Inspired by ingredients local to the Northwestern U.S. this crunchy, spicy, sweet mixed nut brittle is perfect for holiday gifting. Walnuts, hickory nuts, and hazelnuts are grown in Montana where the television series Yellowstone is set.
Servings: 8
Walnuts, hickory nuts, and hazelnuts are grown in Montana where the television series Yellowstone is set.
Ingredients
- Butter cooking spray
- 6 Tbsp butter
- 2 cups light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup clover honey
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 ounces hazelnuts
- 2 ounces hickory nuts
- 2 ounces walnuts
- 2 ounces pistachios
- 2 ounces peanuts
- 1 ounce Brazil nuts
- 1 ounce cashew nuts
- 2½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp flakey sea salt
Instructions
- Grease an 18-by-13-inch rimmed half-sheet baking pan with butter cooking spray.
- Combine butter, brown sugar, honey and water in a deep saucepan or Dutch oven. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often to melt the butter and dissolve the sugar, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Attach a heat safe candy thermometer to the pan and continue stirring until temperature hits 300 degrees F (hard crack), about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and immediately stir in the nuts, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt. Then carefully stir in the baking soda which will cause the volume to swell and the caramel to become light and foamy.
- Quickly pour the mixture onto the greased baking pan, spreading and smoothing it out as thinly as possible using a greased metal spatula. The candy is extremely hot but sets in about a minute, so you must work rapidly. Sprinkle with flakey salt. Let cool for about 20 to 30 minutes, then break into pieces before serving.
Notes
Jackie Alpers is the author of The Unofficial Yellowstone Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by the Dutton Family Ranch. Available wherever books are sold.
Hungry for More? Buy the Unofficial Elf Cookbook, The Unofficial Yellowstone Cookbook and the Taste of Tucson Cookbook!
