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 are the three 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.
What is nougat made of in Three Musketeers? ›
The 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.
What is nougat in a Snickers bar? ›
Nougat has just two ingredients: egg whites and a sweetener, and that's usually sugar or honey. Just whip the ingredients together. Nougat came long before candy bars.
Is a nougat healthy? ›
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? ›
Once you remove the outer packaging (foil and/or wax paper), you don't need to remove the paper you see on your piece of 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.
What country is famous for nougat? ›
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.
Why is nougat so good? ›
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.
Is a milky way just a 3 Musketeers with caramel? ›
The version of the Milky Way bar sold outside the United States has no caramel topping; it consists of a nougat centre that is considerably less dense than that of the British Mars bar and the American Milky Way bar. The global Milky Way bar is marketed in the United States as 3 Musketeers bar.
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 the white chewy thing in Toblerone? ›
What are the white bits in Toblerone? - Quora. Nougat. Specifically, a nougat made from sugar, honey, almonds, and egg-white - ground up and mixed into the chocolate.
What is the difference between nougat and French nougat? ›
Compared to table-top nougat, French European nougat does not have any milk or milk powder ingredients. It is made by adding sugar or honey to egg whites and sprinkling in almonds or nuts.
What plant does nougat come from? ›
The original nougat
Its easy preparation (toasting almonds with skin and mixing them with cooked honey made it an ideal food as well as being very energetic and versatile, since not only toasted almonds were used to make nougat, but also hazelnuts, pine nuts and walnuts.
What is Italian nougat made from? ›
Torrone, the classic Italian nougat, is easy to make at home. Nougat is a sweet confection made of whipped egg whites, sugar and/or honey, and nuts. In this traditional torrone recipe, the honey-sweetened candy is flavored with orange and almond flavors, and packed with toasted almonds.
Is Milky Way marshmallow or nougat? ›
The Milky Way bar is made of nougat, topped with caramel and covered with milk chocolate.
