CHOCOLATE-COVERED ALMOND PRALINES

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Chocolate-Covered Almond Pralines image

In candy-making, the goal is usually to prevent caramel from crystallizing. For this recipe, that's exactly what you want to do to in order to create the grainy, sandy-sugary coating beneath the chocolate. The pralines are also delicious when made with hazelnuts.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Healthy Recipes     Gluten-Free Recipes

Time 1h40m

Yield Makes 75 small servings

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 1/2 cups whole almonds (13 ounces)
1 cup sugar
Salt
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast almonds in a single layer on a baking sheet until fragrant, about 15 minutes. Let cool.
  • Bring sugar and 1/4 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Continue to cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reaches 235 degrees, about 3 minutes.
  • Add toasted nuts. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar begins to crystallize, about 1 minute. Stir in 1 1/4 teaspoons salt. Continue to cook, stirring, until sugar forms a thin, sandlike coating on nuts, 2 to 3 minutes more. Pour mixture out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and let cool for 30 minutes.
  • Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring constantly.
  • Working in batches, sift nuts in a colander to remove excess sugar, and transfer nuts to a large bowl. Add chocolate, stirring to coat nuts completely. Pour mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and separate clusters into individual nuts using a fork. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
  • Toss pralines with cocoa in a large bowl, tapping off excess. Fill 75 mini baking cups with 4 pralines each.

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