An Easy Recipe For Homemade Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy - California Grown (2024)

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Today, we celebrate the Golden State’s sweet side with a simple yet delightful recipe for Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy. Whether you are looking for a homemade holiday gift for a loved one or you want to appease your sweet tooth, this simple candy fits the bill every single time.

An Easy Recipe For Homemade Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy - California Grown (1)

What is Honeycomb Candy?

Honeycomb candy, a confection as fascinating as it is delicious, is a unique sweet treat known for its airy, sponge-like texture and rich caramel flavor. This candy gets its distinctive appearance from the reaction of baking soda with the caramelized sugar syrup, which creates an eruption of tiny bubbles. As the mixture cools and hardens, these bubbles are trapped, forming a light, crunchy structure that resembles a honeycomb.

Ever heard of hokey pokey, honeycomb toffee, sponge candy, or seafoam candy? They’re all versions of this popular candy. The appeal of this candy lies in its delightful crunch and the way it effortlessly melts in your mouth, making it a favorite among children and adults alike. Our recipe adds in the rich flavors of California-grown pistachios and almonds, making each bite a celebration of the Golden State’s agricultural bounty.

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Honeycomb Candy vs. Nut Brittle: Understanding the Difference

While both honeycomb candy and nut brittle are beloved confections, they differ significantly in texture and preparation.

An Easy Recipe For Homemade Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy - California Grown (3)

What is Honeycomb Candy?

This candy is known for its airy, sponge-like structure, created by the chemical reaction of baking soda with caramelized sugar. This reaction produces carbon dioxide bubbles, creating a light, crunchy texture that melts in the mouth. Honeycomb candy typically features a deep caramel flavor and is often enjoyed on its own or coated in chocolate.

What is Nut Brittle?

Nut brittle, on the other hand, is a denser, harder candy made by embedding nuts, such as pistachios, peanuts, or almonds, in a clear, caramelized sugar syrup. It has a glass-like consistency and makes a snap when broken. Both treats have a delightful combination of sweetness and crunch, but each offers a distinct sensory experience.

Click here to make our Pistachio Nut Brittle recipe.
An Easy Recipe For Homemade Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy - California Grown (4)
An Easy Recipe For Homemade Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy - California Grown (5)
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An Easy Recipe For Homemade Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy - California Grown (7)

Discover the Sweet Taste of California with Every Bite!

The Heart of California: Pistachios

Before we dive into our recipe, let’s talk about one of our star ingredients: pistachios. Grown in the sun-kissed orchards of California, these nuts are more than just a tasty snack. They are a testament to California’s agricultural prowess. Pistachios require specific growing conditions, and California’s climate offers the perfect mix of cool winters and long, hot summers. This is ideal for pistachios, which need a period of winter dormancy followed by a warm growing season. The result? Plump, flavorful nuts that are perfect for our honeycomb candy.

California’s Liquid Gold: Honey

Now let’s buzz into the sweet world of honey. California is known for its diverse ecosystems and is home to a variety of honey flavors, each as unique as the flora from which the bees forage. This natural sweetener is made by bees using nectar from flowers, and plays a crucial role in our honeycomb candy, adding a depth of flavor that’s purely Californian.

A Sweet Symphony: Almonds

Almonds are another Californian treasure. These nuts are not only delicious, but are packed with nutrients. In our honeycomb candy recipe, they bring a crunchy texture and a nutty flavor, complementing the pistachios and honey beautifully.

Step-by-Step How To Make Honeycomb Candy

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An Easy Recipe For Homemade Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy - California Grown (9)
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An Easy Recipe For Homemade Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy - California Grown (15)

More Giftable Recipes Featuring Ingredients From the Golden State

‘Tis the season for gifting loved ones with delicious treats. Luckily, we have a few ideas for ways to make delicious, giftable delicacies at home easily.

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An Easy Recipe For Homemade Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy - California Grown (18)
An Easy Recipe For Homemade Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy - California Grown (19)

Be sure to share your Pistachio Almond Honeycomb creations with us by snapping a pic and tagging us on social using #CAGROWN.

An Easy Recipe For Homemade Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy - California Grown (20)

Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy

Meg van der Kruik

Indulge in the irresistible delight of Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy. This candy has a delightful blend of toasted California pistachios and sliced California almonds suspended in a delicate honey-infused candy.

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Course Dessert, desserts

Cuisine American

Servings 1 16” x 11.5” baking sheet

Calories 3249 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 ½ cup pistachios, toasted, chopped and divided
  • 1 ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted and divided
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon flaky finishing salt, plus more to taste

Instructions

  • Line a 16” x 11.5” baking sheet with parchment paper and evenly coat with cooking spray, or line with a silicone baking mat.

  • In a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan, bring sugar, honey, and water to a boil while stirring constantly. Once the mixture begins to boil, lower the heat to medium, insert the candy thermometer, and continue to cook without stirring until the temperature reaches 290℉ (145℃). Remove from heat and remove the candy thermometer.

  • Stir 1 cup pistachios and 1 cup almonds into the candy mixture until incorporated.

  • Whisk in baking soda quickly just until incorporated. The mixture will quickly triple in size.

  • Carefully pour the mixture onto the lined baking sheet. Do not spread or deflate the candy.

  • Evenly sprinkle the remaining pistachios, almonds, and finishing salt over the top and allow to cool at room temperature.

