Hotel Chocolat - Recipe and Giveaway.

Christmas is just around the corner and I was delighted when Hotel Chocolat approached me and asked if I wanted to do a review of their decadently delicious Christmas collection and also host my first ever giveaway! I adore Hotel Chocolat so without hesitation I accepted.

I have never done an official product review on this blog before but I was keen to do a little more than just talk about how amazing the product is (which in case you are wondering; it is).
As I perused the Hotel Chocolat Christmas Collection I soon clapped eyes on the Milk Chocolate Cinnamon Almonds, as soon as I saw the name of the product I was sold. I could almost taste them on my tongue and I immediately started thinking of recipe ideas incorporating these quintessential Christmas flavours.

When I was little we always got a selection of nuts in their shells at Christmas, it was tradition. Inevitably there was always loads left after Christmas as no one could be bothered fighting with the nutcracker or cracking a tooth when accidentally biting into a bit of shell. These chocolate covered cinnamon roasted nuts would be the perfect update on the tradition for me. (Although they wouldn't last long in my house)...



I have been wanting to try and make biscotti for a while now, ever since seeing Yasmin Limbert's chocolate pistachio variety on the Great British Bake Off. And these little Christmas delights seemed like the perfect addition to make a nice Christmas biscotti.

So as soon as my Hotel Chocolat parcel arrived I headed for the kitchen to bake up a storm. OK, well maybe I sat on the sofa and ate a handful first, you know, quality control and all that!

Chocolate & Cinnamon Almond Biscotti

90G Plain Flour

half a tsp Baking Powder

55g Sugar

60g Hotel Chocolat Almonds roughly chopped.

1 whole Egg

half a tsp almond flavouring

The method I used slightly differs from Yasmin's, my first attempt to make them went horribly wrong, it was all the BBC's fault as they changed her recipe on their website so no matter how hard I tried it just wouldn't form a dough!
Thanks to the Lovely Urvashi on twitter I managed to salvage it and get some pretty delicious results.

I started by roughly chopping the Almonds. (As soon as I started chopping the most amazing smell filled my kitchen)

I then combined the sugar, egg and almond flavouring and whisking using an electric whisk until the mixture was light and well combined.

I then added the flour, baking powder and chopped nuts and formed a sticky looking dough. With well floured hands I then plonked the dough onto a lined baking tray and smooshed it into a long log shape.

I baked at 180 for around 25 minutes, until lightly browned.

(I took mine out after 20 minutes, but it probably could of done with that extra 5 minutes)

I then allowed it to cool completely (this is important as it is much easier to cut when cool) and cut horizontally to make the traditional biscotti shape.

They then baked again for 7 minutes, then were flipped over and baked for another 7 minutes.

It may seem faffy in places but it is honestly incredibly easy and they make fantastic edible homemade Christmas gifts, just pop them in a cellophane bag and tie with a nice Christmassy ribbon!

The Hotel Chocolat Milk Chocolate Cinnamon Almonds really are incredibly versatile, on their own they are like little pieces of pure christmas. The chocolate is of course the usual high quality you'd expect from Hotel Chocolat, The cinnamon isn't too overpowering but a nice subtle hint and the almond has a great roasted flavour and good crunch.
I will definitely be buying these again, they are £10 for 250g and they come in a really nice tin which I am now re-using to keep tea bags in at work!

Now for the part you have all been waiting for: Hotel Chocolat are offering a 250g tin of chocolate cinnamon almonds worth £10 for one very lucky reader.

Here’s how you can enter:
1. Visit the Hotel Chocolat Christmas Page and leave a comment below telling me which product you would like to find under the tree on Christmas Day.

2. For an extra entry Follow Nelly's Cupcakes on Facebook and leave another seperate comment letting me know. (if you already follow me then leave a comment telling me)

3. For an extra cheeky entry Follow Nellyscupcakes on Twitter and you know the score, leave a comment letting me know (include your twitter name).

5. Aaaand, there’s one more…Tweet the following “I have entered @nellyscupcakes’s giveaway to win something delicious from @HotelChocolat http://bit.ly/sABVb5 ” and once again, comment here that you have (including your twitter name)

The very best of luck! The winner will be drawn randomly on Tuesday 29th November.4

Update: Sorry, competition is now closed!