Chocolate-Covered Almonds
Whether you’re looking for a delightful snack, a homemade gift, or a creative way to elevate your desserts, these chocolate-covered almonds are the way to go. Not only are they inherently yummy (almonds AND chocolate!), but they are so easy to make and customize.
With their rich, velvety chocolate coating and the satisfying crunch of roasted almonds, these treats strike the perfect balance between sweet and nutty. In this guide, we’ll not only walk you through the basic steps of creating these addictive goodies but also explore a few tantalizing variations to suit your taste buds.
So, let’s roll up our sleeves and embark on a chocolaty adventure that’s not only easy on the palate but also on your wallet because finding inventive ways to save money is always a sweet bonus!
Table of Contents
There are SO MANY REASONS to Make Chocolate-Covered Almonds!
- CHOCOLATE COVERED ALMONDS! While I really minimize my sugar intake, sometimes you just need a sweet sumpin-sumpin after dinner. I was in the habit of buying dark chocolate-covered almonds or walnuts from the bulk section of Fresh Market, conveniently located right by the checkout. But that little habit is a real budget-buster, which is why I decided to make my own. Grab a handful whenever you’re in the mood for a slightly sweet, but still somewhat healthy treat.
- Trail Mix: Mix chocolate-covered almonds with other nuts, dried fruits, and perhaps some pretzels or popcorn to create your own custom trail mix. It’s a great energy-boosting snack for outdoor adventures.
- Yogurt Parfait: Add chopped chocolate-covered almonds to your yogurt parfait. They’ll provide a delightful crunch and a sweet contrast to the yogurt’s creaminess.
- Ice Cream Topping: Sprinkle chopped chocolate-covered almonds over your favorite ice cream. They add a wonderful texture and flavor to each spoonful.
- Dessert Platters: Create a dessert platter with an assortment of chocolates, cheeses, and fruits. Chocolate-covered almonds make an elegant addition to such spreads.
- Gifts: Package them in a decorative container or mason jar, tie a ribbon around it, and you’ve got yourself a thoughtful homemade gift. People always appreciate receiving delicious treats.
- Cocktail Party Snacks: Serve chocolate-covered almonds alongside other snacks at your next cocktail party. They pair well with a variety of beverages.
- Homemade Granola: Add chopped chocolate-covered almonds to your homemade granola mix for a sweet and crunchy element.
A Warning About Tree Nuts
Almonds are a tree nut. Before you give any tree nut gift, ensure that the recipient does not have a tree nut allergy.
What You Need to Make These Chocolate-Covered Almonds
Very few ingredients or materials are needed to make this treat!
Almonds: The star of the show! Almonds provide a rich, nutty flavor and a satisfying crunch to these treats. You can use raw or roasted almonds, depending on your preference. Roasted almonds add an extra layer of flavor with their toasty notes.
Chocolate: The chocolate coating is what transforms simple almonds into a delightful treat. You have options here:
Chocolate Melting Wafers: These specialized chocolate discs are designed for melting and coating. They have a glossy finish when set. They come in various types, including dark, milk, and white chocolate melting wafers.
Chocolate Bars: You can also use chocolate bars broken into small pieces. High-quality chocolate bars can give your almonds a rich and luxurious taste.
Dark chocolate bars generally have the highest cocoa content among the three types, often ranging from 50% to 90% cocoa solids, depending on the level of bitterness desired. Milk chocolate bars have less cocoa content, usually around 30% to 40%, and are sweeter. White chocolate bars contain cocoa butter but no cocoa solids.
Chocolate chips are not the best option for dipping. They have a stabilizer in them to prevent melting and are more prone to becoming cloudy when melted. If they are the only chocolate you have access to, add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil or vegetable shortening per 6 ounces of chocolate. This will give the chocolate a sheen and will help it set.
Parchment Paper or Silpat to lay your almonds on while they dry.
A Tool to Remove the Almonds from the Chocolate: I used small ice tongs, but that was before I purchased this Wilton Candy Dipping Tool Set. I used the wide-spaced three-pronged fork to make these Chocolate-Covered Oreos, but I think the cradling spoon might work for candy-covered almonds. A regular fork will work as well, but you will need to really let the excess chocolate drip off to avoid chocolate puddling on the bottom of your almonds when they dry.
Variations
Spiced Chocolate-Covered Almonds: Add a pinch of your favorite spices like cinnamon, cayenne pepper, or nutmeg to the melted chocolate for a spicy kick. Or, dust the still wet chocolate-covered almonds with your chosen spice.
Coconut Almonds: Roll the chocolate-covered almonds in shredded coconut flakes after dipping them in chocolate for a hint of Almond Joy!
Espresso Chocolate Almonds: Mix finely ground espresso or instant coffee into the melted chocolate for a coffee-infused flavor. Alternately, dust the chocolate-covered almonds before they dry with espresso powder.
Tropical Paradise: Before the chocolate hardens, press a small piece of dried pineapple or mango onto each chocolate-covered almond for a taste of the tropics.
Almond Clusters: Instead of coating individual almonds, cluster them together with chocolate, creating bite-sized clusters.
White Chocolate Drizzle: After covering the almonds in dark or milk chocolate, drizzle white chocolate over the top for an elegant and contrasting look.
Salted Caramel Almonds: Add a sprinkle of sea salt over the melted chocolate to create a sweet and salty flavor combination.
Nutty Mix: Combine chocolate-covered almonds with other chocolate-covered nuts like cashews, peanuts, or pecans for a mixed nut treat.
Almond Bark: Instead of dipping each almond individually, spread them out on a baking sheet and pour melted chocolate over them. Let it harden, then break it into almond bark pieces.
It is So Easy to Make Chocolate-Covered Almonds!
Follow this step-by-step recipe for easy, peasy chocolate-covered almonds.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.- Break the chocolate into small, similarly sized pieces.
- Microwave chocolate in 30-second bursts, stirring between each burst.
- Add almonds to chocolate.
- Stir to coat all the almonds with chocolate.
- Remove almonds, shaking to remove excess chocolate, and place on parchment paper. Refrigerate to set.
More Food Gift Ideas
These chocolate-covered almonds will be a welcome gift any time, especially during the holidays. Tie up a bag of these treats with a pretty ribbon and you’ll have a perfect hostess gift.
Here are some other Food Gift Ideas to inspire you.
Chocolate Covered Almonds
Ingredients
- 6 ounces of chocolate milk or dark chocolate
- 9 ounces of Dry-Roasted Almonds
Instructions
- Lay a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet.
- Break the chocolate into small, relatively uniform-sized pieces and place them in a microwaveable bowl.
- Microwave in 20-30 second increments, stirring after each heating. It will typically take 2-3 increments to melt most of the chocolate. Don't over-microwave…you are better off removing it while there are still small bits of whole chocolate and stirring the remaining bits
- Add the almonds to the chocolate.
- Using small tongs, a fork, or candy dipper tools, remove single almonds or clusters of almonds and lay them on parchment paper.
- When the sheet is full or all the almonds have been dipped, place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for an hour or two to harden the chocolate.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for one to two weeks or freeze for up to three months.
Nutrition
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