Chocolate Pistachio Brittle Food

PISTACHIO BRITTLE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or a piece of foil lightly greased with canola oil spray.
• Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water in a medium saucepot fitted with a candy thermometer. Bring to a boil without stirring; cook until the mixture reaches 305 degrees F (the hard-crack stage), 12 to 15 minutes -- the sugar will become deeply caramelized.
• Remove the pot from the heat and carefully add the butter, baking soda, vanilla paste and fennel; the sugar will bubble up and incorporate all the ingredients on its own. With a heatproof rubber spatula, stir in the pistachios and then immediately spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet in an even layer. While the brittle is still hot, zest the orange evenly over the top and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
• Let the brittle cool completely before breaking into small pieces. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature. For longer storage, place the brittle in a zip-close bag, remove any excess air, and freeze for up to 1 month.

CHOCOLATE PISTACHIO BRITTLE

Steps:

• Spray a baking sheet with vegetable spray, wiping off any excess with a paper towel; set aside. In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water. Stir to combine. Cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until sugar is dissolved. Uncover, reduce heat to medium, and continue to cook without stirring until the sugar mixture reaches 295 degrees.on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat.
• Stir in 3 cups pistachios, the butter, vanilla, and baking soda. Return to heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 300 degrees.on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat, and pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet. Working quickly, spread mixture until about 1/4 inch -thick. Set aside to cool.
• In a small bowl, combine praline dust and chopped nuts; set aside. Melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler set over a pot of simmering water. Pour one-half of the chocolate over the brittle, spreading with an offset spatula to cover completely. Sprinkle with half of the praline dust mixture. Transfer to refrigerator until set, about 15 minutes. Remove from refrigerator. Turn and coat other side with chocolate and sprinkle with remaining praline dust mixture. Chill until set, about 15 minutes. When chocolate is completely set, break into irregular pieces.

WHITE CHOCOLATE BARK WITH PISTACHIOS AND DRIED CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
• Put 9 ounces of the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each, until just melted. Stir in the remaining 3 ounces chocolate and let stand 3 minutes. Stir until completely smooth. If there are still some lumps, microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring well after each, to melt any remaining chocolate, but take care not to heat more than necessary.
• Pour the chocolate onto the parchment and gently spread to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Sprinkle the pistachios and cranberries on top, pressing very lightly so they adhere. Sprinkle with the flaky salt.
• Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes. Break into pieces and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

PISTACHIO BRITTLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200°F. Grease 2 cookie sheets. In heavy 5- to 6-quart saucepan, place sugar, corn syrup and water. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring frequently. Stir in butter.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes until candy thermometer reaches 240°F. Meanwhile, place cookie sheets in oven. (Warm cookie sheets allow the candy to spread easily before it sets up.)
• Stir pistachios into sugar mixture; continue cooking, stirring frequently, until candy thermometer reaches 300°F. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda (mixture will be light and foamy).
• Remove cookie sheets from oven; pour candy onto cookie sheets. With buttered spatula, spread until candy is about 1/4-inch thick. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Break into pieces. Store in tightly covered container.

RICH PISTACHIO BRITTLE

Steps:

• Butter a 15x10x1-in. pan, set aside. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, water, corn syrup and salt. Cook over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 240° (soft-ball stage). Carefully add butter and pistachios; cook and stir until mixture reaches 284° (soft-crack stage)., Remove from the heat; stir in baking soda and vanilla. Immediately pour into prepared pan. Spread to 1/4-in. thickness. Cool before breaking into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

PISTACHIO BRITTLE

Steps:

• Spray a quarter-sheet tray with cooking spray.
• Combine the baking soda and vanilla paste in a small bowl and reserve.
• In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar, syrup, butter and 1 tablespoon water with a wooden spoon. Bring the mixture to 280 degrees F slowly over medium heat. Add the pistachios and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 300 degrees F, or hard-crack. Remove from the heat and carefully add the baking soda and vanilla paste mixture, continuing to stir.
• Carefully turn out onto the greased sheet tray and spread thinly and evenly with a spoon. Sprinkle sea salt flakes over the top. Let cool at room temperature until hardened, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Break into pieces. Eat as-is or with vanilla ice cream. Store any remaining in an airtight container.

PISTACHIO BRITTLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For crust:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Blend shortbread, nuts and sugar in processor until nuts are finely ground. Add butter; process until moist clumps form. Press onto bottom of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Wrap outside of pan with foil. Bake crust until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool crust.
• For filling and topping:
• Beat cream cheese, sugar and cardamom in large bowl until smooth. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Add 1 cup sour cream, pear nectar, flour and vanilla and beat until blended. Pour filling over crust.
• Bake cheesecake until puffed at edges and softly set in center, about 1 hour 5 minutes. Transfer cheesecake to rack; let cool 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir white chocolate in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water until smooth (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Cool chocolate to lukewarm; whisk in remaining 1 1/4 cups sour cream.
• Spread topping over warm filling. Refrigerate cake uncovered overnight. Cut around pan sides; release pan sides. Place cake on platter. Stand brittle pieces on edge in topping on cheesecake.