My mom brought to my attention that I should repeat this recipe and share it with everyone just in time for the holidays. She was right. This recipe is excellent, and best of all, makes your cooking skills look so much more impressive than they need to be for this recipe.
They’re fancy, they’re delicious, and this recipe makes a ton of treats that would look super cute wrapped up and given away in a tin. And you can do whatever you want to the toppings.
And healthy? Not so much. Healthy for your friendships, maybe. And definitely your relationship with your husband. So make these, eat a few, and give the rest away.
Walnut and Almond Rocha (from A Passion for Chocolate)
- 2 C butter ( you heard me right–four sticks of butter, baby)
- 2 C sugar
- 2 T light-colored corn syrup
- 1/3 C water
- 1 3/4-2 C chocolate chips (whatever kind you want–dark, white, milk)
- 1 C toppings–I used 1/2 C each raw walnuts and almonds, roughly chopped
This recipe is easiest if you have a candy thermometer to clip to the side of your pan. I use an awesome meat thermometer that my sister Erin gave me, but even without a thermometer you can make this recipe. Ask my other sister, Kristen. She did it for a party–and boys snuck home pieces of rocha in their pockets.
True story.
Cover a cookie sheet (16″ x 14″) with foil (even the edges) and set aside. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat.
Add the sugar, corn syrup, and water and bring to a boil, turning up the heat a bit to medium high.
Keep stirring, and the mixture will thicken as it continues to boil. Let it go for about 15-20 minutes, until it reaches 290 degrees. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can test it to make sure you still got to the “soft-crack” stage. Drip a bit of toffee on to a dish (or dip a spoon into the mixture), and it should harden as it cools. Careful touching it, ’cause 290 degrees is freakin’ hot.
Once the toffee has reached the right temperature, pour it on the baking sheet and spread it into an even layer. Let it sit for five minutes until the top has set (it will still be hot!).
Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the top of the toffee. This is my favorite part–because the toffee is still hot, the chips will get all shiny and melty after a few minutes, and you can gently spread them into a smooth chocolate layer over the top of the toffee.
Sprinkle with toppings of your choice (I added some sprinkles for some festivity), and press them lightly into the chocolate.
That’s it! Now set the rocha aside for a few hours until it cools completely. You can then flip it, peel away the foil, and break it into pieces–the more uneven, the better.
Looks prettier that way.
These taste so decadent, and I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t like love them.. The buttery toffee crunches so satisfyingly (is that a word?), and the chocolate layer with nuts–oh man. Last year I made a Christmas version with crushed candy canes instead of nuts, and I’ll definitely be doing that again this year.
An impressive party snack or hostess gift, too, when you toss them into a bakery bag from the dollar store (that’s my secret!). And some of this will hopefully survive the next few days to make it home to my parents’ for Thanksgiving.
What’s your go-to holiday snack?
And cat owners out there–I need help! I think Henry has gotten bored lately, and he’s been terrorizing us by jumping all over every surface we have, knocking things over (and breaking them), pushing pictures around on the wall, and generally being the world’s worst cat. How can I entertain him? (Please say buy him a kitten friend–Fritz needs proof!).
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Bernadette
November 21, 2011 at 10:44 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The first thing I thought of was that orange kitten.
I think the life of an indoor cat can be a very lonely one. The thinking has always been that cats aren’t pack animals like dogs and can be very happy alone. Lately that thinking has changed and the experts now suggest having two cats. Certainly makes sense to me. I had three at one time and lost two six weeks apart (cancer & renal failure). I now only have one and if he wasn’t so old and set in his ways I’d definitely get him a companion. At this point I think he’d be more annoyed than entertained. Definitely get another cat….what a perfect Christmas present for you and for him!!
Lauren Zietsman
November 22, 2011 at 3:40 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ll make sure to tell Fritz to read this comment, and to read it well
Caitlin
November 21, 2011 at 10:59 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
lol, awwwes he looks so distressed!! Definitely get him a kitty friend! Or at the very least perhaps something to chase? But my Simon and Bijoux are inseparable and nothing warms the heart during the holidays like kitty snuggles.
