Hazelnut Butter Food

CINNAMON HAZELNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and add hazelnuts to a baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for a total of 12-15 minutes, or until fragrant and golden brown.
• Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Then transfer to a large kitchen towel and use your hands to roll the nuts around and remove most of the skins (see photo). You want to get as much as possible off because it yields a creamier nut butter. But it doesn't have to be perfect!
• Leaving excess skin behind, scoop hazelnuts into a food processor or high speed blender. Blend on low until a butter begins to form - about 7-9 minutes total - scraping down sides as needed.
• Once the hazelnut butter is creamy and smooth, add the ground cinnamon, sea salt, and coconut sugar (optional).
• Blend/puree again until well incorporated. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
• Transfer hazelnut butter to a clean jar and store at room temperature for up to 3 weeks, or in the refrigerator for up to 2 months (or more).

THIS SIMPLE HAZELNUT BUTTER IS WAY HEALTHIER THAN NUTELLA

Steps:

• Place hazelnuts, salt, and cinnamon (if using) into a blender. Starting on the lowest speed and blend mixture until crumbly-about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Increase speed and blend about 1 to 2 minutes until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides with a rubber spatula as-needed.
• Use the rubber spatula to scoop hazelnut butter into an airtight container. Keep refrigerated.

HAZELNUT BUTTER BRICKLE CAKE

Steps:

• Line 3 large baking sheets with parchment or silicone paper. On each sheet, trace a 9-inch circle. Turn paper over so that you can see the tracings. Preheat oven to 225 degrees.
• Mix together 1 cup sugar, finely chopped nuts, and sifted cornstarch. Place egg whites in bowl of electric mixer. Using the whip attachment, start whipping at slow speed until whites are foamy, add the cream of tartar and salt, continue whipping at fast speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the 3 tablespoons of sugar and continue whipping until stiff peaks form. Add the vanilla extract. Remove bowl from mixer stand, fold in the nut mixture by hand, a small amount at a time. Divide mixture between 3 circles and spread into even layers. Bake for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour or until meringues are lightly coloured and dry.
• Place the 3 meringue layers on work surface, turn 1 layer over to the smooth side (for top layer). Spread a very thin layer of caramel sauce on top layer and chill. Lay 2 remaining meringues on work surface and brush with melted milk chocolate. Chill until set.
• Remove all layers from refrigerator and place the bottom layer on serving plate, spread 1/2 of the toffee cream over the first layer, place next layer on top and spread the remaining 1/2 of the toffee cream over layer. Place top layer gently on top. Fill a piping bag with a 1/2-inch plain tip and pipe 8 rosettes around the outside border of the layer, leaving space between the rosettes. Fill the spaces with broken pieces of toffee. Drizzle caramel lightly over the whipped cream rosettes. Chill 4 hours before serving.
• In a small saucepan, scald the cream and set aside. Combine the sugar with 1/2 cup water in a large saucepan. Stir to moisten the sugar. Bring to a simmer, swirling the pan gently to dissolve the sugar. Increase heat and continuing simmering without stirring until syrup begins to color. Once the syrup turns a deep amber or caramel color, remove from heat and add the cream in a steady stream, stirring with a wire whisk. Caramel and cream will bubble up and steam, but keep stirring and continue to whisk until caramel is completely dissolved and combined with the cream. Stir in pieces of butter until melted and combined. Stir in vanilla and salt. Set aside to cool.
• Coat a cookie sheet with vegetable oil and set aside. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Place the sugar, water, corn syrup and vanilla in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and stir well to dissolve the sugar. Cook the mixture over high heat until it reaches a boil. Let the mixture boil for 1 minute. Add the butter, stirring to combine. Continue to boil, stirring often. Scrape the bottom of the pan to keep the mixture from burning. The mixture should reach 290 degrees on a candy thermometer and is a deep golden brown. Remove from the heat and stir in the nuts. Turn the mixture out onto the oiled tray and let it cool completely.
• Whip the cream until soft peaks form, add the icing sugar; continue whipping until stiff peaks form. Set aside 1 cup of cream for decoration. Fold the toffee into the remaining cream.

HAZELNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl stir together hazelnuts, butter, and honey.
• If not serving immediately, cover and chill.
• Bring to room temperature before serving.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Place hazelnuts in a food processor; cover and process for 2-3 minutes or until mixture pulls away from sides of processor. Continue processing while gradually adding confectioners' sugar, cocoa and salt to reach desired consistency. Store in the refrigerator.

HAZELNUT & CHOCOLATE BUTTER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the hazelnuts onto a large baking tray, place in the oven and roast for 10 mins, stirring now and then to ensure they don't catch at the edges. When golden brown, remove form the oven and leave to cool completely.
• Tip the nuts into a food processor, add the cocoa or cacao, maple syrup and salt. Blend for 6-8 mins, until you're left with a smooth nut butter, if you want to loosen the consistency, add a drizzle of hazelnut oil and blend again.

HAZELNUT-BUTTER COOKIES WITH MINI CHOCOLATE CHIPS

Steps:

• Sift first 4 ingredients into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter, hazelnut butter, and both sugars in large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated. Soften dough slightly at room temperature before shaping.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Using 1 level tablespoon for each cookie, roll dough between palms of hands into 1-inch balls. Arrange 1 inch apart on prepared sheets. Bake 1 sheet at a time until cookies are golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets on racks 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks and cool. (Can be made 5 days ahead. Store airtight between sheets of waxed paper at room temperature.)