Homemade Torrone Recipe | Vintage Mixer (2024)

One of my close friends, upon tasting Muhammara (a Lebanese spread) for the first time, proclaimed… “this, this is what I’ve been missing my whole life!” That’s exactly how I felt when I tasted Italian Torrone for the first time. I was given a gift of a log or bar (however you want to call it) of torrone candy right before Halloween and I just couldn’t get over it, still can’t. This is absolutely the best candy I’ve tasted and I’m just so glad to have discovered it.

Homemade Torrone Recipe | Vintage Mixer (1)

Once I tasted it, I knew I wanted to try and make this at home for some holiday gifts. So, my friend Annalise, who is way more of a pro than me, came and we stirred and stirred until our beautiful white torrone was ready. Once it set, I sliced the bars then wrapped them in parchment, using my friend Ana’s cute packaging for the perfect finishing touches.

Homemade Torrone Recipe | Vintage Mixer (2)

Torrone is a all natural nougat candy. One of the best things about it is the simplicity and purity of the ingredients, no processed additions just honey, egg whites, and nuts. The torrone I first tasted comes form a company out of New York, Torrone.co. They are putting their spin on the Italian treat. I based my recipe on their ingredient list but decided to go for a more traditional Italian style torrone and forgo adding any sugar so this recipe is short and sweet – honey, egg whites, and nuts. Plus a little salt and vanilla but you can skip that too if you’d like. All you really need is those three ingredients and some time over the stove to stir.

Homemade Torrone Recipe | Vintage Mixer (3)

How did my homemade version line up with the torrone I first tasted?! Mine was thinner, slightly harder and a little less sweet. I definitely won’t stop buying the real deal from Torrone but it was also a lot of fun to make it at home and we enjoyed every little bite that didn’t make it into our gifts. Torrone makes a perfect edible gift whether you spend the time to make this at home or if you buy some online.

Torrone is best made with good company in the kitchen. Alternatively, good music, or just some quiet brainless time of stirring is also a good pairing for the job!

Homemade Torrone Recipe | Vintage Mixer (4)

Here are some packaging ideas for edible gifts from my friend Ana over at Welovecitrus:

•parchments paper and brown craft boxes make for a great blank canvas to start you packaging
•use colorful string or tape and small thoughtful labels
•small trees and pinecones are a fun added touch, also tiny herbs or greenery can go a long way
•use thin wire or small clothes pins to attach labels
check out welovecitrus on instagram for more packaging ideas

Homemade Torrone Recipe | Vintage Mixer (5)

A traditional recipe for homemade Italian torrone, great for the holiday treats or gifts.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4 bars or logs of torrone

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound of honey, use a high grade Italian honey for best results
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 1/2 pound of nuts, I use a mixture of almonds, hazelnuts, and pistachios
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, I used a white vanilla extract for this

Instructions

  • Cover a loaf pan or small square baking dish (8 inch by 8 inch) with parchment paper. Have another sheet of parchment paper ready to cover the top of the torrone once its done cooking.

  • Place the nuts on a single layer in a baking tray and toast in oven at 350º F, about 8 minutes or until shiny and fragrant. Set aside.

  • Place honey in a double boiler or large bowl over a saucepan of water (bain marie) on the lowest heat. Make sure the bowl is not touching the water. Heat honey until it melts, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.

  • In the meantime, whisk egg whites to stiff peaks in a separate bowl.

  • Add the whites to the bowl of honey, stirring with the wooden spoon to incorporate. It should turn into a caramel-coloured cream. Keep cooking, stirring slowly but continuously over gentle heat for 45 minutes (It's best to just set a timer for this). The mixture should thicken and become pale. A small test should determine that your torrone is at a good stage – a drop of the mixture in a glass of water should solidify into a soft ball, not dissolve immediately.

  • Add the nuts, salt and vanilla to the mixture and continue cooking and stirring for 30 minutes(set the timer again so you make sure to cook for the full 30 minutes). Pour into your prepared baking dish. Top with additional parchment and smooth it down, pressing the torrone gently with your hands.

  • Place in a cool place to set for a couple of hours. When set, cut the torrone into thick slices with a sharp, heavy knife. Wrap in parchment tie with string or tape for the perfect homemade holiday gift. Keeps very well wrapped in parchment and stored somewhere cool.

