Almond Brittle Food

SALTED ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• Lightly butter a lipped baking tray and spread the almonds over it in a thin, even layer. Put the sugar, butter, salt and 4 tbsp water into a smooth-bottomed frying pan and heat gently, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat and boil for about 5 mins, or until it starts to turn light golden brown. Stir every now and again as some patches will start to caramelise faster than others. Carefully tip the caramel over the nuts and leave to cool completely.
• Once cold, shatter the caramel. An easy way to get clean sharp pieces is to put the point of a sharp knife vertically onto the caramel and bash the handle with a rolling pin, like a hammer and chisel. Serve on top of the Chocolate amaretti puddings. Keep for up to 2 days in an airtight container, interleaved with non-stick paper, in a cool, dry place (not the fridge).

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

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.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread the almonds on a rimmed baking sheet and cook, stirring once, until toasted, about 10 minutes and set aside.
• Lay a silicone baking mat on a rimmed baking sheet (or line the pan with aluminum foil and lightly butter). Spread the butter on the underside of a large offset metal spatula. Whisk the cocoa and baking soda together in a small bowl.
• Put the sugar, corn syrup and 3/4 cup water in a deep medium saucepan and attach a candy thermometer to the side. Cook over medium heat, stirring gently with a wooden spoon, just until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to high and boil the mixture until it reaches 310 degrees F or hard-crack stage.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and carefully whisk in the cocoa mixture until combined. Stir in the toasted nuts with a wooden spoon. Working quickly, pour the hot brittle onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it as thin as possible with the buttered spatula. Cool for 5 minutes, then loosen the brittle from the pan with the spatula. Cool completely and then break into pieces. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

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.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• Butter a large baking sheet and a metal spatula.
• In a heavy 5-6 quart saucepan combine water, sugar, and corn syrup and bring to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil syrup, without stirring, until it registers 310°F. on a candy thermometer.
• Remove pan from heat (syrup will be very hot). Carefully add baking soda and salt and, working quickly, stir until syrup foams and thickens. Stir in almonds and pour mixture onto prepare baking sheet, spreading with prepared spatula.
• Cool brittle 5 minutes and sprinkle chocolate evenly over it. Let chocolate melt, about 5 minutes, and spread it with a clean spatula. Chill brittle on baking sheet until chocolate hardens. Loosen brittle with a clean spatula from baking sheet and, holding brittle underneath with palms of hands to avoid smearing chocolate, drop from height of a few inches onto work surface to break into pieces. Transfer brittle, separating it with layers of wax paper, to airtight container. Brittle keeps, covered and chilled, 2 weeks.

SPICED ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• Line a 15x10x1-in. pan with parchment. (Do not spray or grease.), In a large heavy saucepan, combine sugar, water, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar. Using a pastry brush dipped in water, wash down the sides of the pan to eliminate sugar crystals. Cook, without stirring, over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 260° (hard-ball stage). , Stir in almonds, butter and seasonings; cook until thermometer reads 300° (hard-crack stage), stirring frequently, about 8 minutes longer., Remove from heat; stir in baking soda. (Mixture will foam.) Immediately pour onto prepared pan, spreading as thin as possible. Cool completely., Break brittle into pieces. Store between layers of waxed paper in airtight containers.

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.