The 7 Best Nougat Candy Recipes

Honey-filled Torrone and Nutella nougat top the list

Written by
Elizabeth LaBau
A professional pastry chef, cookbook author, and writer, Elizabeth LaBau has published more than 600 articles on baking and candy making.
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Elizabeth LaBau
Updated 07/03/20

Making candy is off-putting for many a cook, and it does take knowledge, skill, and the right tools. But once you take the plunge, you get a delicious reward. Check out the step-by-step photo tutorial showing how to make nougat so you're in the know before you begin and be sure you have all the tools you need to whip up this decadent treat.

Nougat is an aerated candy made from whipped egg whites and a boiled sugar syrup, much like marshmallows. It nearly always contains roasted nuts like almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, and pistachios, and often candied fruit. These nougat recipes range from traditional nougat, weighed down and covered with rice paper, to faster variations that skip some complicated steps. 

  • 01 of 07

    Honey Almond Nougat

    Honey almond nougat
    Joy Skipper / Getty Images

    Honey almond nougat is full of delicious honey and almond flavor. It's really similar to the classic nougat filling in Torrone candy and is bursting with three kinds of nuts—hazelnuts, almonds, and pistachios.

  • 02 of 07

    Homemade Torrone

    Homemade torrone recipe

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

    Speaking of torrone...the classic homemade torrone (Italian nougat) is easy to make at home. It's bursting with honey, orange, and almond flavors and makes for a decadent treat.

  • 03 of 07

    Nougat Ice Cream

    Nougat ice cream
    Alexandra Grablewski / Getty Images

    Take your favorite candy and add it to ice cream? Yes, please! This delicious nougat ice cream has all of the flavors of nougat in another one of your favorite desserts. It's great for a dessert for summer holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

  • 04 of 07

    Nutella Nougat

    Nutella nougat

     An Italian in the Kitchen 

    Who doesn't love Nutella? if you're a huge fan, you'll love Nutella nougat. It's full of delicious and creamy hazelnut and chocolate. Nutella nougat is easy to make, and it's a little bit different than your traditional nougat. And if you love chocolate, you'll adore this concoction: It's got a chocolate coating on top of the chocolate nougat; it's double-chocolate heaven.

    Continue to 5 of 7 below.
  • 05 of 07

    Persian Pistachio Nougat

    Persian pistachio nougat

    lexandra panella / Getty Images

    This Persian pistachio nougat is often found in the Middle East. It's full of pistachios and also uses rose water, which lends a delicious and flowery flavor to the beautiful green nougat. Look for rose water in Middle Eastern food sections of your grocery store or in specialty stores.

  • 06 of 07

    Pistachio Nougat

    Pistachio nougat

    Tumblr 

    Pistachio ​nougat is chewy, crunchy, and delicious. Its beautiful green and white colors look appealing in any presentation. The green food coloring called for in the recipe is optional, and you can also use almond extract if you can't find pistachio.

  • 07 of 07

    White Chocolate Nougat

    White chocolate nougat

    The Spruce / Elizabeth LaBau

    White chocolate nougat is rich and full of vanilla flavor and is reminiscent of marshmallow. It's studded with different dried fruits and nuts, and it's really easy to customize. You can also use it as a fancy candy bar filling. Just layer a caramel coating on top and voila, you have a homemade and scrumptious candy bar.