Toasting Nuts for Maximum Flavor in Cream

Gregg Wallace specifically praised Hope's cream: 'The nuts through the cream give it almost a toastiness. I like that very much.' Achieving this toasty quality requires proper nut treatment. Toast hazelnuts at 350°F for 8-10 minutes until golden and fragrant—the aroma should fill your kitchen. Watch carefully in the final minutes, as nuts go from perfect to burnt quickly. Cool completely before chopping; warm nuts will make cream greasy. The secret to even distribution is using two textures: finely chop three-quarters for smooth integration throughout the cream, and coarsely chop the rest for textural bursts that deliver concentrated toasty hits. This dual approach creates the layered nuttiness the judges loved.