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Four Ingredient Nougat Bars. These chewy nougat bars with their colorful appearance used to be the most anticipated treats at our holiday dessert spread. The adults treated these treats as if they were priceless possessions, while I remained puzzled about their value. The experience of making these bars myself revealed their absolute deliciousness, which makes them difficult to share with others.
These bars combine festive colors with chewy texture and sweet flavor through a simple recipe that requires only four basic ingredients. The red and green gumdrops create a traditional Christmas appearance, but you can replace them with different colors to match any celebration.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Minimal ingredients: Only 4 pantry staples.
- The festive appearance and colorful design make these bars suitable for holiday dessert trays.
- The no-bake preparation requires only melting ingredients, followed by stirring before letting them set throughout an overnight period.
- These bars bring back nostalgic memories because they remain a beloved treat that everyone remembers.
Ingredients
- 2 packages miniature marshmallows
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 2 packages white chocolate chips
- 1 ½ cups red and green gumdrops, cut in half
Instructions
Step 1 – Prep the Gumdrops
Cut gumdrops in half. Place parchment paper across an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish while leaving enough paper to lift the nougat out later.
Step 2 – Melt the Base
A pot of water needs to reach a soft boiling point. A heatproof bowl should be placed on top of the pot (double boiler method). The mixture requires marshmallows, white chocolate chips, and butter for complete melting. The mixture needs to be stirred until it reaches a uniform, smooth consistency.
Step 3 – Mix & Set
The gumdrops need to be added to the mixture with care. The prepared dish requires an even distribution of the mixture. The mixture needs to rest at room temperature overnight, or you can speed up the process by placing it in the refrigerator until it becomes solid.
Step 4 – Slice & Serve
The nougat needs to be removed from the pan using the parchment paper before you can cut it into bars for serving.
Use the parchment to lift the nougat out of the pan. The nougat needs to be cut into bars before serving.
Tips & Tricks
- A sharp knife requires a light coating of cooking spray to produce clean cuts.
- You can replace gumdrops with rainbow-colored gumdrops or gummy bears to create birthday-themed bars.
- The nougat bars need to be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for a maximum of seven days.
- The nougat bars should be wrapped in parchment paper before being wrapped in festive ribbon for holiday gift presentation.
FAQ
1. Is it possible to heat the mixture through microwaving instead of using a double boiler?
The heating process requires 20-30 second intervals with constant stirring to prevent the mixture from burning.
2. Do these freeze well?
They do! The nougat bars need to be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap before freezing for a maximum period of two months. The nougat needs to thaw before serving.
3. Can I use colored marshmallows instead of gumdrops?
You can, but gumdrops give the bars their signature chewy bursts of flavor and holiday look.
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