Hazelnut Caramels Recipes

CARAMEL-DIPPED HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Gently insert pointed end of a long wooden skewer into the side of each hazelnut. Place a cutting board along the edge of a countertop; place newspaper on the floor,directly under cutting board.
• Prepare an ice-water bath. Heat sugar and the water in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved and syrup is clear. Stop stirring; cook until syrup comes to a boil, washing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming. Continue to boil, gently swirling occasionally, until medium amber. Plunge pan into ice bath to stop the cooking; let stand until thickened, about 10 minutes. (To test: Dip a skewer in caramel and lift a few inches; if a thick drip slowly forms and holds a string, the caramel is ready.)
• Dip a skewered hazelnut into caramel, letting excess drip back into pan. When dripping syrup becomes a thin string, secure opposite end of skewer under cutting board. Repeat with remaining hazelnuts. (If caramel hardens before all hazelnuts have been dipped, rewarm it over low heat.) Let stand until caramel string has hardened, about 5 minutes; break each string to desired length. Carefully remove skewers. Candied hazelnuts should be used the same day; store, uncovered, at room temperature until ready to serve cupcakes.

HAZELNUT-CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides; butter parchment. In a large bowl, using a mixer, beat 1 stick butter and 1/3 cup brown sugar on medium-high until light, 1 to 2 minutes. Add flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt and beat on low until combined. Increase speed to medium and beat until clumps form. Press dough evenly into pan. Bake until golden and dry, about 20 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 325 degrees.
• In a medium saucepan, combine corn syrup, cream, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining stick butter and 2/3 cup brown sugar. Bring to a boil and cook 1 minute. Stir in nuts, then pour over crust.
• Bake until bubbling in center, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate, if desired. Let cool 1 hour. Using parchment, lift out of pan and refrigerate until set, 1 hour. Cut into 24 pieces. (Store in an airtight container, up to 2 days.)

CANDIED HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Heat sugar and water in a small saucepan over high heat, swirling, until sugar dissolves. Bring to a simmer, and cook, swirling occasionally, until medium amber, about 4 minutes. Add hazelnuts and salt, and stir for 1 minute to coat.
• Pour mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment or a nonstick baking mat, and immediately separate nuts using 2 forks so that each stands alone on sheet. (You can also hold the pan at an angle and push each hazelnut onto sheet individually. If caramel thickens as you work, return to heat briefly.) Let cool. Break apart.

HAZELNUT-COFFEE CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line 8-inch square pan with foil, leaving 1 inch of foil overhanging at 2 opposite sides of pan. Butter foil that lines bottom and sides of pan. Sprinkle hazelnuts in pan.
• In heavy 3-quart saucepan, heat butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, dry coffee, hazelnut syrup and milk to boiling. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, to 245°F on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into cup of very cold water forms a firm ball that holds its shape until pressed. Pour into pan. Cool completely, about 2 hours.
• Remove mixture from pan, using foil edges to lift. Cut into 8 rows by 6 rows, separating caramels as they are cut. Garnish with coffee beans. Wrap pieces individually in plastic wrap or waxed paper.

HAZELNUT CARAMEL MINI TARTS

Steps:

• Butter 30 metal mini muffin cups.
• Blend flour, sugar, and salt in processor. Add butter and blend, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Add 5 tablespoons cream and vanilla and blend, using on/off turns, just until mixture begins to clump together, adding more cream by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry.
• Press 2 teaspoonfuls dough evenly onto bottom and up sides of each prepared mini muffin cup. Pierce tart crusts all over with fork. Freeze crusts 30 minutes before baking.
• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Bake frozen crusts until golden and baked through, about 25 minutes.
• Transfer to rack and cool crusts in muffin cups 10 minutes. Carefully loosen crusts from muffin cups. Transfer crusts to rimmed baking sheet and cool completely.
• Place 2 to 3 hazelnuts (or equivalent of chopped hazelnuts) in each crust.
• For caramel filling:
• Combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, 2 tablespoons water, and salt in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
• Bring mixture to boil, then boil 2 minutes without stirring (mixture will bubble up and thicken slightly).
• Remove pan from heat.
• Add cream (mixture will bubble vigorously); stir until smooth.
• Pour caramel into 2-cup measuring cup; cool 10 minutes. Spoon caramel over hazelnuts in crusts, filling crusts almost to top. Refrigerate until caramel begins to firm up slightly, about 1 hour.
• Stir chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted and smooth. Drizzle melted chocolate over top of tartlets. Chill until chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.