Description
Dark Chocolate Covered Caramel Almonds – These crunchy almond snacks are so irresistible, you won't be able to stop with just one! Vegan, gluten-free and made with just 5 ingredients.
Ingredients
- 30g cane sugar
- 15g water
- 100g almonds (raw or roasted)
- 5g vegan butter
- 90g dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
Equipment
- A large pan
- Two microwave-safe mixing bowls (I like this Pyrex mixing bowl set)
Instructions
Make the caramelized almonds (25 mins):
- Add the sugar and water in a pan and bring to a boil on medium heat.
- Add the almonds into the pan and stir until the almonds are coated in the sugar mixture.
- Keep stirring the almonds until the sugar becomes crystalized on the surface of the almonds. Stop stirring and keep heating the almonds on medium heat.
- Watch over the almonds and start to gently stir the almonds once you see the sugar melting again. The sugar should be a brown liquid from the caramelization. Keep stirring the almonds gently until all of the almonds are coated in a glossy layer of caramel. Turn off the heat and add the vegan butter to the pan and stir until it is well incorporated.
- Take a sheet pan (or a flat plate) lined with parchment paper and pour out the caramelized almonds onto it. Flatten any clumps of almonds and separate them as best as you can. Leave the almonds to cool at room temperature for 2-3 minutes and then place the sheet pan in the freezer for the almonds to cool down rapidly.
- Take out the almonds from the freezer after 2-3 minutes and break up any clumps with your hands so that there are only individual almonds pieces left. Place these in a bowl in preparation for coating.
Coat the almonds in chocolate (15 mins):
- Melt the chocolate in either a microwave or a double boiler. If you are using a microwave, heat the chocolates on max setting in 15 second intervals for 1 min 15 seconds or until the chocolate is melted.
- Take a few teaspoons of melted chocolate and drizzle it over the almonds in the bowl. Stir the almonds until they are well coated in the chocolate. Keep stirring until you see that the outsides of the chocolate are matte. The almonds should be hard to the touch and no chocolate should come off on your fingers. Place the bowl in the freezer for 2-3 minutes to chill the almonds.
- Repeat step 2 until you use up all the chocolate. The almonds should now be thicker and there should be no pieces where the surface of the almond is still visible.
- Move the almonds to a clean bowl and add the cocoa powder for dusting. Stir the chocolate almonds until they are evenly coated in cocoa powder.
Notes
- Makes 10 servings, with each serving being around 10 almonds.
- These chocolate almonds are a fancier alternative to regular chocolate covered almonds. In addition, they make great gifts when you package them in small bags or boxes!
- You can melt the chocolate residue in the bowl and use it to coat the almonds more, or you can just re-harden it and eat it separately. Either way, don't let it go to waste!
Keywords: chocolate, almond, dessert, snack, vegan