Brittle butter

Hilliard's Butter Crunch

If you're looking to butter someone up, get yourself some Hilliard's Butter Crunch. Highly addictive, with a layer of ground almond and chocolate covering crunchy almond toffee, this confection is made at Hilliard's Candy, on Martha's Vineyard, the oldest candy shop of the Cape and Islands. Just to look over the shop's display cases of mouth-watering homemade chocolates and assorted sweets is to be convinced. Lucky for us, the butter crunch is also available by mail order ($12 per pound, shipping extra; call 508-693-2191). Also ask about owner Dave Hilliard's butterscotch lollipops, at 35 cents each or three for a dollar.

-- Nancy Kalajian