Plate of Almond Butter Crunch
This is what happens when you read too many seasonal magazines and blogs. You end up succumbing to the “I must bake during the holidays” syndrome. My work team is doing its annual gift swap on Friday. So, I asked a few folks to contribute something sweet to the gathering. Of course, I had to chip in and make something as well, as the resident baker in the group. I’m not sure why it occurred to me to dig out the recipe card for Almond Butter Crunch (or Almond Toffee, as I like to call it now) to attempt to recreate it. I have vivid memories of my mother whipping up batches of this candy when I was in my teen years, but I haven’t even thought about it since then.
She had a phase during the early 1980s where she bought Almond Roca, which seemed so elegant at the time, as we didn’t generally have store-bought candy at home. Then, for some reason, she decided to try to make it herself, or at least a version thereof. I remember watching her put it together. From my fuzzy memory, it seemed simple enough that I could try it myself. Armed with a candy thermometer, wooden spoon, and all the ingredients, I set about to do just that.
Recipe card copied from my mother’s files
In trying to make this on my own for the first time, I discovered a few key points. One is that the baking sheet on which the molten mixture is poured must be greased liberally to keep the candy from sticking. I also decided not to use waxed paper or parchment paper on the tray for the initial candy-cooling phase. After re-reading my mother’s recipe card, I worked out, as well, that the Cadbury chocolate she used was probably too sweet for my tastes. Like many of the recipes that I’ve posted here, I tweaked this one, and I’ll probably fiddle with it some more before I think I have it exactly right. Still, I have a feeling that this candy will be well-received when everyone opens their presents on Friday.
The Candymaking Steps:
Here’s what the butter, sugar, syrup, and water look like mixed together
Everything starts to get foamy
After a few minutest, it gets more foamy and the color starts to darken
Ready to add the almonds and pour on the tray to harden
Work quickly to spread the mixture on the tray while hot then let it cool down
Once the candy is cool, spread melted chocolate on both sides and sprinkle with chopped, toasted almonds
Oh, and don’t forget to have a “test piece,” just to make sure it’s o.k. to share with others
Almond Butter Crunch aka Almond Toffee
Prep time: allow 1.5 to 2 hours total with cooling and setting time
Serving Size: One standard cookie sheet worth which can be broken up into gift portions (depending upon how much of it you eat first)
Ingredients:
1 c. (2 sticks) Butter (I used Salted for contrast to the sweetness of the other ingredients)
1-1/3 c. Sugar (white or cane)
1 Tbsp. Light Corn Syrup or thick Simple Syrup
3 Tbsp. Water
1 c. toasted slivered, blanched Almonds
4-3 1/2 oz. Chocolate Bars (I used a ratio of 1:1 milk chocolate to semi-sweet sweet chocolate)
1 c. chopped toasted Almonds with skins
Assembly:
Prepare a baking sheet (you can also use a 13″x9″x2″ inch pan) by greasing it liberally with butter. Have the first five ingredients measured out and close at hand, along with a candy thermometer. Clear the children out of the kitchen.
In large saucepan, melt butter. Add sugar, corn syrup or simple syrup, and water. Cook on low heat. Stir once or twice to make sure the sugar is all melted and then leave it alone to let time and heat do its work. Bring up to a boil and watch carefully as it changes color. Do not walk away from the stove, as the candy will go from golden brown to burnt in a matter of mere minutes.When the mixture reaches the Hard Crack stage, about 300-310 degrees Fahrenheit, turn off the heat and add the slivered almonds. Stir once or twice to mix the almonds into the candy.
As fast as you can, pour entire mixture onto buttered baking sheet and quickly shake/tilt the tray to distribute candy evenly. This step must be done in a matter of seconds before the mixture starts to solidify. Let the candy cool until hardened.
Remove candy from baking sheet and place on waxed or parchment paper. Melt chocolate in double-boiler. Spread one side of the candy with half of the chocolate and sprinkle half of the almonds on it. Allow to cool on countertop or in refrigerator. Flip over the candy onto waxed or parchment paper and spread the rest of the chocolate on the second side. Sprinkle with the rest of the chopped almonds. Allow to cool; again, you can place it in the refrigerator to speed up the process. Once the chocolate is firm, break up the candy into pieces for serving or devouring.
Buon appetito!
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