Enjoying the Best of Gourmet Snacks

Everyone deserves to indulge in gourmet snacks now and then. The best way to ensure your snack times are the finest possible is to maintain a store of upscale treats. Look for snacks like flaky croissants to pop in the oven from your freezer, boxes of artisan cookies, including peppermint or pumpkin spice and fruit and cheese towers made for an elegant movie night or evening with a good book. Share your gourmet treats with a friend or family member or reserve them for afternoons alone when you can savor in peace. When parties are approaching, select a box of goodies to bring as a host gift or prepare a spread for your own guests. A life well lived is one that's full of gourmet snacks.

What Makes Snacks Gourmet?

If you're interested in stocking your pantry with gourmet snacks, start shopping the fine selection available now at Williams Sonoma. With choices ranging from gourmet candy to charcuterie samplers, there's something for everyone.

• Gourmet food is defined by its refined ingredients, exceptional preparation and rich tastes or textures.
• Unexpected flavor combinations that delight the taste buds definitely quality as gourmet. For instance, treat yourself to some caramel sea salt cookies one day soon.
• Rare flavors are another hallmark of gourmet snack food. The specific bite or tang of well-aged cheeses is an example of flavors or textures that you may not encounter every day.
• Elaborate presentation of snacks can help to elevate even the simplest offerings, like nuts, cured meats or shortbread. Try placing your snacks on a gorgeous platter or in a beautiful bowl.

Choosing Sweet or Savory Gourmet Snack Food

When deciding which gourmet snacks to enjoy next, don't feel as though you have to limit yourself. When you select finely made snacks, your appetite is naturally sated by the luxuriant taste and feel of these morsels. Make yourself a cheese board or cookie plate and enjoy.

• For savory tastes, look to European charcuterie and hard or creamy cheeses from various regions, including France, Germany or Holland. Balance your snack board with croissants or a rich fruit jelly or jam.
• If you have a sweet tooth, you may prefer a handful of high-end gummy bears or confectioner's tower of chocolates, wafers and dipped fruits. You might enjoy this with a stack of crackers or a few cookies.

Take the time to savor different flavor profiles and refine your appetite, so you know which gourmet snacks you want next time a craving hits.