Texture brings interest to the plain and bland. A painting comes even more alive when you see the layers of paint on the canvas. It's so different than a flat image of the same piece of art. Fabrics can feel soft or rough and add a special aesthetic to a room. Texture is a major factor with food. Smooth, chewy, flaky, sticky, foamy, and tender are a few of the textures we experience on any given day. And there is crunchy, oh so wonderful crunchy. One of my favorite crunch factors comes from nuts. Making a dessert to highlight crunchy meant one thing; nutty wedges with brown sugar whipped cream.
It's all about the crunch! There are so many crunchy foods that come to mind. Chips, fried chicken, cookies, cereal, and raw veggies are just a few. However, my go-to food for adding crunch is nuts. You can use them in baking, salads, main dishes, and simply as a snack. Having a Sunday Supper "Crunchy Goodness" event called for a recipe I've been wanting to make for years. I found it long time ago in a Real Simple magazine. It only had pecans. I decided to mix it up and throw in some walnuts and almonds too.
How did the nutty wedges turn out? They magically disappeared rather quickly. Three were gone the first night. The container was empty soon afterwards. The nuts are baked with a sweet syrup which holds them together after baking. Serving the wedges with brown sugar whipped cream makes a delightful dessert. One note: make sure you line the bottom of your oven with foil to catch leaks. Spring-form pans don't always seal tightly and keep in thin syrups.
What is your favorite crunchy food? Can you think of the last day you didn't eat something with a crunch? I can't. It's a texture we enjoy at any time of the day. It's worth celebrating and the Sunday Supper bloggers are excited to share their favorites too. Be sure to scroll down to find the recipes. It's a whole lot of crunchy goodness!
PS. Take a look at some of my other recipes with a crunch: Christmas Crunchies, cream cheese and pimento stuffed celery, spiced pecans, and Asian slaw.
Nutty Wedges with Brown Sugar Whipped Cream
Ingredients
For the nutty wedges:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼ cup light corn syrup
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon dark rum or vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1 ½ cups walnuts roughly chopped
- 1 ½ cups pecans roughly chopped
- ½ cup blanched slivered almonds
For the brown sugar whipped cream:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ teaspoon dark rum or vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
For the nutty wedges:
- Line the bottom of the oven with foil in case of leaks during baking. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
- Combine granulated sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, and whipping cream in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.
- Remove pan from heat and stir in rum, salt, walnuts, pecans, and almonds. Stir to coat nuts with syrup.
- Pour into prepared springform pan and spread evenly.
- Bake until golden brown, about 40 minutes.
- Cool completely on a wire rack. Remove from the pan and slice into wedges.
For the brown sugar whipped cream:
- Whip cream, rum (if using), and brown sugar until stiff peaks form. Serve with nutty wedges.
Notes
Recipe adapted from one in the Real Simple December 2007 magazine.
Bring on the crunch! Check out these recipes by Sunday Supper bloggers:
Crispy Appetizers:
- Bitterballen from The Urban Mrs.
- Caprese Wontons from Jane's Adventure in Dinner
- Crispy Broccoli Cheddar Bites from Curious Cuisiniere
- Waldorf Salad from Noshing With The Nolands
Crunchy Entrees and Sides:
- Crunchy Baked Chicken with Homemade Shake and Bake from Growing Up Gabel
- Crunchy Crusted Chicken Strips with Chipotle Honey Mustard from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventure
- Flautas de Rajas con Requeson (Cheesy Poblano Pepper Taquitos) from La Cocina de Leslie
- Penny's Taco Salad from Webicurean
- Popcorn Chowder from The ROXX Box
- Rosemary Garlic Croutons on layered Savoy Cabbage Soup from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
- Strawberry and Mozzarella Flatbread from Family Foodie
Munch on Snacks:
- Crunchy & Chewy Chocolate Hazelnut Granola from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Crunchy Granola Bars (Better than Nature Valley) from Shockingly Delicious
- Crunchy Pumpkin Pie Spice Roasted Chickpeas from Daily Dish Recipes
- Duck Fat Chex Mix from The Texan New Yorker
- Easy Vegan Granola from Killer Bunnies, Inc
- Fried Veg Momos with Cheese Recipe from Masala Herb
- How to Make Healthy Homemade Sweet and Salty Trail Mix from Neighborfood
- Orange Spiced Cashews from Hip Foodie Mom
- Peanut and Pretzel Popcorn Balls from Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Roasted Pumpkin Seeds from Hezzi-D's Cooks and Books
- Slow Cooker Bar-B-Q Party Mix from Hot Mamma's Kitchen Chaos
- Sourdough Grissini from girlichef
- Spicy Lentil Crackers from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Sweet and Spicy Roasted Pepitas from Alida's Kitchen
- Sweet Potato Chips from Kudos Kitchen By Renee
- Unbaked Healthy Oatmeal Sesame Bars from My Trials In The Kitchen
- Vanilla Almonds from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Crisp Dessert:
- Boo Berry Cereal Treats from Pies and Plots
- Choco-Caramel Squares from Basic N Delicious
- Chocolate Covered Potato Chip Rice Krispie Treats from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Chocolate Pecan Biscotti from The Food Army Wife
- Cookie Brittle from Juanita's Cocina
- Double Banana Pie Krispie Treats from What Smells So Good?
