There are very few people who don’t like chocolate. And even if you don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day you are still open to eating the treats that come along with this “holiday.” As the holiday draws nearer I am seeing regular and diet specific posts asking for ideas for Valentine’s Day. Sugar-free Chocolates you buy in the store are expensive and can cause digestive upset. Conventional chocolates are overly processed, high in sugar and don’t work if you are making changes to the way you eat.
All you need are 2-3 ingredients:
- 1 bag of Chocolate Chips (see below for options)
- 1 cup of Almonds (I prefer roasted unsalted but it doesn’t matter.)
- Sea Salt or Pink Salt (optional)
You’ll want to use a double boiler or a makeshift one.
I use a stainless steel bowl over a pot of boiling water. Don’t melt the chips directly in the pot or you risk burning the chocolate. This can happen easily.
You also have the option of using the microwave, I find it tedious and I don’t care to use microwaves anyway. Should you choose this option, you will want to use a microwaveable bowl, glass heats better. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between. Towards the end, you will want to decrease to 15 and 10 seconds. Use your judgment.
Whichever you choose it doesn’t have to be perfectly smooth.
Add the almonds
Then start stirring. I find a silicone or rubber spatula to be the best as you’ll want to fold the almonds in while scraping the excess chocolate off the sides of the bowl.
Now start scooping
I lay a piece of parchment or wax paper down on the dish I will be using. I use a small cookie sheet. Start scooping your almonds out with a spoon. I use a second spoon to push the almonds on to the sheet. Once that’s done you’ll sprinkle a little salt on the top of each one and pop them in the fridge. They will be ready in 3o minutes.
My Favorite Chocolate Chip/Chunk Options
Budget- Trader Joe’s
Splurge- Ghiradelli, Guitard or Sharffen Berger
Vegan or Gluten-free – Enjoy Life
Keto Friendly (sugar-free) – Lily’s Sweets
Craft and hobby stores have several different boxing/packaging options for your chocolates. If you are making several Valentine’s you can do plastic bags with a cute ribbon.
If you are running really last minute or this is just more work that you would like to do, head to a store that has bulk candy like Sprouts and just buy their chocolate covered almonds and package them the same way. This is also a good option if you have to give a nut-free gift as they have many options. The thought is still there. You still DIY’d.
