These cookies are a perfect gift for your sweetheart. The cranberries and dark chocolate combine to create a deliciously rich cookie.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup honey
• 3/4 cup castor sugar (extra fine sugar)
• 2 Tbs butter
• 2 cups almonds, slivered
• 1 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
• 1 cup candied orange peel, chopped
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp white pepper
• 1 pound dark chocolate (use real chocolate), chopped or chips
• oil
• silicone cookie pad or parchment paper

Directions

1. Combine the honey, sugar, and butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil.
2. Cook until the honey-sugar mixture until the temperature reaches 238° F. (the soft-ball stage) on a candy thermometer.
3. While the honey-sugar mixture is cooking combine the almonds, cranberries, orange peel, flour, cloves, and nutmeg in a large bowl.
4. Pour the honey-sugar mixture over the nuts and cranberries, stirring to mix thoroughly.
5. Coat your hands with oil before handing the cookie batter (this prevents the batter from sticking to your hands).
6. When it is cool enough to handle, form the cookie mixture into 1" balls.
7. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with a silicone cookie pad or parchment paper.
8. Flatten the cookies with the palm of your hand.
9. Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes or until they bubble on top.
10. Transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool.
11. Melt the dark chocolate in the top of a double boiler or in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water.
12. Stir the chocolate until smooth.
13. Dip the back of each cooled cookie in the chocolate.
14. Place the cookies, chocolate side up to cool until the chocolate is hardened.
15. Store the cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container.

Note: Here is a great description of the soft ball stage of candy making. The Science of Cooking site has an excellent online video that shows the soft ball stage in candy making.