On my holiday table I Iike to have an assortment of goodies besides the usual cookies, fudge, petit fours, mini cakes or tarts and such. These almonds (healthy fat) are coated in dark chocolate (that’s the good chocolate) and sprinkled with turbinado sugar and sea salt. The salt and sugar are optional but they sure do add some nice flavor, especially the flaky sea salt. These are great to make ahead and store in the refrigerator (up to 4 weeks) but they may not last.
Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters
- 2 cups whole almonds
- 8 oz. semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate bars, coarsely chopped
- turbinado sugar (or any coarse/raw sugar)
- sea salt (I used Maldon flaky sea salt)
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Place parchment paper or silicone baking mat on a large baking sheet. Spread almonds in a single layer and roast for 10-12 minutes, stirring once during that time; set aside to cool.
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Stir the almonds into the chocolate, coating each almond. Using a dipping tool or fork lift the almonds out, tap them against the side of the double boiler to release excess chocolate, and place onto parchment prepared baking sheets. You can make these as large as you want – I made them the size of the paper cups I served them in. Sprinkle lightly with turbinado sugar and flaky sea salt; allow chocolate to completely set. Place them in the refrigerator to speed up the process. Store almonds in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.
Recipe by cookingwithauntjuju.com
These tasty nibbles would not last 4 weeks in my fridge – maybe 4 days, at the most! 🙂
This sounds like a comment from you Ronit – I continue to have issues with WP! Yes, I would recommend making two batches – one to eat and one to share 🙂
Good idea! 🙂
Looks easy and yummy!!
Hi Charlie – this is very easy to make and very tasty! You get the chocolate and crunch of the almonds, followed by a nice hit of sea salt 🙂
I love chocolate covered anything, and these look great!
You can use any nuts such as cashews, peanuts, pecans or walnuts. They would all be delicious – toast the nuts first 🙂
I usually make fudge at Christmas, but this recipe is a nice alternative and maybe has a little bit more health benefit due to the almonds and dark chocolate – at least we can tell ourselves that! At any rate, they look delicious and I love the red Christmas tree platter (Le Creuset maybe?)
These nut clusters are definitely healthier; in addition to the chocolate and nuts in my fudge there is 2 cups of sugar, 3 tbsp. butter, evaporated milk and mini marshmallows – lots of sugar! Yes, it’s a Le Creuset platter – I do have lots of Le Creuset and some very unique pieces too 🙂
I would eat a hundred of these dark chocolate almond clusters. Delicious!
Thanks for sharing the recipe with us. Happy holidays to you.
Velva
Thanks – a little late in my reply. You can’t beat chocolate and nuts! Best to you in 2024 🙂
these look adorable. I’d try different nuts too. I love to melt chocolate in the oven these days – so easy! Merry festives to you.
Other nuts would be delicious too! Best to you in 2024 🙂