Old Fashioned Butter Crunch Candy Food

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-CRUNCH 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 off-set 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 2-inch 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 air-tight 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.

WALNUT BUTTER CRUNCH - ANNETTES

Steps:

• 1. Line 9x13 cookie sheet with 1 1/2 cups of walnuts that have been chopped in a nut chopper or food processor. Don't over chop them but you want them smaller than they come in the bags marked "chopped" walnuts.
• 2. Melt butter over low heat.
• 3. Add sugar and stir until sugar dissolves.
• 4. Add water and light corn syrup. Cook over low heat to 290°F crackling stage. Stirring occasionally making sure not to burn the bottom.
• 5. Keep candy thermometer in pot and MAKE SURE you cook to EXACTLY 290° (be patient, this takes time since you're cooking on low).
• 6. Pour filling over walnuts evenly.
• 7. Sprinkle with chocolate chips.
• 8. Use a butter knife to spread the chocolate evenly over filling as it melts.
• 9. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup black walnuts.
• 10. Let stand to cool before breaking. Once cool, stick butter knife pointed side down and push through candy and break into different sized pieces. ENJOY!

OLD FASHIONED HARD CANDY

Steps:

• Butter two 15x10x1-in. pans; set aside. In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, water and food coloring. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 300° (hard-crack stage). , Remove from the heat; stir in flavoring. Immediately pour into prepared pans; cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar; break into pieces. Store in airtight containers.

ALMOND CRUNCH CANDY

Steps:

• Place graham wafers on cookie sheet.
• Sprinkle graham wafers with slivered almonds.
• In sauce pan boil brown sugar and butter for 4 minutes.
• Pour over wafers and nuts.
• Bake for 8 minutes in oven at 350°.
• Allow to cool and then break into pieces or cut while warm for even sized squares.

ALMOND BUTTER CRUNCH CANDY

Steps:

• CANDY:.
• In a large saucepan melt butter; add sugar, corn syrup, and water.
• Cook stirring occasionally to hard-crack stage (300 degrees) on a candy thermometer--watch carefully after 280 degrees as it rises fast after this.
• Quickly stir in the coarsely chopped almonds.
• Spread in ungreased 9x13 pan.
• Cool thoroughly and turn out onto waxed paper.
• TOPPING:.
• Melt the chocolate and spread half on top of the candy.
• Sprinkle with half of the finely chopped almonds.
• Cover with wax paper and invert.
• Spread the other half of chocolate and sprinkle other half of nuts.
• If necessary chill in refrigerator till chocolate is firm.
• Crack in pieces.