Macadamia Nut Brittle, batch #2

I made a second batch of nut brittle on the same day because I didn't think there was enough of the first to use as a garnish for 16 servings of apricot sorbet. This recipe ratio comes from Kendrick & Atkinson's Candymaking cookbook. It has a much richer toffee flavor since it has a lot more fat in it from the butter and a minimal amount of corn syrup.

Macadamia Nut Brittle, batch #2

The recipe is really to make something called Cashew Crunch, which I had assumed at the time was just another brittle. For general eating purposes, this recipe wins it for taste and texture.

Ingredients

1 c. unsalted butter
2 tbsp water
2 tbsp light corn syrup
1 c. organic granulated sugar
1 c. salted macadamia nuts
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a heavy 2-quart saucepan with a candy thermometer, melt butter and stir in sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil.

2. At 300 degrees F, add nuts and vanilla extract. Pour out onto a Silpat mat or buttered, rimmed baking tray. Spread thin into a single layer. Let cool to room temperature. Break into pieces and enjoy.

Macadamia Nut Brittle, batch #1

Made a nut brittle for the first time that actually turned out really well. This was the first of two batches. I figured that this might not be enough to garnish 16 servings of apricot sorbet so I made a second batch. This recipe uses an equal amount of sugar to corn syrup. It has more of a candied brittle consistency than a toffee brittle.

2014-05-03, Macadamia Nut Brittle #1

This recipe ratio came from Lebovitz's The Perfect Scoop, a cookbook about making ice cream. Because this batch was turning brown faster than I anticipated, due to a higher fat content of the nuts, I took it off the stove when the candy thermometer was at 280 degrees F. I am not sure what the baking soda does for brittle. I forgot to add it, even though it was already measured out and in my mise en place.

Ingredients

1/2 c. light corn syrup
1/2 c. organic granulated sugar
2 tbsp water
1 1/2 c. salted macadamia nuts
1/2 tsp baking soda

Directions

1. In a 2-quart pot with a candy thermometer attached, add corn syrup, sugar, and water together. Bring to a boil, then add the nuts. Cook until the candy thermometer is between 300 degrees F and 305 degrees F.

2. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda. (I'm not sure what this does.)

3. Empty pot onto a Silpat mat or buttered, rimmed baking tray. Spread out the nuts into a single layer with a silicone spatula. As the brittle cools, it will harden.

4. Break into pieces and enjoy.

White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies

I'm not terribly fond of nuts in my cookies, nor of white chocolate. This particular cookie is a friend's favorite and I made it for him. I had a pretty good idea what the ingredients tasted like, but never actually had eaten the cookie before. So yes, this is another one of those recipes made with some degree of success without much tasting context. It's basically a sugar cookie with nuts and white chocolate mixed in, what could possibly go wrong?

Ingredients

1 c. unsalted butter, melted (2 sticks)
1 c. unbleached granulated sugar
1 c. brown sugar, packed
2 eggs, room temperature
1-2 tsp vanilla extract

3 c. unbleached white flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

2 c. white chocolate chips
1 1/2 c. Macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

1. If you are making this batch in winter, you might find that waiting for the butter to soften is an exercise in Zen cooking; you could melt the butter in a small saucepan and let the butter cool to room temperature before mixing it with the sugar. Cream butter and sugars together in a mixing bowl.

2. Add an egg, one at a time, and beat well. Add vanilla extract and beat again until well combined.

3. In a separate bowl, add flour, salt, and baking soda. Stir to combine.

4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir until the flour is incorporated. Add white chocolate chips and nuts to mixture and mix until ingredients are evenly distributed.

5. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

7. Cool on a wire rack before gifting or serving.