Traditional Afghan Recipe
This is based on a traditional Afghan almond brittle recipe that has a delicious hint of cardamom. It’s a subtle, yet distinctive, flavor that really makes this candy unique. We love the way cardamom adds a surprising burst of flavor without straying too far away from traditional holiday notes. The use of slivered almonds makes the candy more breakable and therefore more palatable.
Cardamom Caramel Brittle with Almonds
Ingredients:
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 8 tablespoons butter, room temperature
- 1/3 cup corn syrup
- 12 ounces slivered almonds
- 1 teaspoon powdered cardamom
Directions:
In a thick-bottomed sauce pan combine the sugar, water, butter, and corn syrup over medium-low heat.
Cook, stirring often, until the mixture reaches 300 degrees, about 15 minutes. The mixture will bubble and stick to the sides; be sure to stir often and scrape down the sides.
Once the mixture reaches 300 degrees, add the almonds and and cardamom and turn off the heat. Stir well until combined and dump the mixture out onto a large piece of parchment paper. Use a greased spatula to flatten the mixture well.
Let it cool completely.
Use your hand to break the cooled candies into desired sizes. Serve immediately, or within 2 weeks.
Serving Cardamom Caramel Brittle
The great thing about holiday candy is not only that it’s delicious but also it makes a great gift. Whether it’s as a friendly teacher gift, a holiday party gift, or a fun stocking stuffer, there are a multitude of ways to share holiday candies. A unique recipe like this caramel brittle makes it an extra special gift that your friends are unlikely to receive elsewhere.
It also makes a great sweet bite at the end of a tea or dinner party. You can even give your guests a taste and then let them take home a goodie bag of the stuff after they’ve raved about it. We know they are going to.
For dessert, try serving it with an array of small seasonal candies such as our easy peppermint patties, some chocolates, and raw honey drop candy. Since this recipe already has a Middle Eastern flare, you can't go wrong by serving it with a chai tea. Chai is a type of tea that is derived from the Middle East. We suggest our Stargazer Mate Chai blend that has hints of caramel and orange. Not a chai fan? Try our Caramel Almond black tea as a wonderful alternative option.
If you enjoy this recipe, there is no reason to stop at cardamom. There are innumerable flavor combinations that you can try with different spices. Some spices that we have found to work very well with this recipe include cinnamon, ginger, cayenne, or black pepper. For another dimension of flavor you could even top it with a few shavings or a drizzle of chocolate. Even more options arise when you swap out the almonds for another type of nut. The possibilities are really endless.
