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chocolate almond buttercrunch candy recipe

While Paris is always beautiful, when winter comes, the city gets rather cold and gray – called la grisaille. In fact, it’s so cold that I refuse to go outside until spring. Believe me, all those romantic photos of Paris you see are taken during the spring and fall..and are very deceptive. And although it’s very pretty, it would take a mighty big levier (crowbar) to get me outdoors some of these days.

Nevertheless, it’s candy season – although isn’t it always? There’s something festival about boiling up a batch of toffee, then pouring it over toasted nuts then slathering on the chocolate which makes me feel all warm and cozy inside.

chocolate almond buttercrunch candy recipe

If you’ve never made candy, this one is really simple and incredibly delicious, so there’s no reason not to try a batch. You chop nuts, make a syrup, and then pour the syrup over the nuts. Sprinkle some chocolate over it, spread it out, and finish it with more nuts. That’s it. There are no fancy techniques and the only special equipment you’ll need is a candy thermometer; they’re easily found online, and in most supermarkets.

chocolate almond buttercrunch candy recipe

I like to add a sprinkle of fleur de sel, French salt, which gives it a pleasant salty edge, that is divine with the dark chocolate and toasty nuts (any coarse salt can be used). Although you can use chips, you can also chop up a block of dark chocolate, instead. In the end, you’ll have a scrumptious batch of chocolate almond buttercrunch toffee, which makes for great gift-giving around the holidays, or just to snack on with friends and family. Enjoy!

chocolate almond buttercrunch candy recipe

Chocolate-Almond Buttercrunch Toffee

Adapted from The Perfect Scoop
Be sure to read the recipe completely through before starting so you know all the steps. And keep an eye on the toffee while it’s cooking. The temperature will climb fairly rapidly as it gets close to reaching the right temperature.
  • 2 cups (8 ounces, 225 g) toasted almonds or hazelnuts, chopped between 'fine' and 'coarse'
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1/2 cup salted or unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • a big pinch of salt
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (45g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 5 ounces (140g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped, or 1 cup chocolate chips
  • optional, Roasted cocoa nibs and fleur de sel or flaky sea salt
  • Form half the nuts into a rectangle about 8″ x 10″ (20 x 25 cm) on an ungreased baking sheet.
  • In a medium, heavy-duty saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer, heat the water, butter, salt, and white and brown sugars. Cook, stirring gently if necessary, until the thermometer reads 300ºF (150ºC) degrees. Have the vanilla and baking soda handy.
  • Immediately remove from heat and stir in the baking soda and vanilla.
  • Quickly pour the mixture over the nuts on the baking sheet. Using a small offset spatula, or similar utensil, spread the warm mixture over the nuts. (If you want to sprinkle some cocoa nibs or some flaky sea salt over the buttercrunch mixture, do it at this point.)
  • Strew the chocolate chips or pieces over the top and let stand 2 minutes, then spread the chocolate in an even layer.
  • Sprinkle the remaining nuts over the chocolate and gently press them in with your hands.
  • Cool completely and break into pieces to serve. Store in an airtight container, for up to ten days.

Related Recipes and Links

Candy Thermometers

Chocolate FAQs

Chocolate-Covered Caramelized Matzoh Crunch

Triple Chocolate Scotcheroos

Chocolate-Covered Salted Peanut Caramel Cups

The Great Book of Chocolate

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13 comments

    • Norman Hanson

    David, I have been making that candy, or variations on it, for about ten years. Regaradless of what else I put in my Christmas cookie tins, THAT’S WHAT THEY WANT. One year, I think I made fifteen pounds of it. There wasn’t a piece left. So, thanks for bringing it back in another guise. The one I have uses chocolates chips and other not so good stuff. This one is clearly gourmet.

    Norman

    • Diva

    oh I am so there!!!
    I instead made Minestrone!!
    The snow has started here today too.. not white yet.. think tomorrow will be!

    • Julie

    David, thanks so much for this gorgeous recipe. Real almond buttercrunch is a personal passion for which I’ve risked both my bank account AND my teeth, on occasion. Though I’ve read many recipes, I’ve never yet attempted it — but you have given me the courage, the will to try. Bonne Année!

    • joanna

    could you add a bit of acid to the sugar to help keep it from crystalizing too quickly?

    • Judith in Umbria

    Here I was thinking winter and snow meant soup and risotto and polenta! (So you don’t sweat while stirring endlessly.)
    My best discovery making toffee etc. is to pour it out onto a Silpat sheet. It works a treat. What works for me is getting it oiut of the house into someone else’s house ASAP.

    • Sammy

    I am locked inside (because of snow and ice) here in the south too… which is why I have had the time this morning to discorver your blog. And of course, I am obsessed with chocolate, which makes it really a treat to the senses. Thank you, what a wonderful blog!! *drool*

    • Amy

    My happiest New Year’s ever was a snowy one that included a posh party in the 12th arrondissement. This year it’s nothing but rain one day and 60 degree weather the next. I’m staying home, re-reading The Great Book of Chocolate and drinking cocoa…

    • Martha

    Hi David,

    Happy New Year!!!

    I make a similar candy from a recipe I got from Nick Malgieri.
    I will try your too.
    Thanks

    • David

    Joanne: You could add a small amount of lemon juice, cream of tartar, or corn syrup as an interfering agent, but haven’t found it necessary.

    Julie: This is not a rock-hard toffee, so no dental damage!

    • Kathy

    hi, i made a variation of this recipe a few weeks ago and it is delicious! I cook for two and we ended up with mounds of toffee! Stay warm and thanks for sharing this recipe.

    • Cathy

    I’ve made this several times since your class and I love it! (and so does everyone else I’ve given it too)

    • Vince

    This is a great recipe, not too hard, definitely gourmet! I am wondering if it is possible to make it even softer, so that it can be sliced into squares before storing? My grandmother made a similar toffe, it was a softer toffee with nuts top and bottom, a softer butter creme tofee layer, and a semi-sweet layer of chocolate. Unfortunately her recipe has been lost and I have been trying to duplicate it for 5 years… Can anyone advise on this?

    Thanks,
    Vince

    • sharla

    hey ur toffee is ok i am doing a speech on toffee can u help me and get me some infornmation that would be gratle appreciated
    sharla offenhammer

A

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