Home Made Cocoa Roasted Almonds

Ahhhhhhh. That is the sound of me realizing how simple some of the best things in life are. I tried cocoa roasted almonds a few months ago. Super smokey and a perfect snack for a sweet tooth craving without the guilt. The down side: It was $5 a canister and like most processed foods there is a laundry list of ingredients.
Ugh,but do not fear loyal readers. I have your back.

I came upon this recipe for cocoa roasted almonds and had to give it a try!They could not be any easier and are made up of three ingredients. That's right, Three! Did I mention how easy they were to make?  I am pretty confident a child could make them. An unexpected ingredient is pure maple syrup ( before you scoff at the sugar it is one table spoon for a whole cup of almonds.) I forgot how incredible pure maple syrup is. Yes, it is alot more expensive than that Aunt Jemima stuff, but it is so much better. It was a subtle maple taste and is a  much thinner consistency that I prefer to the sugar water "syrup" I grew up eating with my eggo waffles. The next ingredient is flour. I used gluten free brown rice flour, but feel free to use what you have on hand. Lastly, and most importantly is the unsweetened cocoa for a yummy chocolate flavor it is surprisingly low in calories. I would also suggest doubling the recipe. Trust me, you will thank me later. Enjoy this as a snack or as a party treat at your Holiday parties!If you put it in a cute package it could even be a Christmas present. You can also make these in advance, just store in an airtight container

Home Made Cocoa Roasted Almonds
From Clean Eating Chelsea

Ingredients

    1 cup raw unsalted almonds
    1 tbsp. maple syrup
    2-3 tbsp. cocoa powder
    1 tbsp. GF flour (or any all purpose flour could do)

Directions:

1.  Preheat your oven to 275 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil & grease your sheet using spray.
2.  Place almonds in a large bowl and coat with the maple syrup. Use a spoon to ensure all almonds are   evenly coated.
3. Add your cocoa powder & GF flour and mix until all almonds are coated.
4. Roast in your oven for 25 minutes, stirring every 5-10 minutes.
5.  Let cool completely before storing them in an airtight container