Turron de Jijona is Spanish soft nougat, full of delicious almond and honey flavor. Easy to make it's a great Holiday food gift or serve it to guests as an after dinner treat.
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When I lived in Spain, I think it's fair to say you could not get through the festive season without having turron at least once. You could barely pass a store selling food without it being front and center in the window.
Bars upon bars filled the shelves at Christmas-time and you definitely wouldn't have a party without it. It's something my parents bring back from Spain regularly and so I sometimes enjoy it if I am visiting them.
What is turron?
Turron (or turrón as it is correctly spelt in Spanish) is Spanish nougat and comes in various forms. The two classics are turron de Alicante, which has whole nuts in a kind of honey candy. It's hard and brittle and while tasty, I always worried I was about to break a tooth on it.
The other main kind is turron de Jijona. This kind is soft, made with ground almonds and is a little like marzipan but to me at least, a lot tastier.
As with many Spanish dishes, turron is not difficult to make and does not have many ingredients. However, the quality of those ingredients is important.
Ideally, you should use Marcona almonds and grind them yourself to ensure you get as much of the almond oil in the final product as possible.
It might seem a bit weird being slightly oily, but really that's kind of a good thing for this. If you do grind your own, you may need slightly more almonds than listed below as they are a little softer (and more moist, due to the oils).
You also want to use a good honey as the flavor definitely comes through.
How to make turron de jijona
All you do is:
- Warm the honey with the sugar.
- Add the cinnamon and a little lemon zest then whisk in the egg white.
- Mix in the ground almonds then press it into a lined dish.
- Cover the top and weigh it down, chilling in the fridge, overnight.
Turron is a classic Spanish sweet treat for the festive season that I think we should all adopt. The little bites of are full of delicious almond and honey flavor that is enjoyed by young and old alike. Easy to make and perfect for gifting. Or just dig in yourself. There's no judgement here.
Try these other treats perfect for gifting:
- Blueberry raspberry chocolate bark
- Stollen (German Christmas cake)
- Kolache cookies
- Cranberry truffles
Plus get more inspiration in Holiday ideas (like roast chestnuts which are another seasonal favorite).
Turron de Jijona (Spanish soft nougat)
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup honey
- ½ cup confectioners sugar icing sugar (approx weight)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ lemon zest (ie approx ½ lemon or a little less)
- 1 egg white
- 3 cups ground almonds/almond flour (ground at home if you can if not bought)
Instructions
- Line 2 6x4in (15 x 10cm) dishes with cling wrap/film.
- Warm the honey over a medium-low heat in a skillet/frying pan. Whisk in the confectioners sugar and keep stirring until it is blended in. Continue to warm a couple minutes then add the cinnamon and lemon zest.
- Mix the cinnamon and lemon in well then remove the pan from the heat and add the egg white. Whisk it in quickly to ensure it is well mixed. Don't worry that it initially get white streaks, but do mix it well or you will get chunks of egg white in there even after mixing which you don't really want.
- Return the mixture to the heat, warm a minute then stir in the ground almonds. Mix through well then divide evenly between the two lined dishes. Press the mixture down well, getting it into the corners and flattening the top.
- Cover the top of the locks of turron with cling wrap/film (either folding in sides or additional piece if needed) then weigh down the top eg with a bag of rice. Leave to chill and compress overnight in the fridge before removing by lifting up by the cling wrap/film. Cut into chunks to serve. Best kept refrigerated but it will keep well.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
This post was originally shared in November 2016, but has been updated November 2022 with new photos, additional info and video.
Try these other Holiday food gift ideas:
- Filipino coconut Macaroon Tarts by Asian In America
- Mini Pumpkin Breads by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Homemade Peanut Brittle by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Superfoods Fruit & Nut Bites by My Life Cookbook
- Warm Gingerbread Syrup by Food Lust People Love
- Cherry Almond Scone Mix by Baking Sense
- Cranberry Almond Quick Bread Mix by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Remember to pin for later!
Danica
Caroline-Have you ever frozen this turron to enjoy later?
