Why it works: Chocolate and peanut are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 6% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 1,279 recipes. Both carry 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine, which smells roasted, nutty. The science ↓
Chinese New Year Chocolate Candy
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Coat the dish in butter.
Make the candy
Melt the butterscotch and chocolate.
Stir in the peanuts and noodles.
Chill
Chill until hardened.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 2 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut | 1 oz (28g) | 161 |
| Chocolate | 1 oz (28g) semisweet | 155 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Chocolate + peanuttop 6% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,279 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine (roasted, nutty).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Semisweet chocolate chips
- Melts into a glossy base that binds the peanuts and noodles together.
- Butterscotch chips
- Adds sweetness and buttery flavor, and helps the candy set firm as it cools.
- Dry-roasted peanuts
- Add crunch and a toasted, nutty flavor to the candy.
- Chow mein noodles
- Add a light, crisp texture that contrasts with the set chocolate.
The step that matters
Chill until hardened. Melted chocolate and butterscotch firm up as their fats cool and crystallize. If the candy is not chilled until fully set, it stays soft and sticky, so it should be cut or broken only once it is firm.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
You might also like
Chocolate Cream171 recipes
Peanut Candy82 recipes
Chocolate Cookies76 recipes
Chocolate Fudge55 recipesThe free Flavor Lab newsletter: one surprising pairing a week and the molecular reason it works, in 60 seconds. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer an account? Create a free account to save pairings and unlock the full chemistry.