David Gil and Ingrid Serra break the boundaries of traditional nougat, reimagining it through the lens of chocolate, ganaches, giandujas, pralines, and marzipan.

This is XOK—the entire universe of nougats and chocolate bars brought together in one groundbreaking, bilingual book (English–Spanish).
The first monographic work ever dedicated to both classic and modern nougat, XOK maps the full journey from heritage to innovation.

The book opens with a deep look at historical staples—Alicante, Jijona, Montelimar, Guirlache, Mazapán, Yema Quemada—before shifting into a realm defined by creativity, fantasy, and technical mastery.
Nougats become panettone, rosca de reyes, candles, stars, socks; they also transform into pastry icons like Saint Honoré, Black Forest, Lemon Pie, or Cheesecake. Many creations blur into the world of chocolate bars and snacks, offering a versatile collection suitable all year round for chocolatiers, pastry shops, and restaurants.

Behind the playful forms lies serious craft.
XOK delivers 416 pages, 62 original creations, and 260 recipes, supported by the essential foundations of professional pastry: giandujas, marzipans, ganaches, traditional nougats, fruit pastes, toppings, gelatins, inlays, coatings, painting, molds, and more.
Every piece is designed with precision—balanced textures, smart conservation, refined fillings, and techniques that elevate nougat into haute pâtisserie.

CHAPTERS OF XOK:

1. What is a turrón? And a chocolate bar?

2. Deﬁnitions and classiﬁcation

3. Classiﬁcation of turrones

4. Main Ingredients of turrones

5. Toppings

6. Basic techniques

7. Traditional, Marzipan, Ganache, Giandujas, Tarts, Desserts, Icons and Collaborations

XOK is not only a technical manual but also a source of imagination—a complete treatise on nougat, a guide to mastering its theory and techniques, and a vibrant gallery of ideas, surprises, and inspiration.

A book to learn from.

A book to create from.

A book to dream with.

Data Sheet:
Language: English & Spanish (bilingual)
Authors: David Gil, Ingrid Serra
Published in 2024
Hardcover format, 416 pages
Weight: 2.8 kg

XOK by David Gil and Ingrid Serra - The Universe of Nougats and Chocolate Bars [English & Spanish]