Caramelized Pistachio Clusters

• natural pistachios↗1 cup

  shelled

• sugar↗1 cup
• butter↗2 tablespoons

  cut into bits

• vanilla↗1 teaspoon

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 300°F.

2. 2

   Pour boiling water to cover pistachios and let stand 1 minute and then drain.

3. 3

   Turn nuts onto dish towel and rub off skins.

4. 4

   Dry nuts on a cookie sheet in a 300F oven for 15 minutes.

5. 5

   Cool thoroughly.

6. 6

   In medium saucepan combine nuts, sugar and butter and heat over moderate heat until the sugar begins to melt.

7. 7

   Cook stirring constantly until sugar is light brown caramel color then remove from the heat and stir in vanilla.

8. 8

   Working quickly with 2 teaspoons drop rounded teaspoonful of nut mixture onto buttered cookie sheet or silpat.

9. 9

   Let stand at room temperature until hardened.

10. 10

    Store in airtight container between sheets of waxed paper.