Hazelnut Brittle Basket

The hazelnut brittle basket is an elegant sweet preparation that is perfect for presenting ice creams or mousses. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients

• 100 g of chopped hazelnuts
• 100 g of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of butter (optional)

Preparation

1. Start by lightly toasting the chopped hazelnuts in a pan over medium heat until they become golden and fragrant. Set them aside to cool.

2. In a pan, cook the sugar on low heat until it melts completely and takes on a golden color to obtain caramel. It is important not to stir the sugar while melting to prevent crystallization, but you can tilt and rotate the pan to move the sugar if necessary.

3. When the caramel has reached a nice amber color, remove it from the heat and add the chopped hazelnuts. If you choose to add butter, do it at this time, stirring to incorporate it.

4. Pour the hazelnut caramel mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper and cover with another sheet. With a rolling pin, flatten the mixture to get a thin layer.

5. While the brittle is still warm and malleable, use it to form baskets. You can use the bottom of a glass or an overturned cup, shaping the brittle around it to give the desired shape.

6. Let the brittle baskets cool completely before gently removing them from the molds.

7. You can now use the hazelnut brittle baskets to serve ice creams, mousses, or any other dessert you wish to present in an elegant and crispy manner.

Interesting Facts

Hazelnut brittle is a specialty that is part of the traditional pastry of many Italian regions, especially in Piedmont where the hazelnut is the protagonist of many preparations and is known for its excellent quality, so much so that it has also obtained a protected designation of origin with the “Nocciola Piemonte IGP” (Piedmont Hazelnut PGI).