Almond Toffee Cracker Cookies

It doesn't get any easier.  Seriously.  I know you think I'm nuts, but give these a try.  They're super simple and they're really good!

 Here's what they look like finished.  These are really fun to take to pot-lucks because they're a good conversation-starter.  Just be prepared to explain.... and to share the recipe.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Start by laying Club Crackers, or any knock-off brand of butter crackers on a cookie sheet or baking pan.  The original recipe on the Keebler website says to use 30 crackers.  I did a little research and found that this recipe has morphed into many variations.  The biggest variation is the number of crackers people use (and thus the amount of topping per cracker).  I've been using one sleeve- which is 40 crackers (10 broken into 4 pieces each).

Lay them on a non-stick surface, or a greased surface.  In my photo, I have them on a Silpat sheet.  One of my friends has a pan this size and just greases the pan and lines the pan with the crackers.  Just know that your life will be easier if you are working with something non-stick.

Sprinkle sliced almonds over the crackers.  I used a heaping 1/2 cup of almonds, but it's not really important to measure them- just make them look about like the picture.

 In a pot. place one stick of real butter (1/2 cup) and 1/2 cup sugar.  Mine is non-stick.  Cook and stir over a medium-high heat.  When it starts to boil, cook it 2 minutes longer, stirring frequently.  After 2 minutes, stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla and take it off the heat.

 Drizzle the topping over the almonds.  I just used a spoon and did my best to drizzle it as evenly as I could.  Bake in preheated 350 deg oven for 8-10 minutes.  You want them a little brown but be careful not to burn them.

As soon as you take them out of the oven, slide them onto a wire rack.  

As you transfer them to the rack, separate them a bit so they don't stick together.  You could always break them apart, but you might break the crackers.

 Allow to cool and enjoy!

I said there are variations- one that I might try is to put the butter/sugar mixture on the plain crackers and then press the almonds on top rather than the other way around.  

 Bonus:  The little bits of almonds that are left on the baking sheet, or that fall through the rack are YUMMY!  I gather them up and put them in a little candy dish.  They're also good sprinkled on a green salad- like candied walnuts.

Oh.... and there are no calories in these.  (yea-right!)  Well- at least almonds are good for you.