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Marzipan-Stuffed French Toast

Talk about starting the day off right, this decadent marzipan-stuffed French toast is an almond lover’s delight. Two thick slices of buttery brioche with a layer of creamy marzipan spread in between, it takes Brunch to an entirely new level. If you love the flavor of marzipan, this stuffed French toast is right up your […]

The post Marzipan-Stuffed French Toast first appeared on Love and Olive Oil.

Talk about starting the day off right, this decadent marzipan-stuffed French toast is an almond lover’s delight. Two thick slices of buttery brioche with a layer of creamy marzipan spread in between, it takes Brunch to an entirely new level.

If you love the flavor of marzipan, this stuffed French toast is right up your alley. The creamy almond filling is similar to what you’d find in the middle of an almond croissant, soft and gooey and bursting with almond flavor.

Marzipan-Stuffed French Toast on a plate, action shot dusting the top with powdered sugar.

What’s not to love: a creamy almond filling sandwiched between two thick slices of buttery brioche, then soaked in an egg and milk custard and pan-fried for a perfectly golden brown and crispy finish. Topped with toasted almonds, a dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup, it’s the perfect brunch recipe you never knew you needed.

Yes, I’ve called it marzipan-stuffed French toast, but if you want to nit pick, almond paste-stuffed would be the technically correct name. But that doesn’t sound nearly as appealing as marzipan-stuffed, does it? In reality almond paste is a more rustic version of marzipan, marzipan being a sweeter and more finely textured almond paste. At least here in the States, what is sold as marzipan and almond paste are two different things (in Europe good quality marzipans are much more prevalent, unlike the dried out, overly sweet stuff we’re stuck with here).

The filling is similar to that of an almond croissant; when it’s cooked it gets wonderfully gooey but still retains that distinct almond flavor (there’s no denying this recipe is plenty almondy even without any added extract).

The filling could also be described as a frangipane-like, which is an almond custard used in fruit tarts and other baked goods (though frangipane usually starts with almond flour rather than almond paste).

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Galette des rois

Starting in late December, pastry shops in Paris start jumping the gun, and windows and showcases begin filling up with Galettes des rois, or King Cake, in anticipation of the celebration of Epiphany, on January 6th. Because it’s such a popular treat, and lucrative for bakeries, the period of availability seems to extend a few more days every year and it’s not unusual for find…

galette des rois recipe

Starting in late December, pastry shops in Paris start jumping the gun, and windows and showcases begin filling up with Galettes des rois, or King Cake, in anticipation of the celebration of Epiphany, on January 6th.

Galette des Rois

Because it’s such a popular treat, and lucrative for bakeries, the period of availability seems to extend a few more days every year and it’s not unusual for find bakeries peddling them until the end of the month of January. It’s hard to blame them (and those of us who buy them) because they’re so good. Years ago, I used to bake them when I worked in restaurants, and they’re called Pithiviers, named for the town in the Loiret (south of Paris) where they allegedly originated.

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Chocolate Almond Buttercrunch Toffee

While Paris is always beautiful, when winter comes, the city gets rather cold and gray – called la grisaille. In fact, it’s so cold that I refuse to go outside until spring. Believe me, all those romantic photos of Paris you see are taken during the spring and fall are very deceptive. And although it’s very pretty, it would take a mighty big levier (crowbar)…

chocolate almond buttercrunch candy recipe

While Paris is always beautiful, when winter comes, the city gets rather cold and gray – called la grisaille. In fact, it’s so cold that I refuse to go outside until spring. Believe me, all those romantic photos of Paris you see are taken during the spring and fall are very deceptive. And although it’s very pretty, it would take a mighty big levier (crowbar) to get me outdoors some of these days.

Nevertheless, it’s candy season – although isn’t it always? There’s something festival about boiling up a batch of toffee, then pouring it over toasted nuts then slathering on the chocolate which makes me feel all warm and cozy inside.

chocolate almond buttercrunch candy recipe

If you’ve never made candy, this one is really simple and incredibly delicious, so there’s no reason not to try a batch. You chop nuts, make a syrup, and then you pour the syrup over the nuts. Sprinkle some chocolate over it, spread it out, and finish it with more nuts. That’s it. There are no fancy techniques and the only special equipment you’ll need is a candy thermometer; they’re easily found online, and in most supermarkets.

