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.)

DARK CHOCOLATE AND HAZELNUT CANDIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put the hazelnuts on a small baking sheet and toast in the oven until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool. Transfer the hazelnuts to a cup and line the baking sheet with wax paper.
• Meanwhile, combine the confectioners' sugar, rice cereal and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, about 20 times. Add the chocolate-hazelnut spread and melted butter. Pulse until the mixture comes together in clumps, about 15 times; the mixture should be dry to the touch but hold together when pressed.
• Roll the mixture into teaspoon-size balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Press a hazelnut into each ball and then press the dough back into a ball shape, leaving part of the hazelnut exposed at the top. Freeze the balls at least 20 minutes to let them firm up.
• Put the chocolate chips, shortening and a pinch of salt in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until the chips on the bottom start to melt, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Stir until the mixture is melted and smooth. Gently stick a toothpick into the upper half of a ball, avoiding the hazelnut, and dip into the melted chocolate, leaving the top half uncoated. Allow the excess chocolate to drip off and return the ball to the baking sheet. Smooth over the hole from the toothpick with your fingertip. Repeat with the rest of the balls. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes. You can store the balls covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

HAZELNUT CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line 9-inch square baking pan with 2-inch high sides with heavy-duty aluminum foil, extending foil over sides of pan. Butter foil.
• Melt 1 cup of butter in heavy large saucepan over low heat. Add both sugars, corn syrup and sweetened condensed milk and stir until sugar dissolves. Scape seeds from vanilla into mixture; add bean. Attach clip-on candy thermometer to side of saucepan. Increase heat to medium and bring mixture to a boil. Cook mixture 8 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Using tongs, remove vanilla bean and discard. Continue cooking until candy thermometer registers 242°F, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes longer. Immediately remove from heat; stir in hazelnuts. Quickly pour caramel into prepared pan (do not scrape saucepan). Cool until firm, about 1 hour.
• Using buttered heavy large knife, score 8 lines lengthwise to depth of 1/4 inch in caramel, then score 8 lines crosswise. Using aluminum foil as aid, lift caramel out of pan. Using same buttered heavy large knife, cut caramel on scored lines into pieces. Wrap each piece of caramel in cellophane. (Can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. Store caramels in airtight containers.)

SWEET AND STICKY CARAMEL-HAZELNUT ROLLS

Steps:

• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
• Place the hazelnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and toast in the oven until fragrant and light golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool. Finely chop nuts and set aside.
• Lightly butter a 9-inch-diameter glass or ceramic pie dish. Place 2 1/2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan and stir over medium heat until melted. Stir in 1/4 cup brown sugar, agave and lemon juice. Pour the butter and sugar mixture into the prepared pie dish. Sprinkle 1/3 cup toasted hazelnuts evenly over the syrup in the dish and set aside. Mix the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl.
• Gently unroll the crescent roll dough on a lightly floured work surface and firmly press and pinch the perforations together to make a solid piece of dough. Roll out the dough to a 12-by-9-inch rectangle using a lightly-floured rolling pin. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture evenly over the dough to within 1/2-inch of the edges. Sprinkle the remaining 1/3 cup hazelnuts on top.
• Starting at one short side, roll up the dough jelly roll-style. Cut the roll crosswise into 8 to 10 rounds, each about 1-inch-wide, using a sharp knife. Arrange the rounds, cut-side down, atop the syrup in the pie dish, with 6 around the edges of the dish and 2 in the center. Pinch open ends together with fingertips to prevent the rolls from unraveling. Cover and chill. Can be prepared 2 hours ahead.
• Bake the rolls until deep golden brown on top and the juices are brown and bubbling around the edges of the dish, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the rolls stand 1 minute. Place a platter atop the pie dish and the invert rolls onto the platter. Sprinkle the rolls lightly with the sea salt flakes. Cool the rolls for 10 to 20 minutes and serve while still warm.

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.

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.

SALTED DARK CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT CARAMEL TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Heat hazelnut spread in metal bowl over saucepan of gently simmering water and stir until hazelnut spread is warm, smooth, and easily stirred, about 5 minutes. Remove bowl from heat.
• Dissolve sugar in water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Brush sides of pan with a moistened pastry brush occasionally as sugar mixture cooks. Increase heat to medium-high and bring syrup to a boil and cook until syrup is a deep amber color, brushing down sides and swirling saucepan occasionally to prevent scorching, about 4 minutes.
• Pour cream into the syrup while stirring. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring continually, until you have a smooth caramel, 5 to 10 minutes; gently stir into the melted hazelnut spread with 1/4 teaspoon sea salt.
• Refrigerate caramel mixture until firm, at least 3 hours.
• Spread cocoa powder into the bottom of a wide, shallow bowl.
• Scoop caramel mixture with a melon baller into 1 tablespoon portions; roll in the cocoa powder to coat; arrange onto a baking sheet.
• Cover truffle balls with plastic wrap and chill overnight or 8 hours.
• Line a 13x9x2-inch baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Heat chopped chocolate in a metal bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water, stirring frequently until chocolate is melted and smooth and the chocolate reaches a temperature of 115 degrees F (46 degrees c). Remove bowl from over water.
• Working quickly, submerge each truffle ball in the melted chocolate. Lift truffles from chocolate with a fork and tap fork against side of bowl to remove excess coating. Transfer truffle to foil-lined pan to cool. Repeat with remaining truffle balls.
• Sprinkle finished truffles lightly with 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt before the chocolate hardens. Let stand until coating sets completely, at least 1 hour.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL HAZELNUT PIE

Steps:

• Place pretzel pieces and cookies in a food processor; pulse until fine crumbs form. Add sugar and melted butter; pulse just until blended. Press onto bottom and sides of a 9-in. pie plate. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons caramel topping. Freeze while preparing filling., For filling, beat cream cheese and Nutella until smooth. Gradually beat in marshmallow creme. Gently fold in whipped topping and marshmallows. Spoon into crust., Refrigerate until set, 3-4 hours. Top with chopped candy and remaining caramel topping before serving.