Gifts from the Kitchen

bon appétit magazine
Diane Fields
Diane Fields

Bon Appetit

Good guests bring great gifts. Whip up a batch of these delicious homemade treats before you head out the door.

1.Almond Bark with Sea Salt
We like the rich flavor and look of Marcona almonds in this bark, but roasted almonds work nicely, too.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • 1 1/2 cups roasted Marcona almonds (not in oil)

  • 1 pound good-quality dark chocolate (62%-70% cacao), finely chopped

  • Coarse sea salt (for sprinkling)


Related: Bon Appetit's 25 Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipes

Preparation

  • Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or foil. Combine sugar with 2 Tbsp. water in a small saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil and cook, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with a wet pastry brush, until caramel is dark amber, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Immediately add butter; whisk until melted. Add almonds; stir until well coated. Transfer to baking sheet, spreading out to separate nuts. Let cool. Break up any large clumps of nuts. Set aside 1/4 of nuts.

  • Stir chocolate in a medium bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until melted. Remove from heat, add nuts from baking sheet, and stir quickly to combine. Spread chocolate-nut mixture on same baking sheet, keeping nuts in a single layer. Top with the reserved nuts; sprinkle with salt. Chill until chocolate is set, about 3 hours.

  • Break bark into pieces and store between layers of parchment or waxed paper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Keep chilled.

Diane Fields
Diane Fields



2. Walnut-Thyme Honey
Drizzle this fragrant honey over your favorite cheese, or use it as a condiment on prosciutto panini.











See Also:20 More Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen


Diane Fields
Diane Fields

3. Boozy Olives
The recipe for this cocktail-hour snack was inspired by one from contributing editors Melissa Hamilton and Christopher Hirsheimer.






Diane Fields
Diane Fields

4. Cranberry and Orange Granola
Candied orange peel is the star of this granola.













Molly Wizenberg
Molly Wizenberg

5. Uncle Bill's Brown Candy
Cooking Life columnist Molly Wizenberg shares her holiday baking ritual: the old-timey Aunt Bill's Brown Candy, a cross between praline and fudge from her homestate of Oklahoma. This soft, nutty, and somewhat crumbly southern delight is the ideal holiday treat.




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Dinner Party Desserts Sure to Impress