Nougat is a classic candy treat that brings back sweet childhood memories. With its soft, chewy texture and rich flavor, homemade nougat is hard to resist. Luckily, you only need 3 simple ingredients to make delicious old-fashioned nougat bars right at home.

 

A Nostalgic Candy Favorite

For many, nougat bars taste like Christmas and holidays past. The sweet, melt-in-your-mouth candy evokes cozy memories of time spent with family and friends. Homemade nougat captures that nostalgic flavor in an easy treat you can make anytime.

Once you taste how simple it is to recreate this retro candy at home, you’ll want to keep a batch on hand for snacking, gifts, and holiday celebrations. Follow this easy 3-ingredient recipe for sweet homemade nougat that takes you back.

 

Only 4 Ingredients Needed

The beauty of this nougat recipe is how few ingredients it requires:

• 2 cups of Marshmallow fluff
• 2 cups of White chocolate chips
• 2 cups of Roasted, unsalted nuts of your choice (chopped, if preferred)
• ½ cup (1 stick) of Butter

You likely have all 3 items already in your pantry. Look for mini marshmallows rather than large ones, as the smaller size helps the nougat come together more smoothly.

For the chocolate, opt for white chocolate chips rather than bars. The chips melt down more evenly. But you can use any color chocolate chips you prefer.

That’s it – just marshmallows, butter, and chocolate chips! Now let’s put them together into chewy homemade nougat.

 

Easy to Make Nougat Bars

Making nougat bars only takes about 10 minutes of active prep time. Here are the simple steps:

1. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper. This helps remove the sticky nougat once set.
2. Melt the marshmallows, butter, and white chocolate chips together in a double boiler, stirring continuously until smooth. Remove from heat.
3. Stir in any additional mix-ins, like colorful gumdrops or sprinkles.
4. Quickly spread the nougat into the prepared pan using lightly greased parchment paper. Press down firmly.
5. Chill nougat in the fridge for at least 2 hours until completely set. Overnight works best.
6. Remove from pan, peel off parchment, and cut into small squares with a greased knife.

That’s all it takes to make your own homemade nougat bars! The hardest part is waiting for the nougat to firm up in the fridge.

 

Nostalgic Flavor from Simple Ingredients

It’s amazing how 3 basic pantry ingredients can produce such a delicious, old-fashioned candy taste. Here’s how each component contributes to the flavor:

Marshmallows – Marshmallows give the soft, pillowy sweetness along with the chewy squishy texture. Mini marshmallows smooth out the nougat best.

Butter – Butter adds a rich depth of flavor along with a fudgy quality. Any type of butter will work.

White chocolate chips – The white chocolate lends its signature sweet, creamy notes. Semisweet or milk chocolate chips also pair well.

Together these 3 ingredients meld into a sweet mouthful of nostalgia. The nougat filling tastes just like the nougat center inside your favorite candy bar!

 

Make Them Festive for the Holidays

Around the holidays, add extra flair to your nougat bars by swapping in seasonal mix-ins:

• Crushed candy canes or peppermint bits
• Chopped red and green gumdrops
• Dried cranberries and chopped walnuts
• Mini M&M’s or sprinkles

Scoop the finished nougat into mini cupcake liners for bite-sized portions perfect for holiday parties. Kids will love decorating their own nougat treats!

With its festive colors and flavors, homemade nougat makes a thoughtful edible gift or stocking stuffer. Share the sweetness with friends and family this holiday season.

 

Creative Ways to Enjoy Nougat Bars

Of course nougat bars taste delicious all on their own! But you can also incorporate them into other desserts:

• Crumble on top of ice cream or milkshakes
• Layer into a parfait with fruit and whipped cream
• Mash into cookie dough or cake batter
• Heat and drizzle over brownies like hot fudge

Let the nougat bars inspire you with new ways to satisfy your sweet tooth! They pair wonderfully with all kinds of fruits, cookies, cakes, and ice creams.

 

Easy Substitutions to Try

Don’t have an ingredient on hand? Try one of these easy nougat substitutions:

• Marshmallow creme or fluff instead of marshmallows
• Any nut butter instead of butter
• Dark, milk, or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Sprinkles or chopped nuts for mix-ins

You can’t go wrong with this flexible 3-ingredient formula. Use whichever versions of marshmallows, butter, and chocolate you prefer.

 

Make Ahead for Holidays and Gifts

One of the best aspects of homemade nougat is that it stores easily. Make a big batch ahead of the holidays, and keep it on hand for gifting and snacking.

Store nougat bars between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. For longer storage, refrigerate up to 1 month or freeze for several months.

Let frozen nougat thaw overnight in the fridge before serving. It also thaws well at room temperature.

Wrapped nougat bars make thoughtful edible gifts for teachers, neighbors, and family. Include a greeting card with the recipe so they can make this nostalgic treat themselves!

 

Satisfy Your Nougat Cravings

Whip up a batch of 3-ingredient nougat bars the next time sugar cravings strike. In just minutes, you can indulge in the classic candy flavor – no special equipment or skill required.

Make some for your next get-together, gift them to loved ones, or stash them in your freezer for anytime snacking. However you enjoy it, this easy nougat is sure to provide a tasty trip down memory lane!