I made roasted almond slivers (aka haystack cookies) with chocolate for the first time at our annual Christmas cookie bake in 2002.
And it became one of my most favorite recipes.
My whole family was so delighted with this wonderful no-bake chocolate recipe that we are creating this delicacy every year from that time on. Be it to be eaten by us or as a simple chocolate treat for friends and relatives.
Roasted almond slivers with chocolate are one of the quickest and easiest Christmas cookie recipes I can imagine.
On top of that, they are incredibly delicious and appreciated by people everywhere. And another plus for these delicacies: they are gluten-free!
The annual cookie-baking is one of my most beloved Advent traditions. Every year, family and friends meet to bake cookies and make delicacies for the beautiful Advent season and Christmas.
And every year, anew old and new recipes are tried, baked, and decorated. Partly to taste the cookies themselves and also to give them away as a small gift.
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🎥 Video
🥘 Ingredients
To make roasted chocolate almond slivers, you need, as the name says, almond slivers. For a portion of 9 large cookies or 18 small ones, 3.53 oz (100 g) almond slivers are sufficient. Use unsalted almonds for this chocolate almonds recipe!
You will also need 5.29 - 7 oz (150-200 g) of chocolate couverture. The more couverture, the more chocolaty it tastes. Chocolate lovers should therefore prefer to use 7 oz (200 g) of couverture 😉
Here, as always, it depends on personal taste. If you prefer it to be intense, with a rich chocolate flavor, it is best to use dark chocolate. The dark chocolate version can also be refined wonderfully with dried cranberries if you want something fruity.
If you like it really sweet, go for the white couverture. The white couverture is less intense than the dark chocolate but much sweeter. Raisins get along extraordinarily well with white chocolate and offer a pleasant change or addition here. You should definitely try it at least ONE TIME!
The classic version, which I am describing here, is the roasted almond slivers with milk chocolate. They do not need any other fruit because they are so tasty, just the way they are. The milk chocolate offers a good, down-to-earth taste, and combined with the roasted almonds, your mouth waters. 🙂
If you have a particular brand of chocolate in mind that you like particularly well, I recommend that you prefer it to the couverture. This choice will give you the desired chocolate taste excellently paired with the roasted almond slivers.
Try the Walnut Cookies or Walnut Meringue Cookies recipe - more gluten-free delicacies!
🍽 Equipment
To successfully create the chocolate almond slivers, you will need the following utensils, which you should prepare before you start your chocolate creation.
- 1 Pan for roasting the almond slivers
- 1-2 Baking Trays (For 9 big cookies one baking tray should be enough. If you fancy making 18 small ones, you are going to need two baking trays).
- Baking sheet
- 1 Tablespoon (for creating the big cookies) or 2 Teaspoons (for the small ones).
- 1 Small Cooking Pot (to melt the couverture)
- 1 Big Cooking Pot (for the water bath (bain-marie))
- 1 Wooden Spoon
🔪 Instructions
To make the first creation as smooth as possible, I recommend following the individual steps one after the other.
Roasting the almond slivers
Spread the almond slivers, in our case 3.53 oz (100 g), loose in a non-stick frying pan (without fat). Ensure that not too many slivers lie on top of each other. Only the slivers with direct contact with the bottom of the pan are roasted.
Set the burner to half to three-quarters power. Turn the almond slivers from time to time and always keep an eye on them! As soon as the almond slivers start to turn golden brown, they are ideally roasted.
At this point, immediately remove them from the pan and place them in a bowl, plate, or wooden chopping board so that they do not turn black and then cool down.
If some almond slivers turn black or dark brown, remove them because they are not edible, and your chocolate almond slivers will not taste good anymore.
If you prefer, you can certainly roast the almonds in the oven.
How to toast almonds: in the oven
Make toasted almonds in the oven when you have time to preheat the oven! This method is also preferred for quantities over 1 cup. Again, the timing will vary depending on whether the almond is whole, sliced (like the photos) or slivered.
👍 Advantages: This method cooks the nuts more evenly than the stove top method, and you can cook lots of nuts at once. 👎 Drawbacks: You'll need to wait for the oven to preheat: about 10 to 15 minutes!
Basic oven method ( go to recipe ): Preheat to 350 degrees and bake the nuts on a baking sheet for about 7 to 8 minutes, until golden and fragrant. Again, don't leave the oven because they can burn easily.
Source: acouplecooks.com
Melting the couverture
Before you can begin melting the chocolate couverture, fill the large cooking pot with water and place it on the stove. Then put the smaller pot into the big pot (filled with water) so that it floats. Take the couverture bar and break it into small pieces. Set the burner to three-quarters power. Important here: The water should be hot, but not boiling (boiling water could splash into the couverture)! Therefore, it is better to let it melt a little longer while maintaining the couverture's perfect consistency. 🙂
Allow the couverture to melt while repeatedly stirring until no more solid components are visible.
Mixing the roasted almonds with the melted chocolate couverture
Now the time has come! Mix the roasted almond slivers with the melted couverture. Stir the mixture until all slivers are well covered with the chocolate coating.
At the end
To finalize, take a tablespoon for large portions or two teaspoons for small cookies and place the almond chocolate mixture on the prepared baking tray covered with a baking sheet. Now give them time to solidify.
When it's cold outside, let the heaps solidify outdoors. (Works like a charm.) If it's not cold enough, you can, of course, place the baking tray with the chocolate almond slivers in the refrigerator after they have cooled down. As soon as the cookies are firm enough, remove them from the baking sheet, put them in an airtight container, and store them in the refrigerator. This way, they will not absorb any unpleasant odors and will keep their consistency.
