Montélimar Nougat with Freeze dried Sour Cherries and Dragon Fruit

#freezedriedinspiration

Montélimar nougat is a classic confectionery product with a soft texture, delicate sweetness, and premium appearance. In this recipe, freeze-dried sour cherries and dragon fruit powder bring a modern fruity twist, vibrant colour, and attractive visual contrast.

Freeze-dried sour cherries add a pleasant tangy note that balances the sweetness, while dragon fruit powder creates a natural pink colour. Thanks to their low moisture content, freeze-dried fruitsare ideal for confectionery applications where flavour, colour, and texture stability are important.

Ingredients

420 g granulated sugar
290 g honey
125 g water
120 g cocoa butter, melted
85 g chicory syrup
60 g egg whites

150 g freeze-dried sour cherry slices
40 g freeze-dried sour cherry pieces
30 g freeze-dried dragon fruit powder

1 tbsp icing sugar
1 tbsp cornflour

Instructions

1. Line a baking tin or frame with baking paper and dust lightly with a mixture of cornflour and icing sugar to prevent the nougat from sticking.

2. In a saucepan, combine the water, 400 g of the granulated sugar, and the chicory syrup. Stir over low heat until the sugar has fully dissolved. Insert a thermometer and cook the syrup to 142–145 °C.

3. In a separate saucepan, heat the honey to 118–120 °C.

4. Begin whisking the egg whites, gradually adding the remaining 20 g of granulated sugar.

5. With the mixer running, slowly pour the hot honey into the whipped egg whites.

6. Then add the hot sugar syrup in a thin, steady stream. Continue whisking until the mixture becomes very thick, glossy, and elastic, about 4–6 minutes.

7. Gently mix in the melted cocoa butter, ideally at 40–45 °C.

8. On low speed, fold in the freeze-dried dragon fruit powder and the freeze-dried sour cherry pieces.

9. Quickly spread the mixture into the prepared tin to a thickness of 2–3 cm.

10. Leave to set in the refrigerator for 12 hours.

11. Cut into cubes or bars using a knife lightly dusted with cornflour.

Freeze-dried sour cherries work especially well in nougat because they add real fruit flavour, visible fruit inclusions, and a premium look without adding unnecessary moisture.

For food manufacturers, confectionery brands, bakeries, and premium snack producers, freeze-dried fruit is a reliable way to develop products with strong visual impact, natural flavour, and consistent quality.

Discover our freeze-dried fruit portfolio and bring more colour, flavour, and fruit character into your next product development.

Bon appétit!