A Guide to French Confectionery: Florentines, Nougat, Caramels and More

Makaw confectionery jars: salted caramels, almond nougat and cocoa dusted chocolate almonds

When people think of French chocolate, they usually think of bonbons and bars. But a large part of the French sweet tradition has nothing to do with moulds or ganache: it is biscuits, nougat, caramels and coated nuts, the kind of confectionery that sits in a jar on the table and gets shared all afternoon.

Makaw makes these classics on the Atlantic coast of France, like all of our chocolates. Here is a short guide to what each one is, how it tastes, and how to give it.

Florentines

A Florentine is a thin, chewy and crunchy biscuit packed with nuts and fruit. Ours are fruit and nut Florentines, individually wrapped, so they keep well and are easy to pass around. They come in three box sizes: Medium (42 pieces), Large (66 pieces) and Maxi (108 pieces). Because each piece is wrapped on its own, the larger boxes are practical for offices, waiting areas and family gatherings.

Open gold MAKAW box of 42 Florentines and caramelsMedium Florentines – 42 PiecesOpen gold MAKAW box of individually wrapped FlorentinesLarge Florentines – 66 PiecesOpen gold MAKAW box of 108 individually wrapped FlorentinesMaxi Florentines – 108 Pieces

Almond nougat

Our nougat is a beloved classic: soft little pillows of nuts and honey, individually wrapped so that it is easy to share. Choose the 300g gift jar, which looks at home on a coffee table, or the 200g pack.

Clear acrylic MAKAW jar filled with almond nougat pieces, tied with a white ribbonAlmond Nougat Jar – 300gSmall clear MAKAW pack of almond nougat on a gold tray, tied with a white ribbonAlmond Nougat Pack – 200g

Salted caramels

Our artisanal salted caramels are made with Atlantic sea salt and French flair. The salt lifts the sweetness, so they taste rich without being cloying. The 450g jar makes a generous gift for a host, and the 250g pack is the simplest way to try them.

Clear acrylic MAKAW jar of salted caramels tied with a black ribbonSalted Caramels Jar – 450gSmall clear MAKAW pack of salted caramels on a gold tray with a black ribbonSalted Caramels Pack – 250g

Cocoa dusted chocolate almonds

These little egg-shaped creations are a true classic, with layers of flavours and textures that are easy to underestimate until you taste them. They come in a 550g jar made for the table and a 250g pack for everyday snacking.

Clear acrylic MAKAW jar filled with cocoa dusted chocolate almonds, tied with a black ribbonCocoa Dusted Chocolate Almonds Jar – 550gSmall clear MAKAW pack of cocoa dusted chocolate almonds on a gold tray with a black ribbonCocoa Dusted Chocolate Almonds Pack – 250g

Golden chocolate shells

A true Makaw signature creation: milk chocolate shells and blonde chocolate shells with slivers of crunchy, chewy salted caramel. The golden colour makes the 450g jar a standout on a shelf, and the 250g pack is a good introduction.

Clear acrylic MAKAW jar of gold foil wrapped chocolate shells, tied with a black ribbonGolden Chocolate Shells Jar – 450gSmall clear MAKAW pack of gold wrapped chocolate shells on a gold tray with a black ribbonGolden Chocolate Shells Pack – 250g

Bringing it all together

If you cannot choose, the Signature Confectionery Jars Gift Set brings together four of our classic jars, 1.75kg of French confectionery in one gift: almond nougat, salted caramels, golden chocolate shells and cocoa dusted almonds. Browse every jar and pack in our confectionery jars collection.

Four clear MAKAW confectionery jars tied together with a black ribbonSignature Confectionery Jars Gift Set – 4 Jars

The Coastal boxes mix traditional confectionery, biscuits, nougat, caramels and fruit and nut Florentines in a single box, in three sizes: Medium (33 pieces), Large (83 pieces) and Maxi (151 pieces).

Open gold MAKAW Medium Coastal box of 33 pieces of biscuits and nougatMedium Coastal – 33 PiecesOpen gold MAKAW Large Coastal box of biscuits, nougat and FlorentinesLarge Coastal – 83 PiecesOpen gold MAKAW Maxi Coastal box of biscuits, nougat and confectioneryMaxi Coastal – 151 Pieces

Confectionery or bonbons?

Bonbons are filled chocolates, made with a shell and a soft filling such as praline or ganache. If you are curious about the difference, read what is the difference between praline and ganache. For a box of bonbons, see our bonbon and biscuit boxes.

Giving and keeping

Jars and packs of confectionery are a practical gift in the UAE heat, because they are easy to reseal and keep. Our guide to storing chocolate in the UAE heat has more tips. We deliver across all seven Emirates with our own delivery team, or you can collect for free from our boutiques at Al Seef Village Mall in Abu Dhabi, and Gate Avenue DIFC and Souk Madinat Badr in Dubai. See our chocolate gift boxes for more ideas.