📖 Recipe
No-Bake Roasted Almond Slivers with Chocolate
Equipment
Ingredients
- 100 g Almond Slivers
- 150 g Couverture of your choice
Instructions
- Roast the almond slivers in a pan until golden brown and allow them to cool down.
- Melt the couverture in a water bath.
- Mix the couverture together with the almond slivers.
- Use a tablespoon (for big cookies) or two teaspoons (for small ones) and place heaps of the almond-chocolate-mixture on a baking Sheet.
- Give them time to solidify. (When it's cold outside, let them solidify outdoors. Works like a charm.)
Please note that all my recipes are developed and tested in metric grams. I recommend using digital scales for more accurate results. I provided a conversion to US customary in the recipe, but please note that I haven't tested it using this method.
Notes
Roasted almond slivers with chocolate potpourri
To satisfy the different tastes, I recommend buying different couverture (or chocolate bars). Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate are the most common. If there is a desire for a particular brand of chocolate, it is better to choose the desired chocolate bar, as not every company makes the couverture.- In the white chocolate version, raisins can be mixed with the roasted almonds. Fits very well together and tastes delicious!
- The version with dark chocolate is particularly suitable for being refined with dried cranberries.
- And the milk chocolate almond slivers are amazing even without additional ingredients!
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
⛑️ Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Twila Hill
Thank you for sharing these recipes. I will definitely have to try some of them.
Brynn
This sounds like such a fun and memorable holiday tradition. These look like delicious treats to me.
FOODHEAL
Oh, I have never seen a dessert so so simple to make. I love dark chocolate and almonds. This is definitely going to be made this weekend.
Lizet
These are too dangerous! 🙈😅 too easy to make and so good!
Andréa Janssen
Chocolate and almonds, a terrific combination! I couldn't eat just one... they were so delicious!
Ramona
What a great simple idea! Will make these with dark chocolate for kids after school snack! Great idea! Thank you for sharing.
Natalie
This is such a great snack idea. I bet my family will love this. It's so easy to make and looks yummy! I'm saving this recipe and will give this a try soon. Thanks!
Patrice
These look so fun to make, both at the holidays and any time of the year!
Faith
These look delicious! I love that you toasted the almonds first. Toasted nuts have so much good flavor. We love to make chocolate candies at Christmas too. Such a fun family tradition!
Natalie
This is a great idea. I will just pop some chocolate eggs in the middle and make nests for Easter. Love it! Thanks!
Jere Cassidy
I am so making these chocolate slivered almonds. I love both so this is the perfect treat for me with my glass of wine. Love the easy recipe too
Kay
I love almond and chocolate so this recipe was made for me!
Ksenia prints
This is going to be so useful come the winter holidays!
Amy
How wonderful are these and so easy to make too! I live in Australian so its hot here during Christmas so I'd definitely need to refrigerate them. Although to be honest, I wouldn't need to wait until December to be making these!
Sunrita Dutta
Such a fantastic and easy pick me up anytime treat. Love it.
Angela
I love chocolate and i love almonds, and i love this recipe is so easy and delicious!!
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady
What a simple and delicious recipe. I am definitely adding it to my Christmas baking list this year!
Mama Maggie's Kitchen
Hmm yum! I never tried a recipe like this before! This Roasted Almond Silvers with Chocolate looks really mouthwatering.
Pastor Natalie
These look very yummy. I would try to make these for my family. Thank you for sharing. 😊
Jeannie
sometimes you want a quick dessert without preheating the oven! this looks delicious 🙂
Colette Zaharko
This looks like an easy snack that I can make with my kids. I will use dark chocolate because I love intense chocolate flavor. Where can you find the almond slivers?
Thanks
Nora
Thank you very much! Enjoy the cooking! My daughter is always in the middle of baking and cooking too! 😀 You can buy almond slivers at most health food stores and supermarkets. If they are not available in your area, you can also order them on Amazon. Just added the new link for them in the recipe, so you can find them easier.
Cooking with Carbs
This reminds me of some chocolate almond bark I make. I've never tried using almond slivers before, great idea! I will definitely try this next time. Thank you!
Lottie
these look totally sinful! gotta have that chocolate
Gabriela Herrera
I love easy recipes like this. Not only are they delicious but quick to make and a little on the healthy side.
Emily Flint
What a fun and easy recipe. There is no way I'm waiting for the holidays for this one!!
Julia
I absolutely love this idea, it's so simple and yet dangerously delicous. Love it, this I have to try. Thank you for sharing this.
Julia
This is such a brilliantly simple idea and yet absolutely wonderful. I don't believe that these almond clusters are going to last very long at my house.
Gregory Halpen
Yummy! Simple and delicious. I want to try this recipe out for the next holiday season.
Kayla DiMaggio
This simple dessert is so fun and delicious! Such a fun recipe to make with kids!
Addie
So chocolaty and delicious!
Leah
I’ve never thought to do this but it’s so simple. What a genius idea for an easy but delicious dessert for Christmas!
Kayla DiMaggio
These almond slivers are such a delicious treat! I have been enjoying them all day!
Shilpa
So delicious and easy to make… loved it…
Nora
Thank you, Shilpa!
Addie
So easy, chocolaty and delicious!
Cindy L
What a wonderfully simple delicious treat! The perfect hostess gift, for the holidays.
Sam
This is wonderful! I have some extra almonds around here and would love to try this!
Nora
That's great! Please let me know how you liked them!