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    Home » How to » Cocoa Dusted Almonds [Only 5 Minutes!]

    Cocoa Dusted Almonds [Only 5 Minutes!]

    June 3, 2019 , Updated June 14, 2020 Maria 29 Comments

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    Cocoa dusted almonds in a white serving bowl.

    If you need a little something to tie you over until your next meal, I have the perfect recipe! These 5 minute Cocoa Dusted Almonds will quickly become your go-to snack. 

    An overhead shot of almond dusted with cocoa powder, in a white bowl.
    Cocoa Dusted Almonds

    This post was originally published on March 16, 2016 and republished on June 3, 2019 with updated content, photos and a video. Thanks for watching and sharing!

    Are you looking for healthy snack alternatives?

    Or perhaps you are looking for easy to make snacks with little ingredients?

    Have you ever considered almonds?

    As you know, they are extremely versatile. You can eat raw or roasted almonds. 

    You can also blend them (raw or roasted) to make Homemade Almond Butter. This healthy nut spread makes a great after-school snack with apple slices or celery sticks; or use it to make these gluten free Almond Butter Oatmeal Cookies. Both recipes are great to nibble on with a glass of milk. 

    Another snack idea worth trying is cocoa covered almonds.

    Do you have 5 minutes?

    You won’t believe how easy this is to prepare!

    A close up picture of cocoa dusted almonds.

    How to make Cocoa Dusted Almonds:

    Here are the steps, minute by minute, to make this healthy snack recipe. As you can see, it really only takes  5 minutes!

    The dry ingredients in small bowls.

    The FIRST minute: Sift or whisk together cocoa powder (2 tablespoons), cinnamon (¼ teaspoon) and salt (just a pinch) in a medium bowl. Set aside.

    The almonds and the dry ingredients in bowls, surrounded by scattered almonds.

    The SECOND minute: Measure the almonds (2 cups) and place in a medium bowl. Set aside.

    The ingredients required to make cocoa almonds in bowls.

    The THIRD minute: Combine the honey (1 heaping teaspoon) and vanilla extract (¼ teaspoon) together. Use a microwave to gently heat these liquids together (about 10 seconds). The goal is for the honey to become “runny” so that it will coat the entire surface of the almonds. Can also use stove top.

    The honey mixture being combined with the almonds.

    The FOURTH minute: Quickly pour the liquid mixture over the almonds and mix to properly coat each almond. 

    The dry ingredients tossed together with the honey coated almonds.

    The FIFTH minute: Quickly add the dry ingredients to the honey coated almonds. Toss gently together until the almonds are dusted with cocoa.

    Congratulations! You have just made your first batch of cocoa powder almonds and it only took 5 minutes!

    Cocoa Dusted Almonds are shown in a stainless steel bowl.

    Cocoa Dusted Almonds Tips and Recipe Notes:

    • Use unsalted raw almonds. Using unsalted almonds allows you to control the amount of salt in the recipe. 
    • Can I replace the honey to make it vegan? Yes, it can be replaced by agave syrup. 

    Can I use other spices? Yes! The addition of cayenne or chile will provide a nice kick and create “spicy” almonds. 

    Can I use roasted almonds? Yes, you can make cocoa roasted almonds! Allow the almonds to cool down completely before combining with the honey and the cocoa to prevent the formation of clumps.

    A few cocoa dusted almonds scattered on a dark surface.

    Almonds Recipes we Love:

    Blanching Almonds

    Almond Apple Cake

    Brutti ma Buoni

    Almond Biscotti

    Easy Chocolate Bark Recipe

    Cocoa Dusted Almonds are shown in a white bowl with almonds scattered on the tray.

    Origin of the recipe for Cocoa Dusted Almonds:

    Just recently, my husband returned from Costco with commercially packaged almonds dusted with cocoa powder (did I mention almonds are one of my obsessions?)

    I immediately thought to myself that a homemade version of this snack would be so much better. 

    The inspiration for this recipe came from the California almonds website.

    If you are not familiar with this website, you should take a few minutes and take a peek at all the wonderful recipes they have. Not only are there great almond recipes available, but you will also find wonderful facts about almonds… just follow this link.

    For example, did you know that California produces 80% of the world’s almonds? I think you’ll agree that that’s a lot of almonds! 

    Whether you are using them in baked goods, or to top off your savory dishes, almonds always provide the perfect finishing touch. Once you realize just how healthy almonds (and cocoa) are, you will find so many ways to incorporate them in your daily eats!

