Holiday Almond Brittle Food

CROCCANTE: 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.

ROASTED CRANBERRY SAUCE WITH ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 425 degrees F. Toss the cranberries with the sugar, wine, olive oil, 1 tablespoon rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bake on the lower oven rack, breaking up the berries with a spoon halfway through, until bubbling, 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Toss the almonds with the maple syrup, remaining 1 teaspoon rosemary and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a small bowl until coated. Spread on the prepared baking sheet and bake on the upper oven rack until golden brown and bubbling, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool until hardened, about 30 minutes. Finely chop the brittle and sprinkle on the cranberry sauce just before serving.

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.

SMOKED ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a large-rimmed baking sheet with a nonstick silicone mat and lightly butter.
• In a heavy-bottom saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and corn syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil until it registers 230 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 10 minutes. Transfer the almonds to the oven on another large-rimmed baking sheet until warmed through, but not toasted.
• When the syrup reaches 239 degrees F, stir the almonds into the syrup with 1 teaspoon salt. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the syrup is 300 degrees F and a rich caramel color; immediately stir in the butter, vanilla, and baking soda.
• Pour the brittle mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, folding the border back towards the middle to distribute the heat evenly. Cool completely at room temperature and break into pieces.

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.

CINNAMON ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°. Grease 2 baking sheets with 1 teaspoon butter; place in oven to warm., In a large heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. 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 240° (soft-ball stage). Stir in almonds, cinnamon, salt and remaining 3 tablespoons butter; cook until thermometer reads 300° (hard-crack stage), stirring frequently and brushing sides of pan as needed., Remove from heat; stir in baking soda and vanilla. Immediately pour onto prepared pans, spreading to 1/4-in. thickness. Cool completely., Break brittle into pieces. Store between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container.