These chocolate roasted almonds are coated in a sweet and spicy mix of dark chocolate, cocoa powder, cinnamon and cayenne with a bit of salt. Perfect for snacking, or for gifting!

As you may have noticed from my recipe archives, sweet and spicy is a favorite flavor combination of mine, especially in savory dishes (see my chipotle orange roasted carrots and harissa roasted butternut squash bowl for evidence of that fact). Another favorite sweet and spicy combination: chocolate and chiles.

If you haven’t had it before, or aren’t super familiar with traditional Mexican cuisine, chocolate and chiles might seem like an odd combination. Mexican chocolate, which is typically made from coarsely ground cacao, granulated sugar and cinnamon, is often flavored with chiles. In fact, the original hot cocoa (called xocolatl) was a bitter chocolate and chili drink consumed by the Aztecs. You’ll also see chocolate and chiles together in savory Mexican dishes, like mole.

This recipe for spicy chocolate roasted almonds is one of my favorite ways to enjoy chocolate and chiles. Crunchy roasted almonds are coated in a mixture of brown sugar, bitter cocoa powder, dark chocolate, cinnamon and cayenne. The almonds get nice and toasty in the oven, bringing out their natural sweetness and an earthy flavor that pairs perfectly with the chocolate and chiles.

Spicy Chocolate Roasted Almonds Ingredient Notes

These spicy chocolate roasted almonds are made by tossing raw almonds in egg whites, followed by a combination of cocoa powder, shaved dark chocolate, spices and salt.

Raw almonds - I love to use raw whole almonds (I use raw because they’ll toast up in the oven) because they are super crunchy, but you could also make this recipe with walnut halves or peanuts.
Egg white - Egg whites whisked until frothy with a little bit of water help the chocolate and spices stick to the almonds.
Brown sugar - I like to use granulated brown sugar in this because it has a little crunch, and the molasses in the sugar adds to the flavor.
Cocoa powder - Cocoa powder is made from ground cocoa beans that have had the fats removed. It adds rich, chocolate flavor in this recipe, plus a bit of bitter earthiness since cocoa powder doesn’t have sugar in it.

Dark chocolate - Dark chocolate grated on a microplane grater will melt into these almonds forming a chocolate coating.
Cayenne - Cayenne is pretty spicy, so start with 1/4th teaspoon if you’re sensitive to heat.
Cinnamon - Cinnamon adds warmth to these chocolate roasted almonds.

Spicy Chocolate Roasted Almonds Nutrition

Not only are these spicy chocolate roasted almonds a tasty little snack, but they’re also packed with nutrition. Almonds are rich in heart healthy monounsaturated fat and have a nice dose and protein and fiber. One serving has 37% the RDI of vitamin E, and also contains bone-building minerals calcium and magnesium.

Chocolate also provides a nice dose a nutrients, especially since dark chocolate and cocoa powder are used in this recipe. It’s rich in antioxidants, as well as the minerals iron, magnesium and copper. The cinnamon and cayenne also add a dose to antioxidants, and the cinnamon may even help lower blood glucose.

For a satisfying snack, I like to pair these spicy chocolate roasted almonds with an orange (gotta love that chocolate orange flavor combo) or pretzels. The combination of protein and fat from the almonds plus carbs is helpful for satiety and keeping blood sugar levels steady till the next time you eat.

Spicy Chocolate Roasted Almonds Storage

Store these spicy chocolate roasted almonds in a lidded container in a cool, dark place at room temperature for up to two weeks. If you’d like to store them longer, keep them in the fridge or refrigerator, as that will help keep the fats in the nuts from going rancid.

These chocolate roasted almonds are also great for gifting! I would gift them in cute little mini-mason jars with a pretty sticker label on them.

This recipe for spicy chocolate roasted almonds has been updated to give you the best possible content.

If you like this spicy chocolate roasted almonds recipe, follow my favorite chocolate recipes Pinterest board for more cooking inspiration.

Spicy Chocolate Roasted Almonds Recipe

Ingredients

1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
2 cups raw almonds
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 ounces dark chocolate, finely grated with a microplane grater
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, beat egg white and water until frothy. Stir in almonds.
In another large bowl, whisk together sugar, chocolate, cocoa powder, cinnamon, cayenne and sea salt. Using a slotted spoon, remove almonds from egg white mixture and place in the chocolate mixture. Stir to combine and coat the almonds.
Using a clean slotted spoon, remove the almonds from the cocoa mixture, leaving any leftover mixture behind. Spread evenly on to the baking sheet and bake 30-40 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes until crispy.
Remove from oven, set aside to cool. Once cool, store covered at room temperature.