  • Once the candy has completely cooled, peel it from parchment paper or a silicone mat and break it into pieces.

  • Candy will last for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

Notes

When adding the baking soda, it is important to be very careful. The candy will expand very rapidly and can make a mess or burn you if you are not careful. Make sure your saucepan holds at least 3 to 4 quarts.

Nutrition

Calories: 3249kcalCarbohydrates: 449gProtein: 67gFat: 154gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 42gMonounsaturated Fat: 88gTrans Fat: 0.02gSodium: 4459mgPotassium: 2953mgFiber: 36gSugar: 389gVitamin A: 767IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 576mgIron: 13mg

Keyword almond, honey, honeycomb candy, Pistachio, pistachio candy

Tried this recipe?Mention @cagrownofficial or tag #CAGROWN!

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An Easy Recipe For Homemade Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy - California Grown (2024)

FAQs

An Easy Recipe For Homemade Pistachio Almond Honeycomb Candy - California Grown? ›

Bees make honeycombs by first secreting a wax-like substance from glands on their abdomen. This wax is then formed into hexagons that make up the shape of the honeycomb. The bees then fill the honeycomb with the nectar they collect from flowers and use enzymes in their saliva to turn the nectar into honey.

How honeycomb is made step by step? ›

Bees make honeycombs by first secreting a wax-like substance from glands on their abdomen. This wax is then formed into hexagons that make up the shape of the honeycomb. The bees then fill the honeycomb with the nectar they collect from flowers and use enzymes in their saliva to turn the nectar into honey.

What is honeycomb candy made of? ›

Honeycomb toffee, honeycomb candy, sponge toffee, cinder toffee, seafoam, or hokey pokey is a sugary toffee with a light, rigid, sponge-like texture. Its main ingredients are typically brown sugar (or corn syrup, molasses or golden syrup) and baking soda, sometimes with an acid such as vinegar.

What does baking soda do in candy making? ›

The soda reacts with the acid to make bubbles, and the syrup foams. When the cooked syrup is poured out and begins to harden, many of the tiny bubbles are trapped before they can escape (another reason the baking soda is added at the end).

How long does it take to make honeycomb? ›

Scrape into the tin immediately – be careful, the mixture will be very hot. The mixture will continue bubbling in the tin, simply leave it and in about 1 hr-1 hr 30 mins the honeycomb will be hard and ready to crumble or snap into chunks.

Why is my homemade honeycomb chewy? ›

Chewy honeycomb happens when the mixture hasn't been cooked for long enough. This is most common when you don't use a sugar thermometer.

Why is my honeycomb candy bitter? ›

If it's any darker than that, it means your sugar is too hot and the honeycomb will taste burnt and bitter. Once you have dissolved the sugar and you start to simmer your sugar mixture, you shouldn't mix it as sugar crystals will start to form – which will ruin your honeycomb.

Why is my honeycomb candy chewy? ›

Why is my Honeycomb Candy chewy? This is a result of the mixture not cooking long enough. You really want it to cook for the full three minutes.

How do you make honeycomb edible? ›

If you wondering how to eat honeycomb by itself, cut off a wedge from the comb with a spoon and enjoy it like candy. You can chew the wax as gum before spitting it out or in other ways.

What can be crafted with honeycomb? ›

Honeycomb can be used to craft Candles, Waxed Copper, and even more Beehives. In other words, once you've got enough Honeycomb, you can start your own self-sustaining Honeycomb farm. It's beekeeping without the stuffy white safety suits.

Can kids eat raw honeycomb? ›

Eating small amounts of honeycomb is generally considered safe. However, you shouldn't give it to your infant or eat it if you are pregnant due to the risk of botulism. Because honey is high in sugar, it's also best not to overeat honeycomb.

What does vinegar do to candy? ›

Vinegar lowers the pH of the candy (i.e., makes it more acidic), so that when one adds the baking soda (basic) carbon dioxide is released from the reaction between the two. These carbon dioxide bubbles are forced through the liquid sugar that's been cooked to hard-crack stage.

What to do with failed honeycomb candy? ›

Instead, if it is enjoyable as is, I would suggest just eating it as a toffee like candy. Otherwise, chalk it up to experience and watch the temperature more closely next time. I have a batch of gooey toffee now too. So im just either enjoying it as is or adding bit or chunks of it to my coffee or ice cream.

What does cream of tartar do in candy? ›

How it helps Candy Making. Adding cream of tartar when you're making candy helps prevent the creation of sugar crystals. That's why lots of icing, syrup or candy recipes call for it: it makes it so the end product doesn't have large crunchy sugar capsules.

What is the science behind making honeycomb? ›

Bicarbonate decomposes when it gets above about 80°C. This releases carbon dioxide gas that forms the bubbles in the honeycomb. The bubbles are trapped when the syrup cools and solidifies.

Is honeycomb just beeswax? ›

Honeycomb is basically beeswax and raw honey, so it's 100% edible and safe to eat. The beeswax alone has very little nutritional value, with the exception of trace amounts of Vitamin A. However, since our system does not break down beeswax, it can help the body move food and waste through the gut.

Is honeycomb actually made from honey? ›

What Is Honeycomb? Honeycomb is a natural product made by honey bees to store honey and pollen or house their larvae. It consists of a series of hexagonal cells constructed from beeswax which generally contain raw honey. Raw honey differs from commercial honey because it's not pasteurized or filtered.

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