chocolate almond buttercrunch candy recipe

I like to add a sprinkle of fleur de sel, French salt, which gives it a pleasant salty edge which is divine with the dark chocolate and toasty nuts (any coarse salt can be used). Although you can use chips, you can also chop up a block of dark chocolate, instead. In the end, you’ll have a scrumptious batch of chocolate almond buttercrunch toffee, which makes for great gift-giving around the holidays, or just to snack on with friends and family. Enjoy!

chocolate almond buttercrunch candy recipe

Print

Chocolate-Almond Buttercrunch Toffee

Adapted from The Perfect Scoop Be sure to read the recipe completely through before starting so you know all the steps. And keep an eye on the toffee while it’s cooking. The temperature will climb fairly rapidly as it gets close to reaching the right temperature.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (8 ounces, 225 g) toasted almonds or hazelnuts chopped between 'fine' and 'coarse'
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1/2 cup salted or unsalted butter cut into pieces
  • a big pinch of salt
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (45g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 5 ounces (140g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chopped, or 1 cup chocolate chips
  • optional Roasted cocoa nibs and fleur de sel or flaky sea salt

Instructions

  • Form half the nuts into a rectangle about 8″ x 10″ (20 x 25 cm) on an ungreased baking sheet.
  • In a medium, heavy-duty saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer, heat the water, butter, salt, and white and brown sugars. Cook, stirring gently if necessary, until the thermometer reads 300ºF (150ºC) degrees. Have the vanilla and baking soda handy.
  • Immediately remove from heat and stir in the baking soda and vanilla.
  • Quickly pour the mixture over the nuts on the baking sheet. Using a small offset spatula, or similar utensil, spread the warm mixture over the nuts. (If you want to sprinkle some cocoa nibs or some flaky sea salt over the buttercrunch mixture, do it at this point.)
  • Strew the chocolate chips or pieces over the top and let stand 2 minutes, then spread the chocolate in an even layer.
  • Sprinkle the remaining nuts over the chocolate and gently press them in with your hands.
  • Cool completely and break into pieces to serve. Store in an airtight container, for up to ten days.

Related Recipes and Links

Candy Thermometers

Chocolate FAQs

Chocolate-Covered Caramelized Matzoh Crunch

Triple Chocolate Scotcheroos

Chocolate-Covered Salted Peanut Caramel Cups

The Great Book of Chocolate

Caramel Apple & Almond Cream Entremet Tart

This dazzling fall dessert features flavor-packed layers of spiced salted caramel, tart apple, sultry vanilla and elegant almond; topped with a mascarpone whipped cream and gorgeous roses made from thinly sliced apple. With distinct layers of spiced apple caramel, vanilla almond crémeux, and mascarpone whipped cream all in a sweet and salty almond shortcrust, this […]

The post Caramel Apple & Almond Cream Entremet Tart first appeared on Love and Olive Oil.

This dazzling fall dessert features flavor-packed layers of spiced salted caramel, tart apple, sultry vanilla and elegant almond; topped with a mascarpone whipped cream and gorgeous roses made from thinly sliced apple.

With distinct layers of spiced apple caramel, vanilla almond crémeux, and mascarpone whipped cream all in a sweet and salty almond shortcrust, this stunning caramel apple mousse tart will surely be the talk of the table!

Caramel Apple Mousse Tart on a ceramic plate, with smaller tartlets and red apples in the background.

Phew. This recipe almost did me in. Turns out adding bits of apple to chewy caramel resulted in a runny, weepy mess every time, no matter how firm the caramel was to begin with. And drying out the apples enough to avoid this wasn’t nearly as pleasant in terms of texture and flavor.

In the end, the answer to this pomme puzzle was, in fact, gelatin. A little bit added to the caramel/apple mixture took care of any excess moisture and resulted in a perfectly soft and chewy caramel texture without any ooze. Success!

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Jamocha Almond Fudge Muffins

Jamocha Almond Fudge Muffins

One of my favorite ice cream flavors is the Jamocha Almond Fudge from Baskin Robbins. If you haven’t had it before, the flavor is a coffee ice cream that is studded with almonds and swirled with a ribbon of chocolate fudge. I have even been known to whip up a homemade …

The post Jamocha Almond Fudge Muffins appeared first on Baking Bites.

Jamocha Almond Fudge Muffins

One of my favorite ice cream flavors is the Jamocha Almond Fudge from Baskin Robbins. If you haven’t had it before, the flavor is a coffee ice cream that is studded with almonds and swirled with a ribbon of chocolate fudge. I have even been known to whip up a homemade version when a craving strikes. It’s a great combination of coffee and chocolate, with just the right contrast between rich ice cream and crunchy almonds.

