Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics Season 5 Episode 9 Just Candy

In season 5 of Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics, host Ina Garten takes us on a journey to rediscover the joys of cooking with simple, fresh ingredients. In episode 9, titled "Just Candy," Ina shows us how to make a variety of sweet treats perfect for any occasion.

The episode starts with Ina preparing to host a Halloween party and wanting to make her own candy to give out to her guests. She starts off by making a classic treat, peanut brittle, which involves cooking sugar, corn syrup, and peanuts until they form a crunchy, sweet candy. Ina gives some useful tips on how to ensure the brittle turns out just right and also shows us how to break it into bite-sized pieces.

Next up, Ina switches to another classic candy recipe, caramels. She offers her advice on how to keep the caramel from sticking to the pan and provides her own unique twist, adding fleur de sel to the mix for a salty-sweet flavor. Ina also shows us how to wrap the caramels in wax paper for an old-fashioned touch.

Moving on from classic candies, Ina tackles a more modern treat: homemade chocolate bars. She starts by making a basic chocolate ganache and then adds in some almonds and dried cherries for texture and flavor. Ina also demonstrates how to temper the chocolate so that it has a shiny finish and a satisfying snap when you bite into it.

Not content with just making candy bars, Ina moves on to creating her own version of a favorite candy bar, the Mounds bar. She uses a mixture of shredded coconut and sweetened condensed milk to make the filling, which she then dips in melted chocolate. The end result is a delicious, homemade version of the classic candy that will impress your friends and family.

Ina finishes out the episode with a more adult treat, homemade spiked truffles. She starts by making a simple ganache with heavy cream and dark chocolate, and then adds in a healthy pour of your favorite liquor. Ina uses rum in her truffle recipe, but you could use anything from bourbon to Grand Marnier. She then rolls the ganache into balls and coats them in cocoa powder for a rich, decadent finish.

Throughout the episode, Ina offers plenty of tips and tricks for candy-making success, from how to properly measure ingredients to how to avoid common pitfalls like crystallization. Her warmth and enthusiasm for cooking are infectious, and you'll find yourself eager to try out each and every recipe.

If you're a fan of satisfying sweet treats and homemade goodies, Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics season 5 episode 9, "Just Candy," is not to be missed. Ina Garten's expert guidance and delicious recipes will inspire you to get creative in the kitchen and whip up some mouthwatering treats of your own.