Almond Croquant Parfait Recipes

TROPICAL BREAKFAST PARFAIT

Steps:

• Put 2 tablespoons of yogurt in the bottom of each of four juice glasses. Top with 4 orange slices. Sprinkle the oranges with a 1 1/2 tablespoons of cereal, followed by 2 more tablespoons of yogurt. Top with diced pineapple then with another 1 1/2 tablespoons cereal.

BERRY 'NANA OATMEAL PARFAIT

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients for oatmeal in a small nonstick pot on the stove. Add 3/4 cup of water and mix well. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and then reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 9 minutes, stirring often, until somewhat thick and creamy. (It will thicken more upon chilling.) Remove from heat and allow to slightly cool. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 1/2 hours.
• Stir oatmeal thoroughly until uniform in texture. Spoon half of the oatmeal into a pint glass, and top with 1/4 cup of sliced strawberries, 1/4 cup of yogurt, and half of the banana slices. Repeat with the remaining oatmeal, strawberries, yogurt, and banana.
• Serve and enjoy!

CARAMELIZED ORANGE PARFAIT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Set a wire rack over a baking sheet.
• Slice of the top and bottom of the oranges using a serrated knife. Place the oranges, cut side down, on the cutting board and slice away the outer layer of skin and pith to just reveal the flesh. Cut the oranges into 1/2-inch-thick slices and then into quarters. Place the oranges in a bowl and add the turbinado sugar and orange liqueur; toss to coat. Arrange the oranges on the wire rack and transfer to the oven. Cook until the sugar has caramelized, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool, then sprinkle the oranges with the salt and pepper. Reserve to the side.
• Combine the heavy whipping cream and vanilla seeds in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk until soft peaks form. Fold in the mascarpone and set aside.
• To assemble: Spoon a dollop of mascarpone whipped cream into 4 to 6 footed parfait glasses. Top with a layer of caramelized oranges. Repeat four more times, so there are five layers of whipped cream and oranges in each glass. Refrigerate the parfaits for 20 minutes to set up.
• Garnish each parfait with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of cinnamon, if using. Serve immediately.

ALMOND NOUGAT PARFAIT WITH ORANGE COULIS

Steps:

• For caramelized almonds: Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place almonds on a baking sheet and warm in oven for 10 minutes.
• In a large sauté pan, combine sugar and 2 tablespoons water. Bring to a boil over high heat. When sugar has dissolved, add warm almonds and, stirring constantly, cook until sugar crystallizes. Continue to cook until sugar melts again and coats almonds. Remove from heat and turn almonds onto a clean work surface, separating almonds to avoid sticking. Allow to cool, then crush or roughly chop, setting aside 1/4 cup for garnish.
• For nougat parfait: Whisk heavy cream until stiff, and refrigerate until needed. Place egg whites in bowl of a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Place honey in a small saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Whisk egg whites until they start to thicken, then slowly drizzle in the hot honey, gradually increasing speed of mixer until it is at full speed. Continue to whisk egg whites until they are very thick and completely cool (bowl will feel cool), about 4 minutes.
• Fold in crushed almonds (except those reserved for garnish) and diced orange candy. Gently fold in whipped cream until blended. Place mixture in a gallon sealable plastic bag with one corner cut off, and pipe it onto a baking sheet in large mounds like meringues. Alternatively, it may be placed in a pastry bag with a large plain tip and piped into 12 1 1/2-inch stainless steel cylinder molds. Freeze until firm, about 4 hours, before serving.
• For orange coulis: In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 tablespoon water. Over medium heat, cook until it becomes an amber caramel. Meanwhile, in a second small pan over low heat, gently heat orange juice. When sugar has reached correct color, remove from heat and slowly add orange juice. Return to heat and cook to dissolve any hardened bits of sugar. Continue to reduce until slightly thickened, then remove from heat and allow to cool.
• To serve, if using molds, warm each mold with your hands to release it and place two unmolded parfaits on each plate. If using meringue-shaped parfaits, place two or three (depending on size and quantity) on each plate. Drizzle orange coulis around each plate, and sprinkle with reserved caramelized almonds.

ALMOND CROQUANT

Steps:

• Brush a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with butter; set aside. Combine sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Using a pastry brush dipped in water, brush away any sugar crystals on side of pan to prevent recrystallization. Cook, swirling occasionally, until mixture reaches soft-ball stage on a candy thermometer (238 degrees).
• Stir in almonds; cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is light amber in color.
• Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet; spread quickly into a 1/4-inch-thick layer with an oiled metal spatula. Let sit 2 minutes before cutting, if desired, with a sharp, oiled knife. (Or let cool completely before breaking into pieces.) Set sheet aside until completely cool. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.

TOASTED ALMOND PARFAIT

Steps:

• Using handheld electric mixer, beat sugar, egg yolks, corn syrup, and amaretto in large metal bowl to blend. Place bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Beat until candy thermometer registers 160°F and parfait base is thick and billowy, about 8 minutes. Remove bowl from over water. Continue to beat parfait base until cool, about 7 minutes. Fold in 1/2 cup almonds.
• Beat cream and vanilla in another large bowl until soft peaks form. Fold cream into cool parfait base in 3 additions. Transfer parfait to 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Cover and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours and up to 2 days. Scoop parfait into goblets. Sprinkle with chocolate and 3 tablespoons almonds.