I don't know about you, but I absolutely love getting to try all of the different cookies that people make this time of year. It's always fun to see what other people are baking up, and I've found some amazing recipes through cookie exchanges that I've had with family and friends over the years. Classics, like peanut butter, sugar, and chocolate chip, to seasonal favorites of gingerbread and peppermint have always been some great options, but this year I wanted to step away from a basic cookie and do something a little different. I thought it would be fun to toss in some bar cookies into the mix. Shake things up a bit for our cookie box recipients. Caramel is something I can never resist, especially at the holidays, so these Almond Caramel Bar Cookies from Golden Blossom Honey looked like they were going to be such a perfect recipe to try this year.
It has almost a sugar cookie base, then topped with ooey, gooey caramel and slivered almonds, it's a real delight! I've told you guys how Jason has darn near banned all non-healthy snacks from the house, but even he couldn't resist nibbling on a square or two. These Almond Caramel Bars are really easy to whip up and if you decide to use them in some cookie exchange boxes, I am sure you won't receive anything but praise from the recipients.
Ingredients
Dough: 3/4 cup butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon lemon zest
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
Topping:
6 Tablespoons butter
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
1 cup slivered almonds
1 1/2 Tablespoons milk
CLICK HERE FOR FULL RECIPE
You can find this recipe, as well as many more delicious recipes right on the Golden Blossom Honey recipe page! Be sure to follow Golden Blossom Honey on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions.
If you like this recipe, be sure to come back every Friday, where I feature a new recipe from Golden Blossom Honey!
Do you like to participate in cookie exchanges during the holidays? Do you have a tried and true cookie recipe that you use year after year?
I've never done a cookie exchange
ReplyDeleteYou and Daisy should sometime!
DeleteTen boxes for me, thank you very much :) OMG those look breathtaking! I can imagine the taste of roasted almonds and caramel on top, looks so stunning. People usually ask for chocolate pralines from me as a present. Or layered tortes.
ReplyDeleteWhat's that weird white object beside the plates? I don't like it :)
DeleteThey are so yummy Dezzy! I love a good caramel and nut combo.
DeletePralines and Tortes are awesome to give for gifts. I bet yours are super delish.
That's an old school milk container. Probably very American that's why it looks so weird to you lol
Sure they will be a winner. Never heard of doing a cookie exchange though.
ReplyDeleteMaybe cookie exchanges are an American thing. I know a lot of church groups and schools and such like to do them around here. Sometimes neighbors will do them as well.
DeleteWe have a bake sale next week and I signed up to bring something. I'm going to make these!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do Rosey. I guarantee they will be a hit!
DeleteThis would be a great cookie exchange idea for some of my my friends who work outside the home. We could bring them to our family gathering Christmas Day.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a cookie exchange at work. We both work from home, so this cookie recipe is something I would share.
ReplyDeleteMy husband works outside the home. This recipe for cookie sharing would be a hit around the job!
ReplyDeleteThose almond caramel bars look amazing! I love the idea of a cookie exchange, especially when it involves cookies and bars like these!
ReplyDeletesuch a sweet treat, Theresa... Should have tried it! looks yummy..
ReplyDeleteThese do look so good! We're having a cookie decorating party tomorrow at my mom's house.
ReplyDeleteI love cookie bars and that caramel flavor is tempting! These would definitely be great for a cookie swap.
ReplyDeleteThese would be great to take to a cookie exchange! I love almonds, and these bars look so incredible! What a great recipe!
ReplyDeleteI want to be your neighbor! You always share the best recipes and I love your clever use of honey too. :)
ReplyDeleteThese sound amazing. I don't make many cookies because my mom makes about 30 dozen and I wind up with more than enough. Although this year we're baking a few together, I think this should be on our list
ReplyDeleteThose look delicious and so unique! I love finding something unique for our exchanges.
ReplyDeleteThose not only look delicious, but they look pretty too! I would love to try making these sometime! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea, I so want to do this with my friends! And those bars look delicious!
ReplyDeleteThose look really good.
ReplyDeleteI have not tried this fun activity yet, but I will suggest this to my friends and family for the New Year. Your Almond Caramel bars look so mouth watering!
ReplyDeleteThis caramel bar sounds a lot like heaven to me! I think it's really awesome that you shared the recipe, I would love to give it a try since caramel is one of my most fave things in the world!
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely dessert, love that it's also topped with almonds. Thanks for the recipe, I think I can pull it off. It would be nice to have on the table this season!
ReplyDeleteYum yum!! Almonds are one of my fave nuts and these sound amazing!
ReplyDeleteAi @ Sakura Haruka
We have a "treat bar" set up at work today - kind of like an exchange, but more of a fill your plate with what looks good and snack, or bring some home for later. My mother-in-law makes awesome cheese balls, so I asked her to make a couple for me to bring in - I also baked up some chocolate chip and salted caramel cookies. I cheated, though - my daughter had a cookie dough fundraiser for school, so they aren't homemade...they are yummy, though.
ReplyDeleteI think this time of year, it's perfectly fine to have a cheat recipe. Those fundraiser cookies are usually really good, so I bet nobody even noticed they weren't homemade ;)
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