These Jamocha Almond Fudge Muffins are inspired by that ice cream flavor, but are a more breakfast-friendly option than a big bowl of ice cream! It’s almost a one-bowl recipe, so these tasty treats are also easy to put together.

Chocolate fudge sauce is delicious in ice cream, but didn’t seem like an obvious choice in a batch of muffins to me, so I opted to start the recipe out with a mocha muffin batter to capture the chocolate and coffee flavors in the ice cream. A little bit of cocoa powder goes a long way in developing a deep chocolate flavor here. I opted for instant espresso powder to get a pronounced coffee flavor, though instant coffee can also be used. I mixed in sliced, toasted almonds and chocolate chips, too. The chocolate, of course, is there to amp up the indulgence in these muffins. The toasted nuts add a nice texture to each bite. A sprinkle of almonds on top of each muffin gives them a nice finished look.

The muffins smell amazing when they are baking and will be ready to eat as soon as they have cooled down from their time in the oven. They have a soft texture – but not so soft that you’ll mistake them for cupcakes instead of muffins – and a great mocha flavor that pairs perfect with a fresh, hot cup of coffee. I try to serve the muffins when they still have a hint of warmth from the oven, so the chocolate chips will be slightly melted when you go to take a  bite.

Jamocha Almond Fudge Muffins
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup + 2 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp instant espresso or 2 tsp instant coffee
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 large egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup sliced or chopped toasted almonds

Preheat oven to 400F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, instant espresso, baking power and salt.
In a large mixing cup, whisk together egg, vegetable oil, milk and vanilla extract. Pour milk mixture into the flour mixture and whisk until the batter comes together and no streaks of dry ingredients remain. Stir in chocolate chips and almonds. Divide batter evenly into prepared muffin cups (muffin cups will be quite full).
Bake for 17-19 minutes, or until the tops of the muffins spring back when lightly pressed. Allow muffins to cool on a wire rack before serving.

Makes 12.

The post Jamocha Almond Fudge Muffins appeared first on Baking Bites.

Cherry Clafoutis

One of the first books that made me fall in love with France and French cuisine was Roger Vergé’s Entertaining in the French Style. Vergé was the chef and owner of Moulin de Mougins, his world-famous restaurant on the Côte d’Azur, near Cannes. I never went, but used to page through the book, admiring the relaxed, friendly lifestyle that always seemed to revolve around a table,…

One of the first books that made me fall in love with France and French cuisine was Roger Vergé’s Entertaining in the French Style. Vergé was the chef and owner of Moulin de Mougins, his world-famous restaurant on the Côte d’Azur, near Cannes. I never went, but used to page through the book, admiring the relaxed, friendly lifestyle that always seemed to revolve around a table, laden with good food and plenty of local wine. It made me want to go and be a part of it all. In fact, there are two empty seats at that table, and I’d like one of them.

Cherry clafoutis recipe

Unlike a lot of chef books, this isn’t “aspirational” cooking, that is, pictures and recipes of foods that you could never hope to make. I recently got a book by a much-admired chef and I wanted to share a recipe. But there was only one recipe in the book that could be made in less than a day, and each recipe had at least one ingredient that I had no idea where I would get it. Don’t get me wrong. I liked the book a lot and his restaurant looks amazing, but it didn’t make me want to run to the kitchen. So I admired the book, and the food, from afar.

Cherry clafoutis recipe

There are so many pictures in Chef Vergé’s book that made me flash back to my past, decades ago, when I was learning more about French cuisine while cooking in Northern California, which shares a similar climate – and ingredients – with Provence. He had dubbed it “Cuisine of the Sun.” The much-loved chef recently passed away and I revisited the book, to relive what excited me about French cuisine, way-back-when.

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Almond Bundt Cake with Amaretto Ganache

Almond lovers, this one’s for you! With a tender, almond-scented cake and a sultry amaretto-infused ganache glaze, this almond bundt cake is stunning inside and out. Bundt cakes are always a fan favorite, both easy and impressive and no finicky layers or frosting to deal with. This almond-flavored masterpiece is finished with a simple dark […]

The post Almond Bundt Cake with Amaretto Ganache first appeared on Love and Olive Oil.