    In a nutshell (sorry, I couldn’t resist 🙂 ) there are so many reasons to love almonds, and this recipe for these 5 minute Cocoa Dusted Almonds is just one of them!

    THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

    Ciao for now,

    Maria

    ★★★★★ If you have made this better than Costco Cocoa Almonds Recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

    Recipe

    5 minute Cocoa Dusted Almonds

    In a nutshell (sorry, I couldn't resist) there are so many reasons to love almonds and this recipe for these 5 minute Cocoa Dusted Almonds is a great one!
    4.20 from 5 votes
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 4 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 minute minute
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 9 servings
    Calories: 188kcal
    Author: Maria Vannelli RD
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    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • pinch Himalayan sea salt
    • 2 cups whole raw unsalted almonds
    • 1 teaspoon honey
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions

    • Sift together cocoa powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
    • Measure the almonds and place in a medium bowl. Set aside.
    • In a small saucepan, heat honey and vanilla extract over low heat. Alternately, use microwave to liquefy the honey, about 10 seconds.

    • Once the honey mixture is "runny", pour over the almonds. Quickly stir together and combine.
    • Quickly combine the honey coated almonds with the cocoa powder mixture and toss gently together until the almonds are dusted with cocoa.
    • Can be stored in an airtight jar or container.
    Enhance Your Cooking Experience!SCROLL UP for essential step-by-step photos embedded in the article above. When available, videos can be found in the next section. These visuals are designed to help you achieve perfect results every time. Happy cooking!

    Video

    Notes

    • Use unsalted raw almonds. Using unsalted almonds allows you to control the amount of salt in the recipe. 
    • Can I replace the honey to make it vegan? Yes, it can be replaced by agave syrup. 
    Can I use other spices? Yes! The addition of cayenne or chile will provide a nice kick and create "spicy" almonds. 
    Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 
    *recipe lightly adapted from California Almonds

    Nutrition

    Serving: 23almonds | Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Potassium: 240mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 1.3mg
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    This post was originally published on March 16, 2016 and republished on June 3, 2019 with updated content, photos and a video. Thanks for watching and sharing!

    Cocoa almonds in a white bowl.

     

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    Filed Under: How to, Vegetarian

    About Maria

    Maria Vannelli is a retired dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Caroline

      February 13, 2023 at 2:02 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! Easy, quick and yummy. A healthier snack alternative!

      Reply
    2. Kristin

      November 04, 2022 at 10:40 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe, thanks! I chose to roast the almonds in the oven a bit first, but loved the mix of spices and honey added at the end. Perfect level of sweetness for me! If you like your almonds sweeter, just add more honey, or toss them with some powdered sugar at the end, as the author suggested in one of the comments.

      Reply
      • Maria

        November 04, 2022 at 11:36 am

        How wonderful Kristin! Thanks so much for taking the time to share!

        Reply
    3. Rose

      May 29, 2021 at 10:27 am

      Wow, I just tried this recipe and I love it- so does my fiancé. Thanks for sharing it. I would use a little more honey next time to get a thicker layer of chocolate coating. We’re serving these tomorrow with some fruit as dessert xxx

      Reply
      • Maria

        May 29, 2021 at 7:31 pm

        Thanks so much for taking the time to share Rose!

        Reply
    4. Nancy

      January 27, 2021 at 5:30 pm

      These were excellent, and super easy. They had the perfect amount of sweetness for me.

      Reply
      • Maria

        January 28, 2021 at 10:26 am

        Thanks for sharing Nancy!

        Reply
    5. Christine

      August 16, 2020 at 6:05 pm

      1 star
      I’m sorry to say these did not work out for us. They just taste like bitter cocoa powder. And since I did a double recipe based on the good reviews, now I have 4 cups of cocoa almonds no one in the family will eat. 🙁

      I’m all for keeping things on the healthier side, but if there’s no hint of sweetness and the predominant flavor is bitter, I’d rather skip the chocolate altogether and just enjoy plain roasted almonds.

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 18, 2020 at 11:20 am

        Sorry to hear that this recipe did not meet your expectations Christine. There is a hint of sweetness provided by the honey but I guess it wasn’t sweet enough. I’m curious to know the type of cocoa powder you used. Also, you can sweeten your batch of almonds by adding powdered sugar… it should stick to the surface of the almonds.

        Reply
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