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Spiced and sweet nuts are my absolute favorite snack at any holiday or party. These Coconut Almonds are my new favorite addiction – savory nuts are coated in sweet coconut.
I’m pretty sure they’ll be your favorite new snack too. And they’re the easiest thing to make, so you can have them in no time at all.
Easy Coconut Almonds
I love Trader Joe’s. It’s one of my favorite grocery stores and I could probably spend hours in there looking at every single little thing on every shelf. It’s probably good that our TJ’s is (1) some distance away and (2) always so crowded that “looking” at anything is a novelty. Most often, it’s reach-and-grab and get out of the way.
On my last excursion to TJ’s I picked up a bag of these bad boys: Coconut Cashews. My mind was blown. When I ran out of them and wanted more. But I wasn’t planning to go to Trader Joe’s anytime soon, so I made my own. But I used almonds because (1) cashews cost more than my car and (2) if I wanted to get cheap cashews I’d have to go to TJ’s and then I’d just get the real thing.
I always have almonds in my pantry. And they’re healthier and less fatty than cashews. Plus coconut with almond reminds me of Almond Joy.
How to make Coconut Almonds
Mixed nuts (or nuts of any kind) are one of my favorite things to make because they’re so good, everyone loves them, and they’re so easy.
This recipe is no exception. It has only 3 ingredients: Coconut, Almonds, and Honey (or agave or maple syrup).
The method for this recipe is actually one I’ve used for years to make sweet and spicy walnuts at Christmas. That recipe is from one of the earliest issues of Rachael Ray magazine. Basically, you toast your nuts, add them to the sweet sticky binder (honey, in this recipe) and then top them with the coating.
I keep meaning to post the original recipe at the holidays, but until we get there, you can make these.
The Coconut Cashews from Trader Joe’s have a crunchy coconut coating. To try and replicate that with regular pantry ingredients, I toasted my shredded sweetened coconut before coating.
Once the nuts are all coated in their coconut jacket, you lay them out on a cookie sheet to dry. Try to get them in a single layer and after an hour or so move them around a bit. After a couple of hours you can transfer them to an airtight container. They won’t be super sticky, but they won’t dry 100%.
The coconut adds a great compliment to the almonds and makes them more fun to eat. And if almonds aren’t your thing, you can use this same recipe with your favorite nut. I can’t wait to use cashews, macadamias, or pecans. All three would make me very happy at my next party.
Important Tip
Warning: be sure to watch coconut very carefully when you’re toasting it. You can do it in the oven but I recommend you do it on the stove so you can watch it more closely. It won’t be toasted, won’t be toasted…then it’ll be burnt. And believe me – burned coconut makes your house smell horrible. So…just watch it.
Coconut Almonds
Ingredients
- 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
- 2 cups raw whole almonds
- 2 tablespoons honey agave, or maple syrup
Instructions
- Place the coconut in a large frying pan over low heat. Stir often until the coconut begins to turn golden, then stir constantly until most of the coconut is a golden color. Immediately remove from heat to a bowl to cool slightly. Be really careful when toasting the coconut – it burns very fast and burned coconut smells really bad!
- Place the cooled coconut in a food processor and pulse until small shreds remain. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Place almonds on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat baking mat. Bake until toasted, about 5 minutes. Do not walk away from the stove, keep an eye on them.
- While the almonds are toasting, place the honey (or agave or maple syrup) in a large bowl. When the almonds come out of the oven, immediately place them in the bowl and stir until they’re all coated with the syrup. Sprinkle the coconut over the top and stir again to make sure they’re all coated. Spread the almonds in a single layer on the cookie sheet and let dry for at least 2 hours, breaking them up as needed. They’ll stay somewhat sticky but not clumpy once they’ve set.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Recipe Nutrition
Click here to see more of my ULTIMATE COCONUT recipes!
Peanut Butter Snickerdoodle Muddy Buddies
Kitchen Sink Popcorn (there’s everything in there!)
Sweets from friends:
Chai Spiced Mixed Nuts by The Kitchen is my Playground
Sugar and Spice Candied Nuts by Buns in my Oven
Nutella Almond Muddy Buddies by Something Swanky
Just died and went to heaven.
I am totally and completely obsessed with the coconut cashews. I can’t have them in the house, it’s too dangerous! Love the almond version!!
loving this recipe dorothy. i always have just bought flavoured nuts from the store.. you have now inspired me to create my own special nut flavourings!
Do it Thalia! It’s so fun to make your own! 🙂
Loving this recipe so much! I would eat them all! Pinning to my Christmas board!
Fabulous Dorothy and I am just LOVING how easy this recipe is! I’ll try anything that has a hint of Almond Joy flavor 🙂
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