Caroline's Cooking
I haven't, I'm afraid, but I imagine it should be OK, it just might become that bit softer.
explorefood715
I just made this few minutes ago, I know that we have to leave it in the fridge overnight but I could not wait, I had to try it. Oh wow! this is super tasty. One of my friend brought some sweets from Barcelona way back & shared something similar, I was so determined to make it but they forgot the name & now I came across your recipe.
The best I must say, very well done.
Caroline's Cooking
I'm so glad to hear! And it's highly likely this is essentially the same as what you had from Barcelona (though there are a few different versions of turron, as I mention).
Fanny
Thank you for the recipe and for the nice comments. I love this Turrón, and I missed it a lot during christmas, as I can not get it in my town. I´m thinking in making it this year, but I am afraid about to use Almond Flour, because it is so expensive here and have to take the risk that it wouldn´t have enough oil, which, for sure, is very important for the flavor and consistency. I also have read in other site that I could use coconut to compensate the texture if the almond flour is too fine, but I have serious doubts. I would not like jijona turrón with coconut flavor.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks! I'd tend to agree, not sure coconut would be that great an addition as the flavor might take oven, but you could possibly use a little coconut oil if you feel it hasn't got enough oil - the refined coconut oil doesn't have much of a flavor. As I think I mention, and sure you know, starting with almonds is definitely the best option if you can.
Nils
Should the egg white be beaten before being added to the honey mixture?
Caroline's Cooking
You don't have to but I'd recommend you do, yes, as much as anything as it means you are then less likely to get larger chunks of egg white in the end mixture.
Simon
I grew up in the Alicante region of Spain, so this was a staple
And yet, despite living in Australia for 30+ years now, this is the first time I've looked up the recipe!
Thanks for sharing, going to make some soon
Caroline's Cooking
Hopefully it lives up to memories! It certainly takes me back to my time in Spain.
Ellen
Would make a lovely gift.
Caroline's Cooking
Indeed it would!
Cliona Keane
I love these! They are the perfect gift for Christmas. I'm all about homemade gifts this year so they're going on my list of things to make!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, yes it would be great as a gift.
Mary Bostow
I love how easy these are to make! Plus I pretty much always have these ingredients in my pantry. They’ll be great for a quick last minute treat for when I’m wanting something sweet!
Caroline's Cooking
Yes, it's nice and easy and agree, great for a last-minute treat!
Tracy
I've never heard of these! I love the combo of almond and honey flavors. I can't wait to try them!
Caroline's Cooking
Almond and honey really do go so well!
Caitlyn Erhardt
This sounds wonderful! I have never heard of this before, but the flavors sound amazing!
Caroline's Cooking
It's a delicious combination!
linda
This looks fantastic, caroline. I love these Turon de Jijona! Thanks for sharing it at Fiesta Friday! 🙂
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Linda, it's so tasty.
Eileen
Oh, I can't wait to try this recipe. It's right up my alley.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Eileen, I hope you enjoy!
Cindys Recipes and Writings
This looks so soft and chewy!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, it is and tasty too!
sarah
What a delicious addition to the sweet table!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Sarah!
Denise Wright
The flavors in this sound wonderful...almonds, honey, lemon zest....yum! I'm going to have to try this over the holidays just for myself. My dad would have LOVED this.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Denise, it's a delicious mix, hope you enjoy!
Hezzi-D
I love nougat but I don't think I've ever had it homemade. It sounds tasty!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, it's really easy to make and the flavors are so delicious.
Liz
Oh, boy, would I love to receive a bag of this torron for the holidays! What delicious flavors!!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Liz, the flavors are indeed so good!
Kristen Chidsey
The flavors that are added to this nougat are incredible!! And I want that whisk--my papa had one just like it and I love it!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Kristen, the flavors are so good. And that whisk is from my mum, I love it too!
Christie
I'm not a huge fan of nougat, but this one sounds delicious! I bet it tastes nothing like that stuff in candy bars I don't like. I'm just going to have to try it and find out!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Christie, this is really so much better than your typical nougat so do give it a try. Hope you enjoy!