What Is Nougat?

Published on Monday, October 8, 2007, by Michele Foley / Edit Post

What is nougat?

Nougat is a general term that describes a class of sweets made with sugar or honey and some type of nut—usually almonds, pistachios, or hazelnuts. It can range from soft and chewy like caramel to hard and brittle, but it’s always sticky, says Katrina Markoff, owner and chocolatier of Vosges Haut-Chocolat.

There are two general types and colors of nougat: white and brown. White nougat is made by whipping egg whites together with nuts and sugar or honey. Brown nougat is a denser version made using only caramelized sugar and nuts. Variations of either nougat might include dried fruit, cocoa powder, or flavored essential oils like lavender. The first documentation of nougat goes back to 9th-century Greece, but the confection didn’t gain popularity until it was introduced to France during the 17th century. In Spain, nougat is referred to as turrón, and in Italy it is called torrone. Persians refer to it as gaz, and Germans call it Schmelz-Schokolade.

If you’d like to make your own nougat, check out CHOW’s recipe for Halloween Snickles, a candy bar filled with a peanut version of the confection.

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  • Nougat is my favorite treat and the best nougat I've ever had is French nougat, nougat de Montelimar to be more precise: http://www.histoiresucree.com/product_pages/nougat_400g.html
    I just cannot think of a better-tasting nougat!

  • Nougat de Montelimar. Nuf said.

  • Nougat is one of mt favorite sweets. An American favorite that has a similar flavor, but not consistency, is "divinity fudge". Which, is made properly can be absolutely incredible.

  • *sigh* the sad thing is, with my nut allergy, I can usually only eat the "fake" nougat.

    What about Aussie rugby? Not the same as "original" rugby. Crazy.

    I always wondered where "soccer" came from.

  • i love the nougat with the bits of jujubes in them stick to your teeth goodness
    bit the italian torrone with almonds is the best!

  • Sorry to be off topic but danieljdwyer is correct. Rugby is a lot closer to "football" then anything else. Also, as much as people make fun of the Americans for saying "soccer", that has a logical basis as well. There were two kinds of 'football' at one point:

    "rugby football"
    "association football"

    the players of the former were known as 'ruggers' and the latter 'soccers'. Then some crazy...+READ

    Sorry to be off topic but danieljdwyer is correct. Rugby is a lot closer to "football" then anything else. Also, as much as people make fun of the Americans for saying "soccer", that has a logical basis as well. There were two kinds of 'football' at one point:

    "rugby football"
    "association football"

    the players of the former were known as 'ruggers' and the latter 'soccers'. Then some crazy canadian types started modifying rugby football which evolved into what is known as "american football".-COLLAPSE

  • You miss the third type of nougat: the creamy chocolate-nut kind that you get in Scandivania and Germany among other places. And I believe there is even a fourth kind made in Iran and usually wrapped in wafers.

  • Turron is delicious. I was lucky enough to have a spanish friend introduce me to it.

  • Exactly what country produces a mass marketed nougat candy bar that contains real nougat?
    The word foot in football refers to the fact that the sport is played on foot, which, in medieval Britain, distinguished the sport of the lower classes from the sport of the upper classes, played on horseback. It is thus applied appropriately to either soccer or football, both of which emerged out of this...+READ

    Exactly what country produces a mass marketed nougat candy bar that contains real nougat?
    The word foot in football refers to the fact that the sport is played on foot, which, in medieval Britain, distinguished the sport of the lower classes from the sport of the upper classes, played on horseback. It is thus applied appropriately to either soccer or football, both of which emerged out of this earlier game of football at roughly the same time in the early 19th century. Rugby is much closer than either sport to the original medieval game of football, so if anything it would be the "REAL" football.-COLLAPSE

  • Of course, the nougat you get in a three musketeers is totally fake. no nuts, for one. it also is way too soft and not sticky enough.

    it's more "foolgat"

    sort of like how Americanized Belgian Waffles aren't really American. how Americanized Burritos have nothing to do with what you get if you order one at a place in mexico and waht you usually get in America when you ask for apple cider is...+READ

    Of course, the nougat you get in a three musketeers is totally fake. no nuts, for one. it also is way too soft and not sticky enough.

    it's more "foolgat"

    sort of like how Americanized Belgian Waffles aren't really American. how Americanized Burritos have nothing to do with what you get if you order one at a place in mexico and waht you usually get in America when you ask for apple cider is non-alcoholic apple juice. Oh, and how American "Football" actually uses the foot less than REAL football. :)

    Americans are silly. I should know, I am one-sort of.-COLLAPSE