(Makes About 32 Clusters)
Sometimes we just need a satisfying snack, one that’s a little salty and a little sweet. One that can truly hold you over until dinner. I recently became addicted to the Kind chocolate dipped nut clusters but find that my little family can inhale one of those four-ounce bags in less than five minutes. Short of ordering them by the case, I decided I needed to embark on making my own version. Inspired by my empty Kind bag and some raw nuts I bought at Costco; I tested multiple recipes and came up with this one. The chocolate dip makes these to die for, but you could skip this step, and the clusters are still quite tasty. Either way, they come together easily and make enough for a week’s worth of snacking.
You Will Need:
- 1 ½ cups whole raw almonds
- ½ cup sliced raw almonds
- 1 cup whole raw cashews
- ½ cup almond butter
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup brown rice syrup
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate like Ghirardelli)
- ¼ teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line two sheet pans with parchment.
- Place the nuts in a mixing bowl.
- Put the honey, brown rice syrup, and almond butter into a microwave safe measuring cup. Heat in microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute and stir until completely smooth.
- Add the kosher salt and vanilla to the almond butter mixture and stir to combine. Pour over the nuts and stir to coat.
- Place heaping tablespoon sized scoops onto the prepared pans. Lightly press the scoops together with your hands to make sure the clusters hold together after baking.
- Bake in preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. Bake until the nuts are slightly golden and the clusters are set. (Stay close and keep an eye on them – these can go from perfect to burnt super-fast.)
- Remove from oven and let cool completely.
- Place the chocolate and coconut oil in a small bowl (large enough to dip the clusters). Melt the chocolate in the microwave on 50% power in 30 second intervals until melted. Stir until completely smooth.
- Carefully dip the bottom of the clusters in the chocolate, set back on the parchment lined pan and place in the fridge to let the chocolate set.
- Store in an airtight container and enjoy whenever the urge to snack hits.
Summary
Recipe Name
Author Name
Dark Chocolate Dipped Almond Butter Nut Clusters
Tricia Hewitt-Huckabee
