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Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds [Copycat Trader Joe’s Recipe!]

November 9, 2022

Have you ever tried the Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds? They’re unbelievably addictive! I’ve just made your obsession worse by sharing the recipe so you can make them at home with just 5 ingredients! 

Angled shot of dark chocolate almonds in a white ceramic bowl. Chocolate pieces in the foreground.

I have a deep deep obsession with Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds. The kind that takes a lot of willpower not to finish the entire box. Thankfully I now live less than five minutes from a Trader Joe’s and can stock up on these almonds whenever my heart desires but for all of my Canadian friends or for those of you that want to master this recipe at home, I’ve finally perfected it!

These copycat chocolate covered almonds are made with just five ingredients and come together in no time at all. I apologize in advance for recreating the most addicting snack at Trader Joe’s…

Ingredients in Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds

  • Almonds – make sure you grab raw, unsalted almonds. 
  • Dark chocolate – you can go as dark as you’d like. I used 72% dark chocolate. Chocolate chips work too.
  • Dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder – don’t use regular cocoa powder or raw cacao! It will be too bitter… make sure you grab dutch-processed. Sometimes it will say “processed with alkali” <– this is dutch-processed!
  • Turbinado sugar or coarse sugar granules – either works great! Trader Joe’s does use Turbinado sugar if you want to copy what they use. In the comments people have also used coconut sugar and enjoyed the results.
  • Himalayan sea salt – this salt is actually packed with minerals and adds the perfect amount of salt to balance the sweet. Feel free to reduce or omit if watching sodium levels.

How to Make Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds

STEP 1: MELT CHOCOLATE

Melt the dark chocolate in the microwave or using a double-boiler on the stovetop. Make sure you don’t burn the chocolate!

Melted chocolate in a clear mixing bowl with a whisk sitting on the edge of the bowl.

STEP 2: COAT ALMONDS W/ CHOCOLATE

Add the raw almonds to the melted chocolate and coat well.

Almonds in a clear mixing bowl getting coated with melted chocolate by a wooden spoon.

STEP 3: DUST WITH COCOA MIXTURE

In a separate bowl, combine the cocoa powder, sugar and sea salt. Stir to combine. Add a small handful of chocolate coated almonds to the cocoa mixture using your left hand. Then use your right hand to toss almonds in cocoa mixture. Place coated almonds on a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat until all almonds are coated. Do not add all almonds at once as they tend to stick together.

Dark chocolate almonds in an orange mixing bowl with dry mixture.

STEP 4: LET ALMONDS DRY

Let sit out for 1 hour to dry. Optional: Place coated almonds inside a mesh strainer and give them a gentle toss to remove any excess cocoa mixture. This helps to keep things a little less messy when you’re eating but it is not essential for taste.

Dark chocolate almonds spread on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

How to Store Leftovers

After your almonds have dried, store them in an airtight container. Store at room temperature for 2-3 weeks. You can also store in the refrigerator or freezer for longer storage or a cool treat.

NOTE: These make a wonderful edible holiday gift! Just add to a mason jar and tie a seasonal ribbon around the lid. Everyone loves them!

More Chocolate Recipes:

Print

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds

Have you ever tried the Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds? They’re unbelievably addictive! I’ve just made your obsession worse by sharing the recipe so you can make them at home with just 5 ingredients! 

  • Author: Davida Lederle
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 10 servings 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: No-Bake
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups raw, unsalted almonds
  • 3.5 oz (100 grams) dark chocolate – I used 72%
  • 1/3 cup dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder*
  • 1/2 cup Turbinado sugar or coarse sugar granules
  • 1 tbsp himalayan sea salt

Instructions

  1. Melt dark chocolate in microwave or using a double-boiler on stovetop. Be sure not to burn.
  2. Add almonds to dark chocolate and coat well.
  3. In a separate bowl combine cocoa powder, turbinado sugar and sea salt. Stir to combine.
  4. Add a small handful of chocolate coated almonds (roughly 10) to the cocoa mixture using your left hand. Then use your right hand to toss almonds in cocoa mixture. Place coated almonds on a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat until all almonds are coated. Do not add all almonds at once as they tend to stick together.
  5. Repeat until all almonds are covered.
  6. Let sit out for 1 hour to dry.
  7. Optional: Place coated almonds inside a mesh strainer and give them a gentle toss to remove any excess cocoa mixture. This helps to keep things a little less messy when you’re eating but it is not essential for taste.

*Do not use regular cocoa powder or raw cacao, it is too bitter.

Keywords: Dark chocolate almonds, dark chocolate sea salt almonds, dark chocolate covered almonds

Dark chocolate almonds in a white ceramic bowl. Chocolate pieces in the foreground.

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  • Reply
    Deb
    December 17, 2023 at 12:34 pm

    Great recipe! I added a little cayenne to some at the end for a spicy nut! Thanks for sharing🎄

  • Reply
    Pete
    March 9, 2023 at 10:35 pm

    This recipe is the best of all those I could find. However it’s evident from dismantling a TJ’s almond of the same type that their coating is thicker than this recipe can produce, I believe that the TJ’s version is coated multiple times, probably three times.

  • Reply
    Debbie
    February 8, 2023 at 9:36 am

    LOVE TJ’s almonds and this recipe is a perfect copy of it. I make a huge mess in the kitchen when making these and it’s so WORTH it. Thank you for sharing!

  • Reply
    DebbieRy
    January 15, 2023 at 6:12 pm

    What a deliciouos recipe, a very good copy of TJ’s. I also added a touch of cinnamon and used a slotted spoon in Step 4. Thank you for sharing this!

  • Reply
    DebbieRy
    January 15, 2023 at 6:10 pm

    This is a delicious recipe, so glad I found it. I added a touch of cinnamon and used a slotted spoon in step 4 to separate and shake off excessive powder. Thank you!

  • Reply
    Lauren
    June 17, 2022 at 7:22 pm

    I used confectioners Swerve instead of sugar and I used sugar-free dark chocolate chips. I added powdered peanut butter. I was attempting to copy the Skinny Almonds peanut butter chocolate flavor. They turned out great! Thank you 🙂

  • Reply
    Vicky
    March 18, 2022 at 8:35 am

    Thanks for sharing Trader Joe’s chocolate almonds. Perfect with coffee. Great presentation and pic as well.
    Thanks for sharing.

  • Reply
    Neha
    July 16, 2017 at 2:08 am

    Hi, I cant find dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder anywhere. Please suggest how and with what do I substitute it?

  • Reply
    Andrea
    December 17, 2016 at 3:42 pm

    I just made these and they’re really amazing. Used coconut sugar and a mix of sea salt and Salish smoked salt. Sogoodsogoodsogood! Bringing them to a party tonight for some very lucky people. 🙂

    • Reply
      Davida @ The Healthy Maven
      December 18, 2016 at 2:17 pm

      Love the smokey addition! Sounds phenomenal! So happy you enjoyed 🙂

  • Reply
    Lori
    December 17, 2016 at 12:48 am

    Can u use coconut sugar instead of turbindosugar

    • Reply
      Davida @ The Healthy Maven
      December 18, 2016 at 2:18 pm

      Sure! The original uses turbinado but coconut sugar should work 🙂

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