Chocolate Nougat Bars are a gluten-free, delicious blend of ground nuts, made into a semi-soft crust, and chocolate. They're lovely for all occasions -- especially holiday parties and cookie exchanges. 
Inspiration for Chocolate Nougat Bars
I've always loved nougat candies -- especially Turrón (nougat in Spanish), which I discovered in Spain years ago.
My memories of it were so good that it's what inspired these Chocolate Nougat Bars.
What is nougat?
Nougat is a candy typically made from sugar or honey, nuts, sometimes fruit, and egg whites.
The consistency of nougat is typically on the chewy side.
While you can find it on its own, nougat is used in a variety of candy bars and chocolates.
My Chocolate Nougat Bars recipe is not authentic, and doesn't have the egg whites or fruit -- but, the vibe is similar, and incredibly delicious!
What's in this recipe?
- butter
- vanilla
- salt
- brown sugar
- honey
- almond meal
- sliced almonds
- semisweet chocolate
Can you make them ahead?
- You have to make these at least five hours ahead of time.
- You can make them up to three days ahead and keep them stored in an airtight container at room temperature. (They might become a bit chewier, but they'll still be good.)
- You can also freeze them for up to a couple of weeks or so. Again, in an airtight container. Let them thaw at room temperature before serving.
I hope you like these Chocolate Nougat Bars as much as I do.
More delicious dessert bar recipes:
- Passion Fruit Chocolate Ganache Bars
- Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars
- Gluten-Free Lemon Bars with Coconut Crust
- Oatmeal Butterscotch and Chocolate Chip Bars
Chocolate Nougat Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt, divided
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- 1½ cups almond meal
- 1½ cups toasted sliced almonds, divided
- 12 ounces (about 2 cups) semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, and line a square (8 X 8-inch) baking pan with parchment paper. (Use a large piece that will cover the sides and cut slits in each corner so that it will lay flat.)
- Melt the butter over low-medium heat in a medium-sized saucepan.
- Remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla, ½ teaspoon of the salt, sugar, honey, almond meal, and 1¼ cup of the almonds. Once it's a smooth mixture, pour it evenly into the parchment-lined baking pan.
- Place it in the preheated 375°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes. It should look a bit golden along the edges and it will be bubbling. After you remove it from the oven, this bubbling will begin to dissipate. Do not turn off the oven. Let the nougat cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes.
- Once it's room temperature, evenly distribute the chocolate chips over the top and return it to the oven for about 4 minutes -- just long enough to melt the chocolate. The chocolate chips will look very wet when they're melted and ready to spread. Evenly spread the melting chocolate chips to create a smooth surface.
- Sprinkle with the remaining ½ teaspoon of salt, and the remaining ¼ cup of the toasted sliced almonds.
- Let this set at room temperature for at least 5 hours and ideally overnight. (You could speed this step up by placing it in the refrigerator, but the chocolate may discolor a bit.)
- Carefully lift the dessert out of the pan with the parchment paper. Set this on a cutting board, and evenly cut it into 21 slices, about 2½ to 3-inches each -- or in whatever sizes you'd like.
NUTRITION
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Dorothy at ShockinglyDelicious
Campanulas my fave! This candy...GOING to be my fave when and if I get to taste it!
valentina
Thanks, Dorothy! (I'll save you some.) 🙂
averagebetty
I love the fact that this beautifully decadent (and easy!) confection was born out of a need for parchment paper - I could not live in a world without it 🙂
valentina
I lived two days without it -- but it was rough. 😉 xo
Jennifer
These look so good! I want! I know what you mean about the hubs not being interested in how you came up with a recipe or why. I do that too and watch as my hubs eyes glaze over and he tunes out. And yet I still continue to tell him all about the recipe and where it came from. Guess I'll never learn.
valentina
Our husbands can hang out while we chat about the recipes. 😀
Deb
Serendipity is always a good thing! Especially when the outcome is these very scrumptious Chocolate Almond Nougat candies!
Colette
Valentina, you're so bubbly-cute!
I drive my husband nuts w food-talk, too.
Love this bark - can't wait to make it. Yum!
David
The photos are gorgeous and I can only imagine how the nougat tastes! You are wonderfully creative when it comes to pairing flavors. I learn so much from you!
valentina
What a complement coming from you, David! Right back atcha! Your food, your writing and your photography is a all beautiful. So happy to have connected with you via this food blogging world we are a part of.
David
You are so sweet! And speaking of sweet, I am making these tomorrow to take into work. They will love/hate me!