- Honeycomb Crunch Candy from Food Lust People Love
- Momofuku Chocolate Chip Cornflakes Cookies from Ninja Baking
- Nutty Wedges with Brown Sugar Whipped Cream from Magnolia Days
- Salted Caramel Cashew Cookies from Mess Makes Food
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You're right, Renee. The crunch experience is important every day. And your nutty wedges would make any day better.
Love the idea of topping all that nutty goodness with whipped cream infused with brown sugar and rum! Yum =)
The whipped cream really is nice to go with the wedges and I thought using dark rum would tie them together.
Wow. YUM! I am tempted to make these and wrap them to go for hiking. They would be perfect energy boosts. #pinning
Great idea! So much better than those store-bought energy bars.
I am about to run into the kitchen to make your nut wedges. Looks fantastic Renee!
Thanks Helene and I hope you enjoy them.
This is like pecan pie but with walnuts and almonds too and no crust! I love these sticky nutty wedges, Renee. And I know the cream would be very popular in my cream loving house.
Yes, like a very tightly packed pecan pie without a crust. All crunchy and no gooey.
These nutty wedges look amazing! I can't wait to try this dessert.
Thanks Isabel
I'll bet those would mail well. I'll watch for them...they should be here about Tuesday, right? 🙂
I'm sure they would mail well if there were any left. Unfortunately my husband polished off the last one the other day.
Yum! Love nut wedges and yours are just perfect!! Love that you used whipping cream! So different and so delicious!
Thanks Jennifer
You definitely nailed it with the crunch on this dessert! Looks great!
Oh yes, definitely crunchy with these wedges. I'm so glad I finally made them. How great for Sunday Supper to be the excuse.
I love the medley of nuts in these wedges. I would even use hazelnuts (since I'm not a huge fan of almonds). I'm going to have to try the whipped cream too. Never heard of making it with brown sugar.
I thought about hazelnuts too but they aren't available in my local store yet. They will soon though and I'll change it up again for the holidays.
Linda has requested that I make these...IMMEDIATELY! LOL!
Then you should! I need to make your brittle for my husband.
Renee!!
I love these. . if you couldn't tell, I love nuts. . all kinds .. so I LOVE this! and love that you baked it like a cake in a springform pan- brilliant! Must try this!
Oh I could tell you love nuts. When I read your post I knew you would like this recipe.
I know that I would love these. Such a unique dessert! The brown sugar whipped cream sounds really good too.
Thanks Laura
I imagine I would instantly become addicted to these! Mmm, and I love it with the whipped cream!
They are hard to resist. At least there are the health benefits from the nuts.
These look fantastic! I'm going to try soy creamer and make them vegan! YUM!
Interesting. I've never tried soy creamer. Hmmm...
These must be a nut party in your mouth with every bite! They look terrific...especially with a dollop of your special whipped cream 🙂
Oh yes, total nut party.
So simple to put together and yet packed with soooooo much deliciousness.
I rarely go a day without some kind of crunch. Today I thoroughly enjoyed chocolate covered almonds sprinkled with sea salt. M-M-M!
Chocolate covered nuts are wonderful too. My favorite is pecans (well, with caramel too so they are turtles).
wow, the Italians will like this at christmas
The Italians and a whole lot of other folks too.
crunch is IT! Plus, um, brown sugar whipped cream sounds amazing. SO GOOD.
Thanks Kayle
Nothing I love better than the crunch of a nutty dessert. This looks heavenly!!
Thank you Tara
Those look lovely. I love the shiny, glossy top. I can just imagine the sound it would make crunching into it!
Thanks Courtney. I like the shiny top too and think it makes them a little festive.
Renee - these look absolutely amazing. My husband would go crazy for then; I will replace the heavy cream with plain soy creamer - it should work out 🙂 Thank you so much!
I hope the soy creamer works good and you make make these for your family.
I adore nuts, but I'm kind of stuck dreaming about that brown sugar whipped cream right now! Brilliant idea!
The brown sugar whipped cream is really good. I like the extra flavor in it.
Yum! I can just imagine how short a period of time these would last in my house.
Thanks Jane
These look nutty-licious!! 😉
Thanks Cindy
These sound amazing! And, I love the rum!
Thanks Sarah
I try not to make this type of sweet because I literally have no control. It bothers me sometimes that I'm so greedy with nuts, but just look at those wedges! Truly wonderful!
Don't be so greedy with the nuts! And I didn't have any control with these either.
This might be the best name for a dessert ever and you use lots of nuts and rum. I'm sold.
I do love the name too. It is such a fun descriptive title.
I should try this out soon. What a great combination to goes with the brown sugar whipped cream. Great idea !
Thanks Faye
Oh my goodness those nutty wedges look ridiculously good! Perfect for Diwali x
Thanks Deena