To purchase Torrone go to Torrone.co

For cute packaging sets including tags and twine go to welovecitrus

Posted in

, Baking Confections, Dessert, Gluten Free, Paleo, Unprocessed, Vegan, Vegetarian

Add To

Homemade Torrone Recipe | Vintage Mixer (2024)

FAQs

Is torrone supposed to be hard? ›

Both types of torrone are delicious and popular in Italy and around the world. The choice between hard and soft torrone often comes down to personal preference and family traditions, with some people preferring the satisfying crunch of hard torrone and others preferring the chewy sweetness of soft torrone.

Does torrone need to be refrigerated? ›

The torrone can be stored at room temperature or refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, using parchment to line the container and separate layers.

What is Italian torrone made of? ›

Classic torrone from Cremona contains honey, almonds, hazelnuts, sugar, egg whites, and wafers, in hard and soft styles. The cooking times of the two differ—hard torrone bakes for up to ten hours, while the soft version doesn't exceed three.

What holiday do Italians eat torrone for? ›

He may also be responsible for why we eat it at Christmas time because legend has it that the emperor always ate an exotic sweet, perhaps torrone, on his birthday, that is, on December 26.

Are you supposed to eat the paper on torrone? ›

Typically made of honey, sugar, and egg white, with toasted almonds or other nuts, Italian nougat is usually shaped into a rectangular tablet and flattened between two sheets of edible paper wafer. Its origins are shrouded in mystery.

What is the difference between nougat and torrone? ›

Italy's version of nougat is called the torrone. Torrone is a form of white nougat that is very similar to soft nougat in many ways yet there are some differences. One difference between French nougat and torrone is that torrone is finished off with white icing on top after it has been made.

What is the English name for torrone? ›

Translation of torrone – Italian–English dictionary

nougat [noun] a sticky kind of sweet containing nuts etc.

Does torrone go bad? ›

If we keep the turrón in a cool, dry and odour-free place, it can be kept in good condition for up to 1 year. It should be remembered that turrón is mainly toasted almonds, honey and sugar.

How long can you store torrone? ›

Though it has no preservatives, when stored in a cool, dry spot, the torrone will keep for up to a few months, or until your willpower gives out.

What is the most eaten dessert in Italy? ›

Probably Tiramisù. It is very common in every place i visited in Italy. Other desserts, like panna cotta and crema catalana also are very common, but i think tiramisù is more delicious.

What is a fun fact about torrone? ›

The most romantic story is that it was invented in Cremona, in northern Lombardy, in the 15th century to commemorate the marriage of the Duke of Milan's daughter. Cooks molded the sweet in the shape of the city's famous towers, called torrione, and the rest was history.

What is the national dessert of Italy? ›

Perhaps the most iconic Italian dessert, tiramisu appears on menus at restaurants not only throughout Italy but also all over the world.

Is torrone hard or soft? ›

Torrone is made all over Italy, and every region has its own spin and flavoring for torrone, using different nuts or flavors to make it their own. There are two main types of torrone that then come in different varieties: traditional (hard) torrone and soft torrone.

Is nougat supposed to be hard? ›

Nougat can be either soft or hard, but it is most commonly found in its soft form. The texture of nougat can range from being very dense and chewy to light and fluffy. The flavor of nougat is also very versatile, as it can be made with different types of nuts, fruits, and even spices.

What is the texture of torrone? ›

One of the best—and most perplexing—things about torrone is the number of different varieties you'll find. The candy is usually labeled either morbido (soft) or friabile (crunchy), but within those two categories there's a wide range of textures, from melting and cloudlike all the way to shatteringly crisp.

Is nougat meant to be hard? ›

Hard nougat can be enjoyed on its own in small chunks, while soft nougat can be added to candy bars, cupcakes, and other treats. The basic procedure for preparing nougat is the same regardless of which texture you prefer; the main difference between soft and hard nougat is merely a change in cooking temperature.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Patricia Veum II

Last Updated:

Views: 5507

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Patricia Veum II

Birthday: 1994-12-16

Address: 2064 Little Summit, Goldieton, MS 97651-0862

Phone: +6873952696715

Job: Principal Officer

Hobby: Rafting, Cabaret, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Inline skating, Magic, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.