When Enstrom Candies contacted me and asked if they could send me a free 1-pound sample of their chocolate almond toffee it took me all of a millisecond to hit the reply button and say “Yes!” . . . I mean, who says no to free chocolate almond toffee?
I was also curious because chocolate almond toffee is one of my holiday favorites and I was interested to see how Enstrom’s would measure up. They had a high standard to meet, as I believe that my mom makes the best chocolate almond toffee in the universe. She used to make it by the ton every Christmas and we would then break it up into pieces and fill pretty cellophane bags with it, tie them up with a bow, and deliver them to friends and neighbors. I’m not sure how many times my brothers and I were caught sneaking a piece for ourselves, but I’m sure it was many. My mom’s chocolate almond toffee did not last long in our house.
So what did I think? The toffee arrived in a simple yet elegant high quality box, so first impressions were good. When I opened the packaging my nose was met with that festive aroma of buttery nutty chocolaty deliciousness. When I broke off a piece and it had a nice snap. So far so good! The real test was when I put the first piece in my mouth. The toffee was perfectly sweet, yet not over the top. The flavor was rich and the texture was nice and smooth, not grainy like some toffee can be. There were plenty of almonds, but not too many, and the chocolate melted nicely on my tongue. All in all, this toffee was just as good as my mom’s, and I was definitely prepared to say otherwise. It was absolutely addictingly delicious. The kind of delicious where you eat a piece and then think, “Oh, just one more little piece” until before you know it you are down to the last crumb and can’t figure out where it all went.
Enstrom’s was started almost 50 years ago by Chet Enstrom and his wife and has been passed down from generation to generation. They still use the same recipe for their toffee that started the business. When I read up on Enstrom’s story, I noticed that they had several recipes that used their toffee as an ingredient. Because I am a foodie in every sense of the word, I was intrigued and proceeded to use every ounce of self-control left in my body to set aside enough toffee to try out their recipe for Almond Toffee Cookies.
The cookies were good, but I felt that they weren’t worth using up any of that incredible toffee. If I made these cookies again, I would just use some store-bought toffee because every morsel of this toffee should be savoured! If you’d like to try making the cookies you can find the recipe (as well as other recipes, such as one for Toffee Pie, mmmmm….) here.
I was so impressed with the toffee that I asked Enstrom’s if they would be willing to let one of you try some too and they kindly agreed. So, if you’d like to win your own 1-pound box of chocolate almond toffee all you have to do is leave me a comment on this post telling me what your favorite holiday treat is and why. Comments will be open until Thursday, November 13, 2008, 10:00 PM PST. This contest is only open to those with a US address (but I still love my international readers!) as Enstrom’s is not currently shipping samples overseas (but they will fill international orders). The winner will be selected by random draw and will be announced here (and by email) on Friday, November 14, 2008. Good luck!
Comments are now closed for the giveaway! Check back tomorrow to find out who the winner is!
{ 121 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
Next Comments →
Those look yummy! If I don’t win, I will be ordering some. :)
I have so many loves of holiday treats, but my favorite is my dad’s shortbread. It makes rare appearances, but is SO worth the wait.
My mom makes holiday rossettes drizzed with chocolate — oh so yummy! Love toffee so fingers crossed!
tvollowitz at aol dot com
one of my favorite holiday treats is white chocolate peppermint bark but i have to say that i love anything chocolate! i would love to win this!!
jayme[dot]bouwens@yahoo[dot]com
My favorite treat is Yule log and cream – its a British dish but I make it well!!!!
i loved the choc site and teh fact that they have sugar free versions.
We love panettone and coffee as breakfat treats all through the holidays!!!
rhubbert(at)socal.rr.com
ahh why did I look at this…the pregnancy cravings are coming!!! I love homemade carmel corn at Christmas!! It’s soo yummy with hot chocolate and cider!!
Tasia
idofaces56@aol.com
My favorite holiday treat is cut out cookies. I loved making them with my mom as a kid and love to make them with my own kids now.
How yummy!!! My favorite holiday treat is simple, my mom’s green Christmas Tree shaped spritz cookies. I just love them!
My favorite holiday treats are chocolate chip pumpkin cookies in the fall and rich hot chocolate in the winter!! They are one of my favorite things abt the holidays-thanks! gomeggo[at]gmail[dot]com
My favorite holiday treat is peppermint bark. It’s so yummy and it looks impressive, even though it’s so easy to make.
My favorite holiday treat is cut out cookies! So simple and yummy!
I love gingersnaps. I only eat them during late fall and early winter, so they are wrapped up, for me, with memories of sledding and drinking hot chocolate and sitting by the fire.
urchiken at gmail dot com
Oh my goodness…my mouth is watering just thinking of this toffee! My favorite holiday treat is pecan tarts. It’s like a little bite of pie.
Mmmmmm. . . the toffee sounds excellent! My holiday favorite is the chocolate-covered-cherry cookies my mom makes every year. Yum!
Gingerbread cookies and hot wassil. Why? No idea but ginger and spiced cider have always been two of my favorite things.
