Gianduia Candy Cups

This classic Italian combination of chocolate and hazelnuts has appeared in various forms in various places. Totally worth the effort. Requires 32 1-inch-diameter foil candy cups

• Ready In: 1 hr 25 mins
• Yields: 32 candies

Ingredients

• 4  ounces  good-quality  milk chocolate, chopped (try Scharffen Berger, Lindt, Ghirardelli)
• 1  cup  nutella (chocolate-hazelnut spread)
• 6  tablespoons hazelnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
• 18  ounces bittersweet chocolate or 18  ounces  semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 32  whole hazelnuts, blanched,husked and then toasted

Directions

1. Stir milk chocolate in medium metal bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water until melted and smooth.
2. The key to this step is that you do not allow the bottom of the metal bowl to touch water.
3. Remove bowl from the heated water bath and place on the counter on a towel.
4. Whisk in Nutella and chopped hazelnuts.
5. Stir bittersweet chocolate in another medium metal bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water until chocolate melts.
6. Remove bowl from the heated water bath and place on the counter on a towel.
7. Using 1-inch-wide pastry brush, coat insides of foil candy cups with just enough chocolate to cover (it's just like painting!).
8. Rewarm chocolate as necessary to maintain approximately 110 degree F temperature, which is optimal for this step.
9. Place cups on baking sheet.
10. Chill until chocolate is firm, about 15 minutes.
11. Spoon enough hazelnut mixture into center of each chocolate cup to fill to within 1/8 inch of top (about 1 heaping teaspoonful in each cup).
12. Refrigerate until filling sets, about 15 minutes.
13. Rewarm remaining melted bittersweet chocolate in bowl set over barely simmering water to 110°F.
14. Spoon enough chocolate over filling to cover and to fill cups completely.
15. Immediately top each cup with a whole hazelnut.
16. Refrigerate cups until firm, about 20 minutes.
17. (Can be made 2 weeks ahead; refrigerate in single layer in airtight container.) Let stand 15 minutes at room temperature before serving.