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Caramelized Hazelnuts

Caramelized hazelnuts in a cup.

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Caramelized hazelnuts are easy and fun to make. They are perfect for a gourmet break or use in numerous desserts. Both ways are tasty and amazingly delicious.

Ingredients

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  • 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons (40 g) water
  • 2.7 oz. (75 g) roasted, unsalted hazelnuts (see note #1)
  • 1 tablespoon (15 g) unsalted butter
  • 2 pinches of salt or Fleur de Sel
  • 2 pinches of sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a thick-bottomed saucepan, pour water, add sugar, and heat at medium to 244°F or 118°C (check with a candy thermometer).

  2. Remove from the heat, add hazelnuts, and mix with a wooden spatula without ceasing to stir until they are covered with sugar. They will look like they are coated with a white film resulting from the sugar crystallization.

  3. Bring the pan back over the low-medium heat and let the hazelnuts caramelize. Stir continuously and wait until the sugar melts, caramelizes, and coats the nuts. Add butter and salt and give a good stir.

  4. Then pour the nuts onto a sheet pan or cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.  Using a wooden spatula, spread nuts in a single layer. Sprinkle them with sesame seeds if desired. Let the nuts cool, separating them and caramel strands as you go.

Notes

  1. Choose roasted blanched or unblanched hazelnuts.
  2. Avoid high heat while making this recipe: medium and low-medium heat is enough.
  3. Keep your eyes on your pan once the sugar-coated nuts start to caramelize: they tend to burn fast.
  4. Be careful working with the caramel nuts: use oven mitts to hold the saucepan and a wooden spatula to mix, spread, and separate caramelized nuts. Don't touch them until they cool down.
  5. If you want to double the recipe, cook in batches: small quantities of nuts tend to caramelize better.

Nutrition

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