I somehow completely forgot to post this from months ago, so you’ll forgive this pig out fest from pre-Weight Watcher days…
I have been in LOVE with Crunchie Bars (chocolate covered honeycomb made mostly in the UK) ever since I accidentally stumbled upon them in a Bridgett’s Irish Store in my neighborhood Jersey Mall. Then I saw this poston TheKitchn (where I also learned there is an Australian Version called Violet Crumbles!) and knew I had to try this the next time my mom came to visit (since she also has a special place in her tummy-heart for Crunchies).
You start with a combination of honey, corn syrup, and sugar.
Then it heats…
After reading the post on thekitchn.com, I was terrified that the mixture might overflow. They spoke of a chemical reaction after adding the next ingredient (baking soda) that makes the candy expand exponentially. I envisioned myself somehow cleaning stick honey candy out of my gas stove and nearly quit right there… but I took out my biggest post and turns out I had little to be scared of…
Well… except killing my candy thermometer…
As I whisked the baking soda into the mixture furiously, it certainly did expand. But it maybe went from about 1 inch on the bottom to about 3 inches.
Then I poured the gelatinous foam mass onto my prepared silpat and thought that there was no way this could possibly make that interesting honeycomby like, sponge looking texture, could it?
It took about 2 hours to harden (I guess it was more humid in my apartment).
And when I cracked it open I was giddy. It was beeauuuuuuutiful!
I quickly coated it in chocolate (if you leave it exposed to the air it turns to goo I hear).
And it turned out perfectly.
Did it taste EXACTLY like a Crunchie bar? No. But it was pretty damn close. And pretty damn good seeing as though I MADE it! Woo!
The recipe is very good on the originating site, so I’ll let you click on over and show this blog some love if you’d like to make your very own Crunchie bars: http://seattlest.com/2007/02/13/seattlests_answer_to_violet_crumble_.php
I highly suggest it!
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