This ginger and pecan brittle with chocolate drizzle is simple to make and is a perfect DIY foodie Christmas gift or at any time of year.
Commissioned post.
I love giving DIY foodie gifts at Christmas. Obviously I get into my kitchen any chance I get, but I especially like cooking at Christmastime. Growing up, my sister and I spent so much time in the kitchen with my parents doing Christmas baking. I have such fond memories of pricking shortbread with a fork, making gingerbread cookies and stirring the Christmas pudding.
This Ginger and Pecan Brittle is really easy to make and is perfect to pop into a pretty bag or jar and tie up with ribbon to give as a gift. It would be lovely in a hamper, in a stocking or on it’s own. The rich, buttery toffee is infused with crystallised ginger and crunchy, perfumed pecans. It’s crisp and delicate, and perfect with a liberal drizzle of milk chocolate. Taking a bite, you get a hit of crunchy pecan, the odd burst of spicy crystallised ginger and smooth milk chocolate against the crispy, buttery brittle.
It’s easy to make this ginger and pecan brittle, but you’ll need a few things. First, a high-sided pot, so you don’t get splattered by molten-hot sugar. The next thing is a food thermometer. I’ve used a Thermapen digital thermometer (you probably saw them on Great British Bake-Off). It’s accurate and so easy to use: just stick the end into the pot and it will instantly read the temperature.
Before you start making the brittle, prepare all of your ingredients and tools. Measure out the ingredients and have them all to hand, so when the sugar syrup is ready, you can tip it all in. Line the baking tray with parchment in advance and have your Thermapen thermometer to hand. You’ll need to work quickly so the brittle hardens in the baking tray rather than in the pot. Don’t be frightened though – it’s really quite easy to make!
- 200g (1 cup) granulated sugar
- 170g (½ cup) golden syrup (light corn syrup)
- 60ml (¼ cup) water
- Pinch of sea salt
- 120g (1 cup) pecans, roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp chopped crystallised ginger
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- Line a large baking tray that has sides with baking parchment paper and prepare and measure all ingredients before starting.
- In a large heavy-bottomed high sided saucepan, bring the sugar, syrup, water and sea salt to the boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the chopped pecans.
- Continue stirring and use the Thermapen digital food thermometer to check the temperature until it reaches 150C/300F.
- Working quickly, remove the pan from the heat and carefully stir in the butter, crystallised ginger and soda. Immediately pour the mixture into the prepared tray and spread it out with a spoon.
- Allow to cool, then cut into pieces.
- Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the brittle and allow to set.
- The ginger pecan brittle can be stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Perfect for a Christmas gift!
The new SuperFast Thermapen® 4 Cooks Thermometer is the number one selling food thermometer in the UK. Here are some of the best things about it:
* Measuring temperature over the range of -49.9 to 299.9 °C.
* Used by hundreds of thousands of cooks and barbecue enthusiasts worldwide
* Speed, accuracy and convenience.
* Patented 360° self-rotating display that automatically turns to make it readable in any position.
* Automatic backlight.
* Powered by a single AAA battery that gives 3000 hours of normal use.
* Motion-sensing sleep mode automatically turns the Thermapen on or off, maximising battery life.
* Waterproof
* Reads the true temperature in just three seconds.
* Stainless steel probe that conveniently folds into the unit when not in use.
* Available in ten vibrant colours
Looking for other ways to use your Thermapen? Try these recipes:
Saffron Pistachio and Cardamom Butter Toffee by Recipe from a Pantry
Pepper Steak by Little Sunny Kitchen
Spiced Apple and Rosehip Jelly by FoodieQuine
Sloe and Blackberry Hedgerow Jam by The Hedgecombers
Easy Sticky Five Spice BBQ Sauce by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
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Disclosure: This recipe for Ginger Pecan Brittle with Chocolate Drizzle was commissioned by Thermapen. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make it possible for me to mess up my kitchen and write Veggie Desserts.
This looks delicious, so I am sure this will taste really nice! The Thermapen looks very useful.
What a wonderful recipe! I’ve always risked it and not measured temp, but sometimes it leads in disaster! I definitely need to invest in a Thermapen 🙂
Wow, I love this idea! It looks like a perfect Christmas recipe!
Perfect flavour combination – I’m salivating a bit! I’m very taken with that Thermapen – genius! I have a sugar thermometer which I have to clip onto the side of the pan and it’s a very precarious business!
The Thermapen really makes it easy. Just touch the tip in and it reads it instantly!
Definitely the perfect holiday gift! So unique. I love the drizzle of chocolate over the top and the flavor sounds incredible.
I’ve been avoiding the candy thermometer, but I think I’ll have to make an exception for this beautiful brittle! I think I could eat the whole batch myself.
This looks so good! Perfect Christmas gift. I love giving DIY foodie gifts at Christmas too. Not just because I enjoy doing it, but also I like receiving it so I’m hoping my friends would get the hint lol. I own a different kind of food thermometer. Yours is so much better! I want one for Christmas! (OK not food but excellent lol)
Pecans brittle- brilliant! Add the the sugared ginger…makes a nice 1, 2 punch! I’m going to try this brittle! Thanks.
I hope you like it. Let me know how you get on!
This sounds so good. You said it lasts for 2 weeks in a sealed container. Not at my house. It would be gone before the end of the day! I love a good brittle, and that ginger really puts it over the top!
Great recipe Kate, i love the idea of adding ginger and using pecans, delicious.
I can eat a whole box of it with my black coffee. And your pics are tempting.
So easy to make and yet so satisfying. Adding to my holiday to-make list! By the way, love the thermometer, it looks like a beast!
I love making edible gifts for Christmas and this recipe is perfect for that! Anything ginger and chocolate is a winner in my book 😀
This brittle would be a great holiday gift for friends. Looks like decadent little treats! YUM!
Hmm…I just bought some chocolate, ginger, and pecan on my grocery run earlier today… it might be a sign! This looks delicious!
This looks gorgeous and I love the flavour combination. I would be very happy if I got this for Christmas,
Yum, yum, yum. I LOVE sugar work and only ever really get a chance to do it at Christmas when making gifts. I love the science of it – though you make it so easy. Really do need to invest in one of those thermometers 🙂 I have such an old fashioned glass one.