Almond Brittle Croccante Food

ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat; add almonds, sugar, and syrup. Cook and stir the almonds until the mixture turns caramel in color, about 6 minutes.
• Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet in a thin layer. Cool until the mixture hardens and break into pieces to serve.

ALMOND BRITTLE (CROCCANTE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F Grease a cookie sheet with the almond oil. Place the almonds on a separate baking sheet and toast them until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• In a medium, very heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar and water and cook over medium-high heat until the sugar liquefies, then turns light golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. It should register 238°F on a candy thermometer; this is referred to as the soft ball stage. Do not stir, but brush th sugar crystals off the sides of the pot with a wet pastry brush as necessary. Once the sugar begins to brown, watch carefully and remove from heat as soon as it is the desired color, as the sugar can burn quickly.
• Once the caramel is off the heat, immediately add the almonds to the pot and stir quickly to incorporate. Turn out onto the prepared cookie sheet, spreading quickly to an even thickness. Allow the brittle to cool completely, then break into festive shapes.

CROCCANTE-- ITALIAN ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, add the sugar and cook on high heat. Continue to stir until the sugar begins to sweat and liquify. Add a bit of water to help, if necessary. Continue to cook until the sugar turns into a deep rich brown color.
• Add the almonds and mix well. Cook for a few minutes, making sure the almonds are fully coated. Remove the almonds from the heat and quickly pour and spread the hot almond-sugar mixture onto a buttered cookie sheet to the desired thickness.
• Let cool for 30 minutes before breaking it into smaller pieces.

ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• Spread the oil over a baking sheet. Spread almonds evenly over the surface of the sheet. In a medium heavy bottomed saucepan, stir the sugar and cream of tartar into the water over low heat until dissolved. When the sugar is dissolved, increase the heat to medium and stop stirring. Bring to a boil and allow temperature, as measured with a candy thermometer, to 300 degrees F (hard crack stage). Immediately pour the syrup over the almonds and allow to cool and harden completely. Break into pieces to serve.

ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil in a large, heavy saucepan over moderate heat.
• Stir in the sugar and corn syrup until dissolved.
• Cook to the hard-ball stage (250F, 121C) and add the almonds and salt.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, to the hard-crack stage (300F, 150C).
• Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, vanilla, and baking soda.
• Pour the mixture onto a well buttered slab or baking sheet and spread it out with a spatula, making it as thin as possible while it is still hot.
• Cool to room temperature and break into pieces.
• Store in an airtight container.

ALMOND BRITTLE COOKIES

Steps:

• Make cookie crust: Using electric mixer, beat butter at medium speed until light. Add sugar, salt, and orange zest; beat until fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Add egg, milk, and vanilla and beat until blended. Add flours and mix at low speed just until smooth. Refrigerate, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 2 hours. Let dough warm at room temperature briefly before rolling out.
• Lightly butter 15-1/2x10-1/2" baking sheet. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to rectangle slightly larger than baking sheet. Line baking sheet with dough, letting edges hang. (Dough can also be pressed into pan with fingertips.) Refrigerate at least 20 minutes.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Trim dough flush with pan. Prick all over with fork. Bake until light golden, 16-18 minutes. Prick any air bubbles with fork.
• Mix jam and liqueur together and brush over hot pastry.
• Make topping: Melt butter in heavy saucepan over medium heat. Stir in sugar, honey, and salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves. Stir in cream and boil, stirring constantly, until lightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla, lemon juice, and almonds.
• Very gently spread almond mixture in smooth layer over pastry without disturbing raspberry glaze. Bake until bubbly and golden brown, 17-20 minutes.
• Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into 1" squares. Store in airtight containers.