Nutty Chocolate Crunch Recipes

SWEET AND SALTY CRUNCHY NUT BARS

Steps:

• Be still my beating heart! Or perhaps this is not the best thing to say here, given the likelihood of this lusciously over-the-top piece of chocolate excess inducing just such an outcome. I wouldn't want to make this very often, so impossible is it to walk away from with any conviction. I fear it is the kitchen equivalent to crack cocaine.
• Still, as the French say "Everything in moderation, even moderation." This is gloriously intemperate, riotously vulgar. I love it.
• The key is the blaring balance between sweet and salty: it's like several klaxons going off in your head as you eat. And it's strange that while I would normally eschew an all-milk chocolate offering, I prefer it here to the bittersweet-and-milk mixed version. Not that either is bad, and since the jury is matched on this, I feel it only right to alert you to either option. For what it's worth, I like the darker version in the round pan and cut into panforte-type skinny wedges, and my preferred milk chocolate version set in a rectangular pan and cut into chunky, squat slabs (rather as I feel and look like after eating too many of them).
• Line your springform pan with aluminum foil or use a foil pan.
• Break up or chop the chocolate into pieces, and drop into a heavy-based saucepan. Add the butter and syrup, put on a low heat, and melt gently together.
• Tip the peanuts into a bowl, and crush the honeycomb candy with your hands, letting the golden-glinting rubble fall into the nuts.
• Take the melted chocolate mixture off the heat and stir in the peanuts and crushed honeycomb candy, then tip straight into the springform pan or foil pan. Smooth the top of the mixture as much as you can, pressing down with a silicon spatula or vinyl-disposable-gloved hand. Put into the refrigerator for about 4 hours, and once set, cut into slices as desired.
• Make Ahead Note: The bars can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer slices to airtight container, layered with parchment paper, and store in refrigerator. Keeps for 3 to 4 days.

NUTTY CHOCOLATE MATZO CRUNCH

Steps:

• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and top with a wire rack. Place matzos on top of rack. Drizzle chocolate over matzos until almost covered. Immediately sprinkle evenly with chopped nuts and salt. Transfer to refrigerator and chill until set, about 15 minutes. Break into pieces. If chocolate softens, return to refrigerator until set. Matzo crunch is best eaten the day it is made.

CHOCOLATE NUT CRUNCH

Steps:

• Mix butter and sugar in saucepan.
• Bring to a boil.
• Boil 4 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Pour into buttered 8x8in pan.
• Sprinkle with chocolate chips.
• Cover and let stand for 2 minutes.
• Spread chocolate.
• Sprinkle with nuts.

CHOCOLATE CRUNCH

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter a 20cm square tin and line with baking parchment. Stir the melted butter and vanilla together in a bowl. Mix the caster sugar, flour and cocoa together in another bowl.
• Pour the bowl of wet ingredients into the dry and beat together, then add the egg and beat again until combined. Press into the prepared tin. Brush the top with water and sprinkle over the granulated sugar.
• Bake for 30-35 mins. Leave to cool slightly in the tin for 5 mins before slicing into squares and transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

NUTTY CHOCOLATE CRUNCH

Steps:

• Lay a large sheet of foil on a flat work surface; lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray. In a saucepan, combine chocolate pieces and chocolate syrup. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until chocolate pieces are melted. Remove from heat.
• Add cereals and peanuts to melted chocolate; toss gently to coat. Spread onto the prepared foil to cool completely.
• To Store: Place cereal mixture in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

CHOCOLATE NUT CRUNCH

Steps:

• Grease a 15" X 10" cookie sheet and set aside.
• Place sugar, butter, salt and water in heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until mixture reaches soft-ball stage (234F-240F on candy thermometer).
• Stir in 1/2 cup nuts and pour onto prepared cookie sheet. Spread with greased spatula to about 1/4" thickness and set aside until cool.
• Place chocolate in heavy saucepan and cook over low heat until melted. Spread melted chocolate over cooled nut mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup nuts.
• Set aside until chocolate is firmly set.
• Break into pieces as you would peanut brittle.
• Store in airtight container.
• NOTE: You may even want to drizzle some melted white chocolate or sprinkle red or green sprinkles for serving during the holidays.

NUTTY CARAMEL & CHOC SUNDAES

Steps:

• Put the chocolate and 100ml milk in a small pan, and put the caramel, peanut butter and 100ml milk in another pan. Gently melt both, stirring until saucy. Set aside to cool.
• Give the sauces a good stir to loosen, then layer the 2 sauces, biscuit bits, peanuts and ice cream in 6 sundae glasses or bowls, and eat straight away.

CHOCOLATE-NUT CRUNCH DESSERT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, mix nut crunch ingredients. With pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in walnuts. Spread in ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in 3-quart saucepan, heat chocolate chips, marshmallows and milk over low heat, stirring constantly, just until chocolate and marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth. Refrigerate about 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until mixture mounds slightly when dropped from a spoon.
• In chilled large bowl, beat whipping cream with electric mixer on high speed until stiff. Fold chocolate mixture into whipped cream. Fold 2 cups of the nut crunch into chocolate-cream mixture.
• In ungreased 13x9-inch pan, spread 1 cup of the nut crunch. Carefully spread chocolate-cream mixture over crunch. Sprinkle with remaining crunch (about 1 cup). Cover; refrigerate until set, at least 8 hours but no longer than 24 hours.