cocoa-roasted almonds

In my younger years, I believed everything my dad told me about food.

I believed him when he told me that if I ate a watermelon seed, a watermelon tree would grow in my stomach.

I believed him when he told me that every time I swallowed a piece of gum, it would stick to the wad of 4,238 other pieces that had amassed in my system and stay there for seven years exactly.

I believed him when he told me that sweetened Farina and macaroni and cheese and Fig Newtons are a few of God’s gifts to us humans (we even made our own theme songs to celebrate our love for them).

I believed him when he told me that eating beef was the only way to make an upset tummy feel better.

There was one thing he missed, though, which is that almonds, when tossed with cocoa and chili powder and sugar and butter and baked, are some of the most delicious things ever created. And that they, too, soothe an upset stomach — and just about anything else (like an aggressive sweet tooth or snack hankering).

I’ve always been a bit of an almond fiend. At any given time, like a squirrel, I have several stashes hoarded away in either my car, my desk drawer, my lunchbox, my coat pocket, my pantry or all of the above. And there is always backup in my baking cabinets. I suspect that if and when a zombie apocalypse occurs, I’ll be OK for at least a little while because I’ll have my almonds.

But sometimes, regular almonds just don’t cut it. That is especially the case when you sift through Joy the Baker’s cookbook and discover, for the very first time, that such a thing as crunchy cocoa roasted almonds exists. Once you are burdened (read: enlightened) with that knowledge, there is no going back.

Ladies and gentlefolk, these almonds? Ohmahgoodness, they are scrumptious. They’re crunchy, toasty and chocolatey with just a hint of chipotle chili kick. It’s kind of the weirdest process to make them and at first you might wonder just what, exactly, will come of this mess but I assure you — keep going. Because once you declare these almonds done and let them cool completely (or in my case, for five seconds before shoveling a piping-hot handful directly into my mouth hole: Do. Not. Recommend.) and give them a taste, you will understand what was going on all along — magic. Magic was going on all along. And it’s here to stay — at least until you finish your newfangled stash of almonds (which, in my case, was approximately 48 hours).

I suspect my stomach is now completely full of cocoa-roasted almonds. And, of course, a wad of bubble gum.

Cocoa-Roasted Almonds
Recipe adapted from Joy the Baker Cookbook: 100 Simple and Comforting Recipes

Yields: 3 cups

Ingredients:

3 cups raw whole almonds
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
2 large egg whites
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch of chipotle chili powder or cayenne pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread almonds in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast almonds for 15 minutes, then remove from oven and transfer to a large bowl to cool completely.

Place butter on rimmed baking sheet; return to oven until butter is melted, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, whisk egg whites and 1/2 teaspoon salt on medium speed until egg whites are frothy. Gradually add sugar. Increase speed to medium high and whisk until egg whites begin to form stiff peaks. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, cocoa powder and chili powder and whisk until well combined.

Pour egg white mixture over cooled almonds and stir to combine. Spread almond mixture in a single layer over melted butter on baking sheet. Return to oven and bake 30-40 minutes, stirring almonds every 10 minutes, until done. Remove from oven and let cool completely.

Almonds will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.