Almond lovers, this one’s for you! With a tender, almond-scented cake and a sultry amaretto-infused ganache glaze, this almond bundt cake is stunning inside and out.

Bundt cakes are always a fan favorite, both easy and impressive and no finicky layers or frosting to deal with. This almond-flavored masterpiece is finished with a simple dark chocolate ganache spiked with amaretto (because almond and chocolate are a delectable combination).

Almond Bundt Cake with Amaretto Ganache on a gold and marble cake stand with tile background

Cakes are some of the hardest recipes to develop, in my opinion. It’s usually a battle (that I don’t always win… there are more cake recipes in my ‘scrap’ pile than I care to admit).

The texture of a cake, moreso than flavor, is really hard to get right. Especially with yellow cakes like this one (for whatever reason chocolate cakes don’t have this same problem). While oil-based cakes may have a better texture, there’s no denying butter-based cakes win on flavor. And without any chocolate in there, flavor is everything.

The thing is, this cake tastes amazing. If you’re a fan of anything almond you’ll love this cake. The sweet notes of almond are enhanced by fragrant amaretto, and complemented by a bit of citrus zest (I used Meyer lemon, but orange would be lovely here too). The dark chocolate glaze provides a rich and slightly bitter contrast that makes for a beautifully well-rounded flavor.

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Amaretto Amaretti Thumbprint Cookies

Wouldn’t you know, my always popular soft amaretti cookies work surprisingly well in thumbprint form, filled with amaretto-spiked jam or chocolate ganache. Amaretti cookies are a reader favorite for a reason: these soft and chewy almond cookies are incredibly easy and ever-so versatile, not to mention naturally gluten free! This fun thumbprint version can be […]

The post Amaretto Amaretti Thumbprint Cookies first appeared on Love and Olive Oil.

Wouldn’t you know, my always popular soft amaretti cookies work surprisingly well in thumbprint form, filled with amaretto-spiked jam or chocolate ganache.

Amaretti cookies are a reader favorite for a reason: these soft and chewy almond cookies are incredibly easy and ever-so versatile, not to mention naturally gluten free! This fun thumbprint version can be filled with just about anything, and makes for a perfect addition to your holiday cookie plate.

Rows of Amaretti Thumbprint Cookies in neat rows on a wire rack, alternating between three kinds of filling.

You all can’t get enough of my amaretti morbidi, or soft amaretti cookies. I mean, I wouldn’t have 11 variations in the archives if you didn’t.

I mean, talk about a versatile recipe… so far we’ve tried all sorts of flavors from chocolate to ube, swapped the almond flour for pistachio and hazelnut, mixed in sprinkles, vegan-ified them, and even stuffed them.

But the question today is… will they thumbprint?

I was optimistic they would, considering they usually hold their shape quite well when baking.

The only potential issue I could foresee was the cracking, which I usually encourage in the regular versions (the cracks being what make these cookies so stunning to begin with!) But I worried the cracks would be too big and the filling would ooze out.

Amaretto Amaretti Thumbprint cookies on a gray background, with bowls of the various filling options messily scattered around

I was, however, pleasantly surprised at just how well they transformed into thumbprints (not all cookie recipes can claim such versatility you know).

The cracking is still a concern, but is manageable with a slightly different technique than you may be used to for other thumbprint cookie recipes. Basically, you just need to be very gentle when you’re shaping the thumbprints not to let the cracks get too big, especially if you opt for a looser filling.

The thumbprint version bakes more quickly than the original cookies (give them a few more minutes if you want a bit of crunch on the bottoms), and I still recommend using two stacked cookie sheets to keep the bottoms from browning too quickly.

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Caramel Almond Pie

After my summer break, I came back to the blog and found out that it still thought it was on vacation…and wasn’t accepting any photos at this time. I was proud of myself for finally tackling a recipe that I’ve had on my radar for a while and spent a day baking it, taking pictures, and writing up the post. The recipe was quite a…

After my summer break, I came back to the blog and found out that it still thought it was on vacation…and wasn’t accepting any photos at this time. I was proud of myself for finally tackling a recipe that I’ve had on my radar for a while and spent a day baking it, taking pictures, and writing up the post. The recipe was quite a doozy, but with a name like Smoky Caramel Almond Pie, how could I not make it? It was a bit of a project but I persevered (in the name of smoky caramel and almonds…) but when I came to upload the photos, my blog wasn’t having any of it and said non.

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