As the rest of the city races around finding car spaces at the Mall, I prefer to kick back in the kitchen and make some treats to giveaway.

I know I am often heard saying “it’s easy”, but this really is most likely to be the easiest recipe I’ve posted. Even my allergic-to-the-kitchen husband could knock these treats out. Three ingredients and you are done.

What you’ll need

200g whole almonds (skin on)

70g icing sugar

1½ tsp ground cinnamon

How to make them

Turn the oven to 180°C and line a tray with baking paper.

Place the almonds into a sieve or colander and rinse well with cold water. Shake excess water out and set the sieve aside.

Sieve together the icing sugar and cinnamon into a bowl.

Pour the almonds into icing sugar/cinnamon, then mix with a spoon to ensure the almonds are well coated.

Tip the almonds on to the prepared tray, in a single layer.

Place tray into the oven. After five minutes, give the almonds a mix with a spoon.

Bake for about another five minutes – you can give them another mix and bake another two or three minutes if needed. But do take a look at them to make sure they aren’t burning. Remove from the oven.

Cool and store in an airtight container when completely cold.

I like to package into cello bags as a cute little giveaway. These bags can be bought very inexpensively at local emporiums (Wellington folk, Uncle Bills stocks them – 50 for about $2). I make several batches at once so I have a container load to package up.

While these nuts are morishly addictive, they are not sickly sweet. I’m yet to meet someone who doesn’t like them.