RECIPE: REC: Almond Roca

RECIPE:

meryl

Well-known member
ALMOND ROCA

INGREDIENTS:

4 sticks butter

2 cups sugar

1 cup water

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups sliced almonds, divided

1 teaspoon baking soda

12 ounces fine quality milk chocolate bars, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Evenly spread 1 cup sliced almonds onto a baking sheet and place in the oven for 6-8 minutes until they turn a light brown, stirring occasionally, so they do not burn. When done, cool and slightly crush the almonds.

Cover a 10X15" pan with foil and set aside.

Place butter in a large heavy bottomed saucepan and melt over medium heat until it starts to

bubble and you can smell a pleasant nutty aroma.

Stir in sugar, water and salt. Attach a candy thermometer inside the pan and leave the heat on medium, bring to a boil without stirring.

When the temperature reaches 245 F, stir in the remaining 2 cups almonds and

keep stirring until the temperature reaches 295 F.

When at 295 F, remove pan from heat and carefully stir in baking soda. Quickly pour into the prepared pan, gently pushing into the corners. This will begin to set very fast so don't mess around too much.

After a couple minutes, sprinkle chocolate over the top of the candy and let set for 5 minutes. Using a small off-set spatula, spread the softened chocolate evenly over the top. Sprinkle with the crushed almonds and let cool at room temperature for 60 minutes. Place in the refrigerator and let sit for a couple hours so the chocolate can set. Break into chunks with a knife or your hands.

Adapted from BBCL - Anna

http://desertculinary.blogspot.com/2005/07/almond-roca.html

 
Question

Does the addition of baking soda make it less hard. I have been making a toffee recipe for years, but I love the softer crunch of Almond Roca that you buy.

 
Hi, I actually haven't tried this recipe, but thought it looked good, so I posted it. Hopefully,

someone else here can give you the answer.

 
franinva, I think the answer is no.

One of the cherished old family recipes in my family is very similar to this recipe and uses baking soda- it makes the brittle "froth" so that it is lighter but certainly not less hard than if you didn't use the soda. It will not be "chewy" or softer with the soda.

The way to make it softer is to cook the mixture to a softer ball stage, in other words not all the way up to 245 degrees before adding the nuts. If you need the temperature guide for the different stages of cooking I can get for you- I don't have them with me right now.

 
From my experience, It will make the texture easier on the teeth. Is that what you meant?

My peanut brittle recipe has 1 Tbs baking soda in it and it's very much easier on the teeth than the recipes that only 1 Tsp.

Stands to reason that the foaming (air bubbles) makes an easier bite.

 
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