Nutcandy Recipes

THE BEST CANDIED NUTS RECIPE

Steps:

• Line a Cookie Sheet with Wax or Parchment Paper and set-aside. Keep you oven-mitts handy too.
• Measure out your Nuts or Seeds in a Medium Bowl and set-aside.
• Place your pot on your stovetop over Medium heat. (I use this Cast Iron Dutch Oven - Cast Iron is wonderful for candy making & all types of cooking since it evenly distributes heat over the whole pan - even in the oven!)
• With a Silicone spatula, mix together the Sugar, Cinnamon, Salt & Water in your pot - stirring occasionally during the first 5 minutes. Between 5-10 minutes, your mixture should start to bubble & foam.
• Continue stirring regularly as the mixture continues to heat up for the next 10 minutes. Be sure to scrape the sides of the pot as you go.
• Be sure the mixture is truly at 238 degrees! If you add the nuts too early, or if the temp is not accurate, you will end up with a 'stringy' candy result (which can still be saved - see note section below). I sometimes hold the temp for an extra minute or so until I can see the mixture pull away from the bottom of the pan when I scrape it with a rubber spatula. It is crucial to any candy recipe that your candy thermometer is accurate - I test/calibrate mine regularly against boiling water which boils at 212 degrees F.
• Once you reach the Soft Ball temperature, then work quickly to add your Nuts or Seeds to the mixture - using your spatula to continuously combine everything together - coating each Nut evenly. The coating will go from a shiny, stringy glaze to a dull, sugary coating in less than a minute. The coolness of the Nuts/Seeds will begin to crystalize the candy quickly. There should be no wet glaze leftover - it should have all crystalized.
• Using your oven mitts to handle the pot, remove from heat & carefully dump out the candied nuts/seeds onto your prepared cookie sheet & set-aside to cool completely. Break apart any large pieces. I place my cookie sheet on a cooling rack to avoid any moisture during the cooling process.
• Once the candy is cooled, you can store it in an airtight container or package it up for gift giving.

CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA NUT CANDY

Steps:

• Line a 24-count mini muffin tin with cupcake liners. In a large bowl, mix together the macadamia nuts, papaya and pineapple.
• Over a double boiler or in the microwave, melt the chocolate. Pour the melted chocolate over the nut and fruit mixture and stir to combine. The nuts and fruit should be completely coated in chocolate. Divide the mixture evenly among the cupcake liners, about 2 tablespoons in each. Sprinkle the toasted coconut or Hawaiian pink salt over the melted chocolate to garnish, if desired. Refrigerate to set for about 30 minutes.

CANDIED NUTS

Steps:

• Grease a baking sheet or line with a silicone mat.
• Cook and stir peanuts, sugar, and water together in a wide, heavy skillet over medium heat until liquid evaporates and nuts begin to crust with the hardening sugar; about 5 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and continue to cook and stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to coat peanuts with syrup as the sugar begins to melt and darken to a deep caramel color, about 10 minutes. Tilt pan away from the heat as needed to allow peanut mixture to darken without burning. Remove from heat immediately when peanuts are deeply bronzed; stir.
• Sprinkle peanuts with sea salt and cinnamon or chili powder; tilt peanuts onto prepared baking sheet to cool completely. Break up clumps. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

GREAT-GRANDMA CATHY'S DATE LOAF CANDY

Steps:

• Stir sugar, milk, and butter together in a saucepan; bring to a boil without stirring once the boiling begins. Heat until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a rigid ball or until the mixture reaches 250 degrees F (120 degrees C), about 20 minutes. Immediately remove saucepan from heat and stir dates, pecans, and vanilla into the milk mixture.
• Thoroughly wet a piece of cheesecloth and lay out onto a flat work surface. Pour the candy mixture into the middle of the cloth and roll the cloth around it to shape into a log.
• Refrigerate until hard, 8 hours to overnight. Remove log from cloth and slice.

CROCK POT CANDY

Steps:

• Put peanuts in bottom of crock pot; add other ingredients.
• Cook on low setting for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Place rounded spoonfuls onto wax paper and allow to cool.

TRIPLE-NUT CANDY

Steps:

• Place the walnuts, pecans and Brazil nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 4-8 minutes or until toasted and golden brown, stirring once. Cool on a wire rack. Line an 8-in. square pan with foil; grease the foil with butter and set aside. , In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, cream and corn syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir in the toasted nuts. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 238° (soft-ball stage). , Remove from the heat. Stir with a wooden spoon until creamy and thickened. Quickly spread into prepared pan; cool. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. , Using foil, lift candy out of pan; discard foil. Cut candy into squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

CANDY NUTS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with foil; butter the foil and set aside.
• In a 10-inch, heavy skillet combine nuts, sugar, butter and vanilla; cook over medium-high heat, shaking skillet occasionally, until sugar begins to melt Do Not Stir.
• Reduce heat to low; continue cooking until sugar is golden brown, stirring occasionally.
• Remove skillet from heat; pour nut mixture onto the prepared baking sheet; cool completely and break into clusters.
• Store tightly covered in the fridg for up to 3 weeks.

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.