Name: Black Sesame Butter Toffee with Hazelnuts Recipe
Total time: 1 h
Yield: Makes one 12- by 17-inch sheet
Ingredients: 30 to 40 tea butter biscuits, such as Leibniz; 1 ½ cups granulated sugar; 1 ½ cups unsalted butter; 2 tablespoons light corn syrup; 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped; 1 ½ cups hazelnuts, toasted, skinned, and coarsely chopped; ½ cup toasted black sesame seeds

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By Genevieve Ko

Nov. 9, 2019

A topping of bittersweet chocolate with toasty nuts and black sesame seeds balances the sugary goodness. Tea biscuits form a base that keep fingers from getting sticky.

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30 to 40 tea butter biscuits, such as Leibniz

1 ½ cups granulated sugar

1 ½ cups unsalted butter

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

1 ½ cups hazelnuts, toasted, skinned, and coarsely chopped

½ cup toasted black sesame seeds

Line a half-sheet pan or two quarter-sheet pans or other rimmed baking sheets with a nonstick baking mat (Silpat) or nonstick or regular foil. If using regular foil, lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray.

Arrange the crackers decorative side down (flat sides up) in a single layer with no gaps on the prepared pan, breaking crackers if needed to fit.

Combine the sugar, butter, and corn syrup in a large saucepan and set over medium heat. Cook, occasionally stirring gently, until the butter and sugar melt. Brush the insides of the saucepan with a pastry brush dipped in water to eliminate any sugar crystals. Continue cooking until the mixture starts to brown around the edges of the pan. Insert a candy thermometer and continue cooking, carefully stirring occasionally, until the candy is at the hard crack stage (the thermometer should register 310 degrees).

Remove the thermometer and immediately and carefully pour the toffee evenly over the crackers. If needed, gently spread in an even layer. Let cool for 2 minutes, then sprinkle the chocolate evenly over the toffee.

Let stand until melty, 1 to 2 minutes, then spread in an even layer. Scatter the hazelnuts evenly over the chocolate, then sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Press the nuts gently into the chocolate.

Carefully transfer the pan to the freezer and freeze until the toffee and chocolate are set, 10 to 15 minutes. Break into shards and serve.

Variations:

Black and White Sesame Butter Toffee: Omit the hazelnuts. Scatter ½ cup white sesame seeds all over the chocolate along with the black sesame seeds.

Make Ahead:

The toffee can be kept in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

Genevieve Ko

Genevieve Ko is the former cooking editor for the Los Angeles Times. She is a cookbook author and has been a food writer, editor and recipe developer for national food media outlets. Ko graduated from Yale after a childhood in Monterey Park.