Gianduja Recipes

GIANDUJA

Steps:

• Line an 8-in. square dish with foil. Place hazelnuts and oil in a food processor; cover and process until mixture forms a paste. , In a large saucepan, melt bittersweet chocolate. Stir in 2-1/4 cups hazelnut mixture. Pour half of mixture into prepared dish. Refrigerate until firm., Melt candy bars; stir in remaining hazelnut mixture. Pour over bittersweet layer. Refrigerate until firm., Reheat remaining bittersweet mixture if necessary; pour over candy bar layer. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into 1-in. squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

GIANDUJA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. On a baking pan, toast the hazelnuts until golden, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and immediately transfer to food processor. Process until very smooth and runny, about 3 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl several times. While processor is running, add oil. Scrape down sides again. Add cocoa; process to combine.
• Mix corn syrup and sugar in saucepan, and place over medium-high heat. Cook until sugar has dissolved, about 3 minutes. Stir in cream until just combined; remove from heat. While processor is running, slowly pour in syrup. Transfer to small bowl, and let cool.

GIANDUJA CREAM

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan heat sugar and 2 tablespoons water over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally and brushing down the sides of the saucepan with a damp pastry brush, until the sugar dissolves and comes to a boil. Cook until caramel mixture becomes golden amber in color.
• Meanwhile, gently warm 1 cup heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour warmed cream over caramel and add star anise and orange zest. Remove from heat and cover; let stand for 10 minutes. Soak gelatin sheet in very cold water, until softened, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove lid from saucepan, return to low heat, and whisk egg yolk into caramel mixture. Squeeze gelatin to remove excess water and add to caramel mixture; continue whisking until mixture has thickened slightly. Remove from heat and whisk in the gianduja; strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve set over a medium bowl.
• Divide mixture between six 3-ounce glass cups; transfer to a refrigerator and chill until set, 2 to 3 hours.
• To serve, garnish cream with whipped cream, hazelnuts, and honey.

GIANDUJA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Spread each of the brownies with 1 tablespoon of nutella. Sprinkle each of the brownies with 1 tablespoon chopped hazelnuts. Top the nuts with 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips. Place the brownies on a baking sheet and bake for 5 to 7 minutes until the chocolate is starting to melt. Transfer the brownies to the refrigerator and let cool until the chocolate hardens, about one hour.

GIANDUJA CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C.) Butter a 9 inch springform pan. Lay one sheet of phyllo dough in the pan. Tuck it into the pan and let the edges overhang the rim. Brush with butter and layer a second sheet of phyllo. Butter this sheet. Continue until you have used all four sheets of phyllo. End with butter. Use as little butter as possible. Cover the phyllo-filled pan with a damp cloth.
• In the top of a double boiler, heat gianduia chocolate and unsweetened chocolate, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm.
• In a large bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese until smooth. When no lumps remain, begin to beat in the sugar a little at a time. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time incorporating each yolk completely before adding the next. Finally beat in the melted and cooled chocolates and the liqueur.
• Beat the egg whites until they just get stiff. Do not over beat. Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the cheese mixture, then quickly fold in the remaining whites until no streaks remain. Be careful not to deflate the whites as much as possible. Pour the filling into the phyllo-lined pan. Tuck the edges of the phyllo into the pan making a bit of a rim.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until filling is set. It will still seem a little loose in the center. When the cake appears done, turn off the oven, prop open the oven door with a wooden spoon and let the cake remain in the oven for another hour. Then place the cake in the refrigerator until completely chilled.

GIANDUJA (ITALIAN CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT SPREAD)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange the hazelnuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and fragrant, 13-15 minutes.
• In a food processor, blend the roasted hazelnuts and sugar until it becomes a smooth paste.
• Chop the chocolate into small pieces. Melt until smooth using either the microwave in 20 second increments or in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water.
• Transfer the melted chocolate to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or a large bowl. Whisk in the butter, then the cream, salt, and smooth hazelnuts until blended.
• Pour into containers, preferably glass, and allow to cool. Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 weeks.