How to Make Dark Chocolate Almonds

Coat almonds in chocolate.

Your favorite treat may also be healthy for you. Almonds covered in dark chocolate provide a tasty treat that is relatively easy to make at home. Use good quality chocolate, as it's what you are going to be tasting. When you buy the dark chocolate, buy it from the baking section, don't use chocolate bars, to keep the chocolate free of additives. If you like, try a variation that includes salt if your diet allows.

Things You'll Need

• 12 oz. dark chocolate
• 12 oz. raw almonds
• Double boiler or a pot and glass pyrex bowl.
• Cookie sheets
• Parchment paper, wax paper or tin foil
• Air tight container
• Food scale
• Spatula
• Spoon

Instructions

1. Measure the raw almonds and chocolate on a food scale. You want them to equal in weight.

2. Place the almonds on a microwave safe plate and microwave for one minute on full power. Stir the almonds and microwave at 30 second intervals -- cooking times vary based on your machine -- stirring each time, until the almonds are lightly toasted. They are toasted when you can smell them.

3. Put a cup of water in a pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Place the chocolate in a glass pyrex bowl that rests over the pot without falling in and without displacing the water out of the pot. When the water comes to a light boil, place the bowl over the pot and stir with a spatula until chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Remove from heat.

4. Pour the almonds into melted chocolate and stir with a spatula until the almonds are coated in chocolate.

5. Cover the cookie sheet in wax paper, foil or parchment paper.

6. Using a spoon, either drop clusters of chocolate almonds onto the lined cookie sheet or drop chocolate covered almonds one at a time.

7. Place the cookie sheets in the refrigerator to solidify the chocolate. Let sit for three hours.

8. Using a spatula, scrape the dark chocolate covered almonds from the wax paper and transfer to a clean, air tight container. Store dark chocolate covered almonds in the refrigerator.

Tips & Warnings

• Use good quality chocolate, it's what you are going to be tasting.

• The darker the chocolate, the better it is for you.

• Purchase baking chocolate rather than dark chocolate bars from the candy section which may have more added ingredients.

• My husband thinks I should add a bit of salt to the recipe...but I don't need anymore salt in my diet, however it might be an option for you...just use sparingly.

• For a chocolate gift, place dark chocolate covered almonds in a decorative airtight container and give alone or as part of a chocolate gift basket.

• Chocolate lovers beware! ADDICTING!

• © 2009 CCROCK. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

References

• "Food and Wine"; Chocolate-Coated Almonds; Carrie Pillar