I eat almonds pretty much daily. They are one of my favorite go-to healthy snacks. I often will put a handful of almonds in my pocket to munch on throughout the day (quick tip for a mom of active little ones: pack your pockets with healthy mama snacks to keep your energy up and blood sugar stable!). While I try to eat them mostly raw, I do enjoy flavored almonds as well. I got kind of hooked on the cocoa powder dusted almonds from Trader Joe’s but man are they expensive! Being the frugal mama that I am, I decided I could probably make my own for less money. 🙂

After a little experimentation with flavors, this is what I came up with:

Ingredients

3 tablespoons maple syrup (or liquid sweetener of your choice)

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups almonds

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a saucepan. Simmer over medium, stirring constantly until brown sugar is dissolved. Add nuts and simmer a few more minutes while stirring. Poor onto greased baking sheet. Cook for 20 minutes, turning one or two times. Transfer to a container with a well sealed lid. Pour cocoa powder over nuts, cover, and shake to coat. Allow to completely cook before enjoying!

Tip: Saucepan and baking sheet get super sticky and will be hard to clean if sugar is left to harden. It’s best to clean both right away if possible or try soaking in soapy water.

-Sarah