Lauren Zietsman
November 22, 2011 at 3:39 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
what does Bijoux mean? I feel like i learned it once…and forgot
Caitlin
December 9, 2011 at 9:08 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
It’s French and means Precious or Jewels
She’s very much a princess and a troublemaker one at that. lol
Michelle G
November 22, 2011 at 1:10 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ve been meaning to comment here for a while. You’re blog has added some much needed variety to my dinner table and a lot of fun, besides. I will definitely be using this recipe for the holidays : )
Henry definitely needs a kitty friend. The worst our two cats ever do is scratch our old couch, and even that doesn’t happen all that often anymore. They tend to chase each other and our more spry cat teaches the other one how to leap on top of bookcases and armoires, lols.
Thanks so much for writing this blog and for updating so often. I really appreciate the focus on eating to make our bodies and our souls happy. Enjoy the holidays!
MG
Lauren Zietsman
November 22, 2011 at 3:39 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks for commenting, Michelle! I’m so glad you like my blog
I’m hoping that if the stars align and we find the perfect cat that Fritz won’t be able to resist…and luckily for him, I really want an orange longhair, which has been really difficult to find!
Hannah
November 22, 2011 at 6:03 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Bring Henry upstate to play with Hadley – he’ll pine for the quiet of home. I think you should post that picture. (makes Winston look harmless)
Lauren Zietsman
November 22, 2011 at 3:38 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
haha that’s definitely going to whip him RIGHT back into shape. Let’s try to get new pictures this time…should be pretty easy
lexy
November 22, 2011 at 8:25 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Definitely a kitten
Or one of those electronic toys that moves in strange and mouse-like ways… he can hunt that instead of your picture frames 
Now extra excited about the idea of trying to make this!
also, those treats look delicious. And you’ve revealed to me that a meat thermometer can work for candy… we have a meat thermometer we can use
Lauren Zietsman
November 22, 2011 at 3:37 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Love passing on those weird tricks…we’ve never bought a candy thermometer, but happened to have a meat one lying around! perfection
Charissa
November 22, 2011 at 2:27 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I made something similar yesterday, but I love the idea of having sprinkles on it! I’m totally trying that!
Lauren Zietsman
November 22, 2011 at 3:37 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
gotta love festivity, right?
Glenn
November 26, 2011 at 8:16 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
What size sheet pan did you use?
Lauren Zietsman
November 27, 2011 at 10:12 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
13″x9″? Possibly bigger I’ll check when I get home!
Lauren Zietsman
December 1, 2011 at 10:08 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
16×14 inches
Glenn
December 4, 2011 at 1:06 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks! I made it first with a 13×9 and it came out real thick…almost spilled over. I’ll use a larger pan next time. BTW, it was delicious!
Lauren Zietsman
December 8, 2011 at 10:46 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sorry about the misinformation!
Victoria
December 12, 2011 at 6:21 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I have tried this 3 times now. The first time, the toffee was too light and never really broke up. The second time, it came out perfect, but, I had real trouble getting the sugar and butter to blend. The third time was a disaster. The sugar and butter wouldn’t blend and in my attempt to mix it, it over cooked. I then tried to put white chocolate on it, but, it had cooled too much and the candy was way to hard. What is the trick to getting the sugar and butter to blend? BTW, love your blog and recipes.
Lauren Zietsman
December 16, 2011 at 9:03 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
do you use a thermometer to check the temperature? that might help, since (I believe) candy making can be pretty precise. That being said, I know that a few people have used this recipe without a thermometer and not had any problems. My guess is the first time it wasn’t heated enough, I have no idea about the second one, and the third definitely overcooked. I’ve never had a problem with the blending–maybe start out at a lower temperature and slowly let the mixture warm up? I really don’t know why, since I’ve never had a problem with that!
Fall and Winter Sweet Treats » A Full Measure of Happiness
November 12, 2012 at 9:03 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
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