Cocoa Dusted Almonds with Cinnamon and Honey

These Cocoa Dusted Almonds with Cinnamon and Honey are so easy to make and are the perfect guilt-free snack for all of my fellow nut lovers!

Why I love this Cocoa Dusted Almonds Recipe 

Both of my kids are candy fanatics. They can not get enough. I predicted that my daughter would still go trick or treating when she was in college and of course I was right.  Now that she has graduated college, the trick or treating is out but she still loves her candy.  

I made these cocoa almonds thinking that it is a sweet treat for my family but also has some nutritional value. It is the perfect afternoon snack.

These roasted almonds are not as sweet as the ones you can purchase at street fairs and carnivals. They don't have the thick candy coating which I admit everyone loves. But they do have a thin layer of honey and cinnamon topped off with a dusting of bittersweet cocoa.  It is just the right amount of sweetness for me and the kids loved them as their after school snack.

You can make a large batch of these and store them in an air tight container. I would rather give my kids these over candy any day.

These cocoa almonds are also perfect for gift-giving, especially since the holidays are coming up. Make a batch of these and separate them into some Christmas or Valentine's Day-themed bags and you've got a delicious custom gift!

Ingredients Needed

• Honey – Since you are heating the honey, this is a great way to use honey that has started to crystalize.
• Cinnamon – Cinnamon is a traditional flavor but you could also experiment with other warm spices like cloves and ginger.
• Salt – You only need a dash, but a bit of salt will enhance all the flavors in these cocoa almonds.
• Raw almonds – Find raw almonds in the baking or bulk section of your store. DO NOT use roasted almonds.
• Cocoa Powder – For a flavorful twist you can substitute dark cocoa powder.
• Superfine Sugar – You can make your own by blending granulated sugar in a blender until it reaches the desired consistency.

How to Make Cocoa Almonds

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium sized non stick frying pan, heat the honey on low heat. Mix in the cinnamon and salt.
3. Stir in the almonds and continue to stir until they are completely coated.
4. Spread the coated almonds onto the parchment paper in one layer. Roast for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring once or twice during cooking time. Make sure the almonds do not burn. Cool for 10 minutes.
5. Mix together the cocoa and sugar in a zip lock bag. Add the almonds and shake until they are completely coated with the cocoa mixture.
6. Store in a sealed container.

Cocoa Almonds FAQ

How long will my cocoa dusted almonds last?

• As long as you store them in a cool, dry place and they are tightly wrapped, almonds can last several months and potentially even longer. But I like them as fresh as possible so I usually don't store them for more than a month or so. Even though they technically won't go bad, they could get a bit stale tasting.

Variations

Here are a few options for ways to switch up these cocoa almonds and completely switch things up in the flavor department!

• Use maple syrup instead of honey, then substitute dark brown sugar for the cocoa powder for a delicious maple and brown sugar flavored snack.
• If you're a fan of chocolate and peanut butter together, halve the cocoa powder and use some peanut butter powder to evoke the classic combo.
• For a vegan version of this recipe, just replace the honey with some agave nectar, maple syrup, or Bee Free Honee.
• If you'd rather use another kind of nut, peanuts or cashews would also taste great in this recipe. You could even combine a few different kinds of nuts to make a delicious mix!
• In fact, if you threw in some raisins, chocolate candies, marshmallows, or cereal pieces, these cocoa almonds would make an excellent base for a trail mix.

More Recipes for Sweet Snacking

• Sweet Sriracha Almonds
• Mini Pumpkin Donut Muffins with Cinnamon Sugar
• Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
• Pumpkin Monkey Bread Muffins
• Blueberry Yogurt Swirl Popsicles from Sally's Baking Addiction
• Ice Cream Sushi 
• Concord Grape Muffins with Peanut Butter Glaze

If you like this recipe for cocoa dusted almonds, please give it a 5-star rating below!

Print Recipe

5 from 5 votes

Cocoa Dusted Almonds with Cinnamon and Honey

These cocoa dusted almonds are so easy to make and are the perfect guilt-free snack for all of my fellow chocolate lovers!

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cocoa, treats, sweets, nuts

Servings: 8

Calories: 366kcal

Author: Jersey Girl Cooks (Lisa Grant)

Cost: $10

Ingredients

• ¼ cup honey
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• dash of salt
• 16 ounces raw almonds
• 1 TBS cocoa powder
• 1 TBS superfine sugar

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium sized non stick frying pan, heat the honey on low heat. Mix in the cinnamon and salt.
• Stir in the almonds and continue to stir until they are completely coated.
• Spread the coated almonds onto the parchment paper in one layer. Roast for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring once or twice during cooking time. Make sure the almonds do not burn. Cool for 10 minutes.
• Mix together the cocoa and sugar in a zip lock bag. Add the almonds and shake until they are completely coated with the cocoa mixture.
• Store in a sealed container.

Nutrition

Calories: 366kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 415mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 12g | Calcium: 152mg | Iron: 2mg

First Published April 2013; Updated October 2020

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