I call this Christmas Candy Crack and when you take one bite you’ll know exactly what I mean. It’s addictive!! The crunch of the butter and sugar, the smooth chocolate and sprinkle of nuts will send you into candy heaven in a heartbeat!

This simple, time-tested and beloved recipe will bring squeals of delight from every happy recipient, I guarantee it!  I’ve been making this for 25 years and it is my most requested goodie at Christmas time. If you make it, please leave a comment and let me know how it comes out.

I found the recipe 25 years ago in a tattered old copy of Yankee Magazine. Let me tell you, those Yankees know what they’re doing when it comes to making candy. And forget about sugarplums, you’ll have visions of Chocolate Almond Butter Crunch dancing in your head!

Chocolate Almond Butter Crunch is like a Heath Bar or an Almond Roca only, you made it yourself and you can use really good chocolate which takes it from incredible to fabulous!

Add the sugar to the melted butter.

Add the chopped almonds to the butter and sugar.

Chocolate Almond Butter Crunch all dark and beautiful and  ready to pour into the pan.

Chocolate Almond Butter Crunch poured into the pan.  Tilt the pan to help it spread.

Scatter the chocolate chips all over the butter crunch. They will melt and then you’ll spread them all over.

See how the chocolate melted? It’s even better now that you’ve sprinkled the chopped pecans onto it.

There you go.  You are a star and a candy making ninja!

Chocolate Almond Butter Crunch

• 1 1/2 cups butter (do NOT substitute margarine, it won’t turn out)
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup chopped almonds
• 1 1/2 cups good quality Semi Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips (I use Guittard chips for this and buy them in the 4-pack from Amazon. They are out of this world!)
• 1/2 cup finely ground pecans or walnuts

If you are new to candy making here are a few tips:

1. A good Candy Thermometer is a must-have. This is the one I use for candy and jam making.
2. The ingredients will be VERY hot.  Keep small children out of the kitchen.
3. Work quickly as this will begin to harden pretty soon after you pour it.

Here’s how you do it.

1. Melt the butter over very low heat in a heavy saucepan.  Do not let it boil.
2. Add the sugar.  Now bring it to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the candy thermometer registers 260 F.
3. Add chopped almonds and continue to cook, stirring constantly.  Mixture will be very thick and the candy will become a dark caramel color.
4. When the thermometer reaches 295 F, pour the candy into your lightly greased jelly roll pan or rimmed baking sheet. Work quickly. Spread the candy thin with the back of a wooden spoon. The candy should just about fill the pan.  You can also tilt the pan to let gravity spread the candy.  The pan will be HOT so wear oven mitts.
5. Spread the chocolate chips evenly on top of the candy.  Wait a couple of minutes and let them melt.  Spread chocolate evenly across the surface of the candy.  I use a small  off-set Spatula to do this.
6. Sprinkle candy with the finely ground pecans or walnuts while the chocolate is still melted.
7. Allow to harden for several hours.  I put mine in the fridge, uncovered, for about an hour.
8. Break into pieces.
9. Prepare to go into chocolate overload!

Kate’s Tips

• Once you add the sugar and nuts, it will boil pretty vigorously. Keep stirring.
• You don’t want it to burn. Sugar can go from cooked to ruined very quickly so keep a close eye on your thermometer.
• I store this in the refrigerator once it’s made. You don’t have to but I have to hide it from my husband  because he goes crazy over Chocolate Almond Butter Crunch! I break it up into lovely little pieces and keep it in a tupperware. Then it’s ready to be put in cute little boxes for gifts.
• The recipe can easily double. Use a bigger pot to cook it in and use 2 1/2 cups of butter and 2 jelly roll pans.
• If there is melted butter that didn’t incorporate, and there may well be, just soak it up with a paper towel.
• Don’t eat it all yourself although you’ll be tempted to but in the spirit of the season, share with the ones you love!
• This has always been my go-to neighbor or hostess gift during the holidays 🙂
• When the pot you used to cook this in has cooled, just put hot water in to melt any hardened candy. It will melt right off and you can clean your pot.

 

Merry Christmas from me to you!

xoxo