How to Chop Nuts – Easily and Cleanly

Learn How to Chop Nuts – and Keep Them From Rolling on the Floor!

Learning how to chop nuts is a basic need for any cook or baker. The standard technique for chopping nuts, praline and brittle is to place them on a cutting board and use a heavy large knife to chop them into pieces.

A simpler and easier method is to place the nuts in a resealable plastic bag, press out any excess air, seal tightly and then tap with a rolling pin until the nuts are broken into medium or small-sized pieces.

The advantages?

• Nuts stay inside the bag rather than flying off the cutting board.

• The clear bag allows you to see the nuts and monitor their size while tapping with the rolling pin.

• There is absolutely no clean up, other than tossing the bag in the trash after using the nuts.

Use chopped nuts:

• As a topping on ice cream sundaes

• In a filling for nut pies, tarts and baklava

• In crusts for cheesecakes, ice cream pies and fruit crostatas

• Mixed into cookie dough

• Mixed into brownie batter

• Mixed into streusel toppings for coffee cakes and fruit crisps

 Use chopped praline and brittle:

• As a topping for ice cream

• Sprinkled over chocolate mousse or pudding

• Pressed onto the sides of your favorite frosted cake to add crunch

Image: Sarah Tenaglia