black pepper then remove from heat and let cool slightly.

02 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, combine pecans, dates, honey, cinnamon, cayenne pepper if using, and flaky sea salt. Spread mixture evenly on a lined baking sheet and toast in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes until pecans release their aroma. Let cool slightly.

03 - Spoon a generous layer of caramelized onion jam into the base of each ramekin. Top with warm pecan and date mixture. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves.

04 - Present immediately, accompanied by toasted baguette slices or crackers as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -

The caramelized onion jam is silky, sweet, and deeply savory all at once—it's the kind of flavor you didn't know you were craving.
It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you spent half the day cooking.
Serving these in copper ramekins makes your guests feel like they're at a restaurant, even though you made everything yourself.

02 -

Don't skip the slow cooking of the onions—medium heat for 20+ minutes is what creates that deep, complex sweetness that short-cuts can't replicate.
The contrast between the warm jam and the room-temperature served ramekins matters; assembly should happen just before serving so temperatures dance against each other.

03 -