My favourite holiday treat is the cherry pie that my mother taught me to make. It’s so delicious… the secret, as she always says, is in the crust…
thatidiotivan(at)gmail.com
Its not the traditional treat but my FIL makes the BEST stuffing.
hetz-junk(at)hotmail(dot)com
I love homemade pumpkin pie! I made my 1st this year.
My favorite holiday treats are white “chocolate” covered pretzels, even though they’re total crap. Probably because they’re total crap. :) (and easy to make with the kids)
I love Egg Nog. The one in the can, not the one in the carton. They couldn’t be more different. It’s somethin I look forward to all year.
I love fudge!
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite holiday treat is peppermint bark, although peanut butter balls run a close second…
khahn22@yahoo.com
Fudge Fudge Fudge! Lol :)
My favorite holiday treat is peppermint bark! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Every year my Aunt makes a Pecan Pie Cheesecake.It is just as delicious as it sounds and disappears IMMEDIATELY!
katiekarr at gmail dot com
My favorite holiday sweet treat are the Peppermint lollipops that Tootsie Pop makes that only comes out during the holiday. They are pepermint lollipops but they have the chocolate inside like their regular lollipops so when you are eating them they start out as peppermint but then turn into a chocoloate mint flavor. THEY ARE SO GOOD!! I try and buy two bags so I have plenty to last me past the holiday.
Thank you for a very yummy giveaway!
HunnyV “at” Optonline “dot” net
Fudge. I can’t wait until our annual cookie making party so I can make plates and plates of fudge!
littlebittypenguin[at]gmail[dot]com
I love gingerbread…I love the smell and the warmth and comfort it brings!
jasonncaryn at yahoo dot com
I love the homeade buckeye candy. Thank you for the chance.brewerchickey78@yahoo.com
Greetings! What a scrumptious giveaway prize. It would be nice to have it to serve during the holidays.
I love pecan pie that our family only has for Thanksgiving/Christmas!
Please enter me in your drawing. Many thanks…..Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
yummy, I too LOVE toffee and most every other holiday treat that’s out there!
shinelikestars77(at)mac(dot)com
Yum! My family is full of candy makers. My favorite treat to make is peanut brittle. My favorite to eat is my mom’s fudge or my cousin’s chocolate covered cherries. Still trying to get that recipe! Chocolate covered sponge candy is very tasty as well, but a pain to make. I’m getting hungry…maybe a bit homesick. Thanks for hosting!
I make that old saltine cracker toffee every year, and fudge. Peanut butter and chocolate fudge. I also make a pumpkin bread and a cheesecake traditionally.
One of my favourite holiday treats is Nanaimo Bars, especially the chocolate almond nanaimo bars that I make.
michelle at northofthe49 dot com
I love pumpkin pie and gingerbread!
I enjoy peanut butter blossom cookies, and andes mint surprise cookies :)
mjf926 at gmail dot com
Favorite holiday treat? That probably changes every few years, but I have always adored dark chocolate coconuts bon-bons. My mother and I both love them. We even like a cheap old Mounds bar. In fact, when I was a kid growing up Mounds was just about the only cheap dark chocolate candy bar there was. I remember when Hershey’s Special Dark came out, but that is just plain chocolate with nothing in it. I like a little something in my chocolate. Almonds and dark chocolate is a fine combo. My husband will adore your giveaway as he is a toffee nut. His b/d is in Dec, so if I win, he will be the benefactor – wink.
Thanks for having the giveaway!
My favorite holiday treat has got to be homemade pumkin pie with homemade whipped cream!
penguinchick@comcast.net
A few of my favorite Christmas treats are: hot chocolate, sugar cookies, cherry-a-let candy and of course toffee. Yum, hope to win!
I make these great peanut butter carmel chocolate cookies :) Thank you for the chance to win such a yummy prize! My hubby would love these!
I love my mom’s cream cheese cookies! YUM!
=) melanie
http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com
I LOVE LOVE LOVE CHOCOLATE ALMOND TOFFEE!!!! what a great giveaway! My favorite holiday treat is my best friends chocolate peanut butter balls.
gratefulsoul@hotmail.com
MMMM! Looks so yummy! My favorite holiday treat would be cheesecake-pumpkin pie!
Hmm, this is a hard question! I think my fave holiday treat is peppermint bark. It can be from anywhere, but it is something I never buy for myself, and am so happy if I get it for a gift.
hematopoiesis at hotmail dot com
I love good old fashioned apple pie. I look forward to it during every holiday. In addition to it tasting great, it reminds me of the trips I used to take to the small mom and pop bakery with my mom to get apple pie for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
favorite holiday treat? all of it! and how available it all is!
Frangos….they have been a favorite holiday tradition in our family since I was a young girl. They started out with Frederick and Nelson (long before The Bon and then Macys took them over)
DH and I are from Ohio and even though we haven’t lived there in many years, I still make buckeyes (peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate…ohhhhhhh) every Christmas. Yummy!
My favorite holiday treat is my mom’s sticky buns. I love them because they both taste good and bring back good memories of Christmas mornings when I was a kid.
khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com
I would love to try the toffee. My favorite Christmas treat is Corn flake wreaths and of course,decorated sugar cookies and chocolate fudge. Thanks for hosting..
emeraldrose63@yahoo.com
← Previous Comments
Next Comments →