Buttercrunch Ice Cream Food

BUTTER CRUNCH

Steps:

• Melt butter and bring to boil. Add warm water and return to boil. Add the 2 pounds of sugar and lecithin, stirring constantly, until mixture becomes homogenous. Add almonds and cook until almonds are roasted. Lower flame and cook to 300 degrees F. Take off heat; add salt and remaining 1/2-ounce granulated sugar until dissolved, stirring constantly. Pour onto greased baking sheet, spread out as thin as practical, score and cut.
• Option: Once cooled, dip in melted chocolate and sprinkle with roasted chopped almonds.

ICE CREAM CRUNCH

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook butter and brown sugar until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. , In a large bowl, combine cereal, coconut and nuts; add sugar mixture and stir until coated. Press half into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. dish. Spread ice cream over crust. Top with remaining cereal mixture. Freeze until firm.

OLD-FASHIONED BUTTER CRUNCH

Steps:

• To make the butter crunch mixture, melt the butter in a saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, corn syrup, and water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches 300 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat, stir in almonds, and pour out into prepared pan, spreading the mixture with the back of a spoon to fill the pan. Before the butter crunch hardens, but when it is firm enough to handle, turn it out onto a large parchment-covered cutting board and peel away the foil. Allow the butter crunch to cool completely. To finish the butter crunch, wipe the top surface of the candy with a damp paper towel to remove excess butter and allow to dry a few minutes. Have another cutting board or the back of a jelly-roll pan ready to turn the candy over onto. Use a small offset metal icing spatula to spread half the tempered chocolate quickly over the butter crunch. Scatter half the chopped almonds over the chocolate. Cover this finished surface with a piece of parchment paper or foil and place another cutting board or the back of a large jelly-roll pan. Remove top board and paper and quickly spread with remaining tempered chocolate and scatter on remaining almonds (it isn't necessary to wipe the second side because it wasn't against a buttered surface). Refrigerate for 20 minutes to set chocolate. Break the butter crunch into 2-inch pieces. Store candy in a tin or plastic container with a tight-fitting cover and keep at a cool room temperature for up to a week.

BUTTERCRUNCH TOFFEE

Steps:

• Using half of the chopped almonds, form an 8-inch (20-cm) circle in an even layer on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Fit a small, heavy-duty saucepan with a candy thermometer, then add the water, butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar, mixing them together. Have the baking soda and vanilla measured and ready.
• Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring as little as possible. When the mixture reaches 300°F (150°C), remove the pan from the heat and immediately stir in the baking soda and vanilla. Mix just until combined; don't overstir.
• Right away, pour the hot toffee mixture over the circle of almonds on the baking sheet. Using as little movement as possible, spread the toffee to cover the circle.
• Scatter the chocolate pieces over the toffee and wait 2 minutes to allow them to melt. Use a spatula to spread the chocolate into an even layer, then scatter the remaining chopped almonds on top, pressing them into the chocolate. Cool completely, until the chocolate is firm. Depending on the temperature of your kitchen, you may need to cool it in the refrigerator. Remove it once the chocolate has hardened.
• Chop the Buttercrunch Toffee into coarse chunks, then fold the pieces into 1 quart (1 liter) of ice cream as you remove it from the machine.
• Feel free to substitute toasted hazelnuts or pecans for the almonds. I also like to fleck a few grains of coarse salt over the chocolate before adding the nuts. You can substitute milk chocolate for the dark chocolate if you wish.
• Buttercrunch Toffee can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks in the freezer or at room temperature.

PEANUT BUTTER CRUNCH (ICE CREAM TOPPING)

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar until it softens. Slowly add milk and stir until sugar dissolves.
• Bring to a boil and cook until mixture reduces and thickens.
• Add peanut butter and mix thoroughly.
• Add peanuts and vanilla.
• Continue stirring until smooth.
• Serve warm over ice cream.