Mixed Nut Butter Crunch Candy Food

ALMOND BUTTERCRUNCH

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Prepare a 4 x 8-inch loaf pan by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, the corn syrup, and the salt. Stir until the brown sugar dissolves.
• Once the brown sugar melts, start your timer and cook the candy for exactly 6 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. If you want to use a candy thermometer , stir and boil the toffee until it reaches 290 F/143 C.
• After 6 minutes, pull the toffee pan from the heat and stir in 1/2 cup of the chopped toasted almonds. Scrape the toffee into the prepared loaf pan-it should be in a layer about 1/2-inch thick.
• Let the toffee set for about 3 minutes, then use a pizza cutter or paring knife to cut the toffee into thin bars about 1/2-inch wide x 2.5-inches long. These will look like small pieces, but once they are dipped in chocolate and rolled in nuts, they'll be substantially bigger. After another 2 minutes, go over your cuts again as the toffee continues to harden.
• As you wait for your toffee to set, chop the remaining 1 cup of toasted almonds very finely. Alternatively, put them in a food processor and pulse for several seconds until they are in very small pieces. Pour the finely chopped almonds into a shallow bowl.
• Once the toffee is completely cool and set, break it into pieces along the lines you made, and trim off any jagged edges with a knife.
• Melt the chocolate or candy coating. Dip each piece of almond buttercrunch in the melted chocolate, then place it in the bowl of nuts. Roll it around until it is coated with nuts on all sides. Take it out with a fork and place it on a baking sheet. Repeat until all the toffee pieces are coated with chocolate and nuts.
• Refrigerate the tray for about 10 minutes to set the chocolate. Bring to room temperature, then serve and enjoy.

CHOCOLATE TOFFEE MATZO CANDY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray lightly with nonstick spray. Arrange the matzo crackers in a single layer on the foil, breaking them as necessary to fit. (Depending on their size, you may not need to use all of the crackers.)
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the sugar and kosher salt and bring to a full boil; the mixture should be bubbling all over, not just on the edges. Continue to boil for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally so the sugar and butter caramelize evenly. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Pour the mixture over the top of the matzo. Using a rubber spatula, quickly spread the toffee mixture to coat the matzo. (It does not have to be perfect; the oven will even it out). Bake until the toffee is bubbling, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot toffee in an even layer. Let sit until the chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Use an offset spatula to gently spread out the chocolate, then sprinkle with the sea salt, if using. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour, then refrigerate for another hour to set completely.
• Break into pieces and serve, or store in an airtight container at cool room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

OLD-TIME BUTTER CRUNCH CANDY

Steps:

• Line a 13x9-in. pan with foil; set aside. Using part of the butter, grease the sides of a large heavy saucepan. Add remaining butter to saucepan; melt over low heat. Add sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 300° (hard-crack stage). , Remove from the heat and stir in almonds. Quickly pour into the prepared pan, spreading to cover bottom of pan. Cool completely. Carefully invert pan to remove candy in 1 piece; remove foil. , Melt half of the chocolate in a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl; spread over top of candy. Let cool. Turn candy over and repeat with remaining chocolate; cool. Break into 2-in. pieces. Store in an airtight container.

MIXED NUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Arrange the nuts on the prepared baking sheet and roast until fragrant and barely golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.
• Transfer the nuts to a food processor with 1/2 teaspoon salt and blend, stopping and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary with a rubber spatula, until smooth, 5 to 7 minutes. The nuts will go from coarsely chopped, to fine meal, to clumpy ball, to smooth and creamy. Add the sugar and cinnamon if using and blend until fully incorporated, about 30 seconds. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or at room temperature for up to 1 week.

MIXED NUT BUTTERCRUNCH CANDY

Steps:

• To set up: Butter a baking sheet (about 10 by 12) and line the sheet with of parchment paper (allow excess paper at both ends). Grease paper and set sheet aside. Reserve any remaining melted butter for later. Line two more shallow baking sheets or trays with waxed paper for holding and chilling assembled candy and set them aside. Cut each stick of butter in half and place next to work surface, along with measured salt, baking soda, vanilla and coarsely chopped macadamia nuts. Place chopped chocolate in a heat proof bowl and set aside. Place a cup of hot water next to stove and put a pastry brush in water.
• To prepare toffee: Place a 2 1/2 quart heavy bottomed saucepan on the stove. Place water, sugar and corn syrup in the pan and stir gently to combine. Place pan over medium heat and as sugar dissolves, swirl pan gently. Let mixture come to a rolling boil and, once boiling and mixture is clear, don't stir or swirl pan anymore. If, while sugar is boiling, any sugar crystals cling to sides of pan, use moistened pastry brush to wash sides of the pan. Cook syrup until starts becoming a very light amber color. Lower heat and add butter, one half stick at a time, stirring very gently. (Only add additional butter after preceding piece has become melted and fully incorporated.) Once all the butter has been added, place candy thermometer into mixture, making sure that the bottom tip does not touch the bottom of the pan. Raise heat to medium and boil mixture until the temperature reads between 295 degrees F and 300 degrees F. Remove thermometer from pan and pan from stove and immediately stir in salt, baking soda, vanilla and macadamia nuts. (Quickly stick thermometer it warm water to aid in clean up.) Immediately, pour candy mixture onto prepared baking sheet. Brush the bottom of a long offset metal spatula (an icing spatula is perfect) or a knife with some melted butter. Spread the candy mixture out so that it is 1/4-inch thick. Use the knife to push the sides back into a rectangular shape as the mixture cools. Let the mixture set for a few minutes.
• To melt chocolate: While toffee firms up a bit, melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler or in a skillet with 1 inch of hot but not simmering water (stirring constantly until smooth). Be careful not to allow any water to enter bowl of chocolate.
• To cut candy: While candy mixture is still warm and pliable, use a buttered pastry scraper to score the candy into 1 1/2 by 2inch rectangles. Let set further until the candy is firmer (5 minutes at room temperature). Score again through original cuts, making sure candy is in separate squares all the way through to the bottom. ( If stubborn, use your pastry scraper and mallet to knock through any sticky, tough spots. Hit the top (wooden part) of the scraper with a heavy mallet.)
• To fully assemble candy and chill: When chocolate is firm, pour melted chocolate over top of scored candy and, using a spatula, spread it out evenly. It's okay if the chocolate runs down into grooves in candy. Scatter 2 cups of the ground toasted nuts on top of the chocolate and press them into the chocolate. Reserve the remaining 1 cup of nuts. Lift one end of the parchment paper so the first line of cut candy bends and separates from the next line. Carefully lift one piece off at a time. Sprinkle with some additional nuts to coat any exposed chocolate. Place candy on prepared baking sheets lined with waxed paper (in a single layer) and refrigerate (covered with plastic wrap) so chocolate will harden. Once set, place candy in an airtight tin, separated in layers with waxed paper. Although these candies may be stored at room temperature, to best preserve fresh flavor, store them in the refrigerator

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.

MIXED NUT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar and salt. Cut in 1/2 cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes., Meanwhile, in a microwave, melt butterscotch chips and remaining butter; stir until smooth. Stir in corn syrup. , Sprinkle nuts over crust; top with butterscotch mixture. Bake until set, about 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

CAPTAIN CRUNCH CANDY

Steps:

• Mix all dry ingredients together in large bowl.
• Melt candy coating according to package directions and pour into cereal mixture.
• Mix until mixture is coated.
• Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.
• Store in air-tight container.