If you have a sweet tooth, you've probably enjoyed a nougat-filled chocolate bar or two. But what exactly is nougat – and what is it made of? Learn all about the classic candy, including how to make it at home.
What Is Nougat?
Nougat is a fluffy, aerated confection that is made of sugar or honey and egg whites. It often contains fruits and nuts. Traditional nougat resembles fudge and is a far cry from the processed candy fillings you might be familiar with, which are generally made with hydrolyzed proteins and corn syrup.
When people refer to "nougat," they can be talking about a standalone confection or a filling (or layer) in a chocolate bar. You may have encountered versions of nougat in popular brands such as 3 Musketeers, Snickers, and Milky Way.
The sugary treat is commonly served during Christmastime in Europe.
What Does Nougat Taste Like?
When it's made correctly, nougat is intensely sweet and creamy with a slight marshmallow-y flavor. It should be pleasantly chewy with lots of fluff, thanks to heavily beaten egg whites.
Types of Nougat
There are three main types of nougat: white, brown, and viennese.
- White nougat, the most common variety, is likely what you're familiar with. It's made with beaten egg whites, sugar or honey, and sometimes other ingredients to add flavor and texture (such as nuts and candied fruits).
- Brown nougat – which is made with caramelized sugar instead of egg whites – is harder, crunchier, and darker than the white variety.
- Viennese nougat contains beaten egg whites, sugar, hazelnuts or pralines, and cocoa.
Nougat History
Nougat's origins are a bit murky, but many food historians have traced it to the Middle East. Early nougat recipes were found in a book that dates back to 10th century Baghdad. These early versions were called nāṭif.
From its origins in the Middle East, the confection later spread to Spain and Italy in the 15th century and France in the 17th century.
Spain
Spanish nougat, or turrón, is at least 500 years old. There are two main varieties: Turrón de Alicante – made with egg whites, honey or sugar, and toasted almonds – has a white hue and crunchy texture. Turrón Jijona is a golden, smooth, thick paste with a peanut butter-like texture.
Italy
Italian nougat, or torrone, was created around the same time as its Spanish counterpart in the 15th century. According to legend, the first torrone was sculpted in the shape of the Cremona cathedral bell tower (called Torrazzo or Torrione) for an aristocratic wedding in Lombardy. The annual Torrone Festival is held in Cremona to this day.
France
French nougat dates back to 16th century Provence. Unverified local lore suggests "nougat" comes from the "tu nous gates," which means "you spoil us" in French. There are two main nougat types in France: Nougat de Montélimar, a soft white variety, and Nougatine, a crunchy dark variety.
How to Make Nougat
Making nougat is a labor of love, but the finished product is well worth the extra effort. It requires a candy thermometer, a whisk, and a lot of patience. Here are some tips to keep in mind before you begin:
- Nougat is sticky. Oil your hands before working with the mixture, and oil the knife often when you're cutting the hardened candy into squares.
- Use a stand mixer with a whisk attachment if you have one. There's a lot of beating and mixing, so it will definitely come in handy.
- Store your finished product in wax paper so the candy doesn't stick together.
Try this recipe: Torrone (Italian Nut and Nougat Confection)
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FAQs
Nougat is a confection made with sugar or honey that's cooked and then whipped with egg whites to aerate it. It often contains almonds or other nuts, candied fruits and chocolate, although it can be left plain. Nougat can be soft and tender like marshmallow but is more often dense and very chewy.
What is real nougat made of? ›
Nougat is a fluffy, aerated confection that is made of sugar or honey and egg whites. It often contains fruits and nuts. Traditional nougat resembles fudge and is a far cry from the processed candy fillings you might be familiar with, which are generally made with hydrolyzed proteins and corn syrup.
What are the three types of nougat? ›
Nougat
| Nougat bar |
|---|
| Type | Confection |
|---|
| Main ingredients | White nougat: sugar or honey, nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts), egg whites, sometimes candied fruit Brown nougat: sugar or honey, nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts) Viennese or German nougat: sugar, nuts, chocolate |
| Variations | Gaz, torrone and turrón |
3 more rowsThe nougat chocolate center is made by whipping egg whites until they are light and frothy. Sugar syrup is then added, stabilizing the foam and creating mousse. Other flavoring ingredients are then added to the mousse to create specific flavors.
Is nougat a healthy snack? ›
They are loaded with fiber, proteins, and vitamins from natural sources. Nougat bars with fruits such as raisins and cranberries and nuts like almonds may also help lower cholesterol with the healthy natural fats and enzymes in them. Now you can look at nougat bars as more than a quick fix.
Do you eat the paper on nougat? ›
The paper is perfectly edible. It's wafer paper made from potato starch, water and olive oil. There's very little flavour to wafer paper and it's commonly used for nougat. It not only helps to keep the moisture away from the soft meringue, but also helps to savour a nougat piece without getting sticky fingers.
What is nougat made of in Reese's? ›
The ingredients for nougat are simple - sugar, egg whites, corn syrup, and some fat source.
Is Snickers a nougat? ›
Snickers (stylized in all caps) is a chocolate bar consisting of nougat topped with caramel and peanuts, all encased in milk chocolate. The bars are made by the American company Mars Inc.
What the heck is nougat? ›
Nougat — which first of all is pronounced new-get not new-gat — is traditionally an aerated blend of sugar, egg whites, and nuts and/or fruit. The homemade variety looks very different than the type you find in the middle of the candy bar.
What country is nougat from? ›
Enjoyed for centuries, Nougat is a classic confection made from honey, egg whites and almonds. Many countries claim parentage to this traditional delight. Variations are found in Italy, France, Spain and the Middle East, but its actual origins are obscure.
Nougat has a very high sugar content and low fat content so it tastes extremely sweet. The sweetness is often balanced with flavorings like almond extract and rose water and with the addition of nuts. It's typically very chewy, but can also be light and soft or hard and brittle depending on how it is prepared.
Why did they stop making three musketeers? ›
Rationing of sugar began during the war in 1942 and it became too expensive to continue producing all three flavors. Since chocolate was the favorite by popular demand, Mars only continued to produce the chocolate flavor.
What's the difference between Snickers and Milky Way and 3 Musketeers? ›
Only one or two key ingredients make the bars different from one another. For example, Snickers have peanuts where as the other two do not, and Milky Way is the only one with malted barley present. 3 Musketeers main distinguishing feature is the absence of both of these ingredients.
What is in a baby Ruth? ›
Baby Ruth is an American candy bar made of peanuts, caramel, and milk chocolate-flavored nougat, covered in compound chocolate. Created in 1920, and named after the deceased U.S. presidential daughter, Ruth Cleveland, it is distributed by the Ferrara Candy Company, a subsidiary of Ferrero.
What kind of nougat is in Milky Way? ›
I'm gonna make a Milky Way. Some of you may know it as a Mars bar. It's all the same. It's just a chocolate Malta nougat.
What is the difference between French and Italian nougat? ›
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 Italian nougat made from? ›
A soft nougat made of sugar, honey, egg whites, and toasted almonds or hazelnuts, torrone is a typical sweet enjoyed in Italy around the holidays. Its texture can vary from duro – crunchy and hard – to morbido – soft and chewy. Sometimes it is covered in chocolate or flavored with spices, too.
What is Greek nougat made of? ›
Using high quality ingredients, Lampos produces a delicious Greek style nougat with almonds known as Mandolato. All Lampos products are made without preservatives or additives. Ingredients: Sugar, Glucose Syrup, Almond 9%, Waffle, Albumin, Vanilla. May contain traces of sesame and other nuts.
