Delicious Homemade Nougat Bars Recipe
Introduction
When it comes to sweet treats, few things are as satisfying as a perfectly balanced homemade nougat bar. These chewy, flavorful bars are a delightful blend of creamy white chocolate, gooey marshmallows, and a medley of dried fruits and nuts. Whether you’re looking for a quick dessert to impress your guests, a homemade gift, or simply a treat to enjoy at home, these nougat bars are an excellent choice. The combination of textures—from the crunch of the nuts to the chewiness of the nougat—makes each bite a burst of flavor. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of making these delightful bars step by step, ensuring you achieve perfect results every time.
Ingredients Breakdown
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s take a closer look at the ingredients that make these homemade nougat bars so special.
White Chocolate
The base of our nougat bars is white chocolate, which adds a creamy and rich flavor. White chocolate is made from cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids, and it’s known for its sweet, vanilla-like taste. It serves as the perfect canvas for the other ingredients in this recipe, helping to bind them together while adding a luxurious texture.
Mini Marshmallows
Mini marshmallows bring a chewy texture to the nougat bars. As they melt slightly when mixed with the warm white chocolate, they create a soft and sticky consistency that’s essential for traditional nougat. The marshmallows also help lighten the mixture, making the bars soft and easy to bite into.
Sweetened Condensed Milk
Sweetened condensed milk is a key ingredient in many dessert recipes, and for good reason. It adds sweetness, moisture, and creaminess to the nougat bars. The thick, syrupy consistency of condensed milk helps to create a smooth and cohesive nougat mixture, ensuring the bars hold together well.
Mixed Dried Fruits
Dried fruits add a burst of natural sweetness and a chewy texture that complements the smoothness of the white chocolate and the crunch of the nuts. In this recipe, we use a mix of dried apricots, cherries, pineapple, and papaya. Each fruit brings its own unique flavor profile—apricots add a slight tartness, cherries provide a deep sweetness, pineapple offers a tropical note, and papaya adds a subtle, melon-like flavor.
Mixed Nuts
The combination of almonds, pistachios, and cashews adds a satisfying crunch to the nougat bars. Nuts also provide a savory contrast to the sweetness of the chocolate and fruits, balancing the flavors and adding depth to each bite. Almonds bring a mild, nutty flavor, pistachios add a touch of earthiness, and cashews contribute a creamy, buttery texture.
Vanilla Extract
A touch of vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor of the nougat bars, adding a warm and aromatic note that ties all the ingredients together. Vanilla is a classic flavor that pairs beautifully with white chocolate, dried fruits, and nuts, making it an essential ingredient in this recipe.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Now that we’ve explored the ingredients, let’s move on to the preparation. This recipe is straightforward and easy to follow, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced bakers.
1. Prepare Your Ingredients
The first step in making these nougat bars is to prepare the dried fruits and nuts. Chop the dried fruits and nuts into small, bite-sized pieces. This step is crucial because it ensures that the fruits and nuts are evenly distributed throughout the nougat, providing consistent flavor and texture in every bite. Plus, smaller pieces make the bars easier to cut later on.
2. Melt the White Chocolate
Next, you’ll need to melt the white chocolate. You can do this in one of two ways: in the microwave or on the stove using a double boiler.
- Microwave Method: Place the white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Heat the mixture in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Be sure not to overheat the chocolate, as this can cause it to seize up and become grainy.
- Double Boiler Method: If you prefer to melt your chocolate on the stove, use a double boiler. Fill the bottom pot of the double boiler with a few inches of water and bring it to a simmer. Place the white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in the top pot and stir constantly until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
3. Add Marshmallows and Vanilla
Once the chocolate is melted, remove it from the heat and stir in the mini marshmallows and vanilla extract. The marshmallows will begin to melt slightly as you mix them in, creating a creamy, chewy texture that’s essential for nougat. The vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the nougat, adding a warm, aromatic note.
4. Mix in Dried Fruits and Nuts
With the marshmallows and vanilla mixed in, it’s time to add the chopped dried fruits and nuts. Fold them into the nougat mixture, ensuring that they are evenly distributed. This step is important because it ensures that every bar will have a good mix of fruit and nuts, providing a balanced flavor and texture in each bite.
5. Pour into a Pan
Line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides to make it easier to remove the nougat later. Pour the nougat mixture into the prepared pan, using a spatula to spread it out evenly. The mixture should be smooth and level, filling the pan from edge to edge.
6. Chill and Set
Once the nougat is in the pan, place it in the refrigerator to chill. The nougat will need to chill for at least 2 hours, or until it is firm and set. Chilling the nougat allows it to solidify, making it easier to cut into bars or squares.
7. Cut into Bars
After the nougat has chilled and set, it’s time to cut it into bars. Remove the nougat from the pan using the parchment paper overhang and place it on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to slice the nougat into bars or squares of your desired size. For clean, even cuts, you can warm the knife blade under hot water, wipe it dry, and then cut through the nougat.
8. Serve and Enjoy
Your homemade nougat bars are now ready to be enjoyed! These bars make a wonderful treat for any occasion, whether you’re serving them at a party, giving them as gifts, or simply indulging in a sweet snack at home. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep them
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Delicious Homemade Nougat Bars Recipe
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Homemade Nougat Bars are a delightful blend of creamy white chocolate, gooey marshmallows, mixed dried fruits, and crunchy nuts. Perfect for a sweet snack or gift, these bars offer a satisfying combination of textures and flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
- 2 cups white chocolate chips (or chopped white chocolate)
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup mixed dried fruits (such as dried apricots, cherries, pineapple, and papaya)
- 1 cup mixed nuts (such as almonds, pistachios, and cashews)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Chop the dried fruits and nuts into small pieces.
- Melt White Chocolate: In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth.
- Add Marshmallows and Vanilla: Stir in mini marshmallows and vanilla extract until marshmallows slightly melt.
- Mix in Fruits and Nuts: Fold in chopped dried fruits and nuts until evenly distributed.
- Pour into Pan: Line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper and pour the nougat mixture into it. Spread evenly.
- Chill and Set: Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm.
- Cut into Bars: Once set, remove nougat from the pan and cut it into bars or squares.
Notes
- Storage: Store nougat bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- Customization: Feel free to customize the recipe by using dark or milk chocolate, different dried fruits, or spices.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 40mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Delicious Homemade Nougat Bars Recipe