what is nougat made of

Nougat is a confectionery made with sugar or honey, whipped egg whites, and roasted nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, and macadamia nuts. It can also contain chopped candied fruit and chocolate. The consistency of nougat can range from soft and chewy to hard and crunchy depending on its composition. The sugar syrup or sugar and honey syrup is cooked to high temperatures, sometimes with the addition of corn syrup to prevent the sugar from crystallizing. The syrup is then whipped with egg whites to aerate it. Flavorings from vanilla to rose water to cocoa can be added. The sweetness of nougat is often balanced with flavorings like almond extract and rose water. There are three basic kinds of nougat: white nougat, brown nougat, and Viennese or German nougat. White nougat is made with beaten egg whites and honey, while brown nougat is made without egg whites and has a firmer, often crunchy texture. Viennese or German nougat is essentially a chocolate and nut (usually hazelnut) praline.