Description
Crunchy banana walnut brittle delivers a symphony of caramelized sweetness and nutty depth. Rich, golden layers of candied bananas and toasted walnuts create an irresistible treat you cannot stop nibbling.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (100 g) walnuts, chopped and toasted
- ½ cup (120 g) freeze-dried banana slices, crumbled
Liquid and Binding Ingredients:
- ½ cup (120 ml) light corn syrup
- ¼ cup (60 ml) water
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Flavoring and Finishing Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare a flat, non-stick surface by lining a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat, ensuring complete coverage to prevent sticking.
- Toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, gently stirring to release their aromatic oils and develop a rich, nutty flavor. Remove from heat once they emit a warm, toasted fragrance.
- Create a caramel base by combining sugar, corn syrup, and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Heat gently, stirring until sugar completely dissolves, then increase temperature to generate a rolling boil without further stirring.
- Monitor the sugar mixture carefully using a candy thermometer until it reaches the precise hard-crack stage at 300°F, indicating a transformative caramelization point.
- Swiftly remove the saucepan from heat and incorporate butter, which will cause an immediate vigorous bubbling reaction. Quickly add baking soda and vanilla extract to enhance flavor and texture.
- Fold crumbled freeze-dried bananas and pre-toasted walnuts into the molten caramel, ensuring every fragment becomes thoroughly coated with the golden syrup.
- Immediately pour the blazing mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, using a spatula to spread it uniformly and thinly across the surface before it begins to solidify.
- Allow the brittle to cool completely at room temperature, which typically takes approximately 30 minutes. Once fully hardened, fragment the sheet into irregular, rustic pieces.
- Transfer the brittle fragments to an airtight container, where they can maintain their crisp texture and complex flavor profile for up to two weeks when stored at room temperature.
Notes
- Manage moisture carefully when working with sugar syrup to prevent crystallization, which can ruin the brittle’s texture.
- Use a candy thermometer for precise temperature control, ensuring the perfect hard-crack stage for a crisp, shatter-able brittle.
- Wear heat-resistant gloves or use long utensils when handling the hot sugar mixture to protect yourself from potential burns.
- Quickly spread the mixture on the baking sheet to achieve an even, thin layer that breaks into delicate, crisp pieces.
- Experiment with alternative mix-ins like dried fruits, different nuts, or chocolate chips to create unique flavor combinations.
- For a gluten-free version, double-check that all ingredients, especially vanilla extract and corn syrup, are certified gluten-free.
- Prevent humidity from softening the brittle by storing in a cool, dry place with a moisture-absorbing packet.
- Create a vegan alternative by substituting butter with coconut oil and using plant-based sweeteners.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg