A different take on Almond Joy
If you are a person of a certain age, you remember the stupid series of commercials about mounds and Almond joy: Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t. These mass produced candy bars were not the most healthy thing. But, we now have a different take on Almond joy because today is national Bittersweet chocolate and Almond day. In recent years, the health benefits of both of these ingredients have come to light. And, if you remember the Mounds and Almond Joy commercials, coconut was another ingredient. All 3 are touted by medical and health professionals as some of the best stuff for you. So, today, we can indulge in guilt free sweets (well, not totally guilt free).
Of course, the candy bars we know are sugar and fat laden, not exactly desirable from a health perspective. But, today we are going to deconstruct the candy and re-build it. Like the six million dollar man, it will be Better, stronger, and faster (Well, at least better). With modern day access to higher quality, and more diverse ingredients, that won’t be hard. So, we’ll start by looking at each ingredient, what to look for, and what to expect from them.
Table of Contents
A different take on Almond Joy Starts with Almonds
Here is where the first problem with the commercial comes in. Almonds aren’t actually nuts. The classification name is Drupes. Along with cashews, almonds are actually a fleshy fruit with a hard center containing a large seed. That is the part we call the almond. If you have ever seen a fresh almond, they look kind of like a peach or apricot: fleshy with a fuzzy exterior. regrettably, the flesh rarely enters the culinary lexicon. But, its seed is all over the place (kind of like Herschel Walker). And, now we know that almonds have a bunch of health benefits.
They are loaded with nutrients: Monounsaturated fats, Protein, manganese, vitamin E, Fiber, magnesium, and lower levels of B vitamins. Almonds are full of antioxidants to help stave off cancer and free radicals. Although, most of the antioxidants are in the brown outer skin. So, the pale peeled ones don’t have as much effect. Some of the ingredients, like magnesium and low carb content help control blood sugar and diabetes. In addition, they help control blood pressure and cholesterol. And, they are pretty filling without high calories. So, they can aid in weight loss and weight control. Overall, You’d have to be a nut not to enjoy Almonds.
Bittersweet Chocolate
Recent studies show that Dark chocolate has numerous health benefits. Researchers suggest a pure chocolate of over 70% cocoa to feel the health effects. Unfortunately, for most people, this means it’s not the sweet, creamy, chocolate of over the counter confections. There’s a reason they call it “bitter” sweet. To make cocoa palatable, it’s usually mixed with creams, butters, and sweeteners. Bittersweet chocolate takes some getting used to. While milk and white chocolates do have some of the health benefits, fat and sugar are the predominant ingredients. So, you need to eat more to get the benefits. But, the calories offset most of those benefits. But, some studies suggest that a combination of almonds and bittersweet chocolate help release the effects of both ingredients.
And, that makes sense. Some of they both have some of the same properties. Magnesium, fiber, and mono unsaturated fats are abundant in both. They both boast high antioxidants that promote heart health. Both may help lower cholesterol. And, they both show signs that they may reduce blood sugar to regulate diabetes. Additionally, Chocolate may help with cognition and memory loss. Additionally, it affects mood, positively (like you didn’t know that already). It also aids in digestion, and possibly weight loss. The vitamins and minerals in chocolate are good for the skin, promoting collagen, keeping skins looking younger. And, both fight free radicals, which may have an effect against cancer. So, if we bittersweet chocolate for A different take on Almond Joy, we could be doing ourselves a favor.
Coconut
This is one of those ingredients that most people either love or hate. Of course, there are also middle ground people who could take it or leave it. It really depends on the form it takes. But, when we look at the health benefits and biological make up of coconut, it’s no wonder it was part of almond Joy. All 3: almonds, chocolate, and coconut are relatively high in fiber, have a decent amount of protein and carbs, high fat (mostly “good” cholesterol fat), and they share many of the same vitamins and minerals (copper, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, iron, potassium, and selenium). So, again, we have antioxidants, sugar and diabetes control, cholesterol control, and gut health.
Of course, though, you need to be careful of the form of coconut. Most commercially available coconuts products are high in sugar. So, that negates a lot of the benefits, and contributes to weight gain, etc. The flesh of coconut contains more protein and other nutrients.And, despite being high in saturated fats, coconut oil actually may help in reducing cholesterol. Coconut in all forms is recommended by doctors for everything from skin and oral health to fighting bacteria, infections, and even staving off cancer. And, thanks to modern marketing, there are many more forms of coconut available on the market, from shredded coconut to coconut cream, milk, oil, and water. So, we will incorporate a couple forms in our recipe.
Our recipe offers A different take on Almond Joy
While candy bars are quick and easy, they lack that personal touch. One of our favorite homemade versions of candy, truffles, provide a great alternative. It’s more work up front. But, you can make a batch and keep them on hand for a while. Unfortunately, you do have to keep them refrigerated. But, that’s a small price to pay for something so exquisite. While truffles are great small bite, you can use a truffle base to create a more formal dessert by making a pave (chocolate pate) that you can plate an serve with fruit and sauces like we did for valentines day.
Traditionally, truffles are a heavy cream based product. But, we are going to incorporate Coconut, Almond, and Bittersweet chocolate in honor of the day. So, get ready for your sugar fix with this vegan, gluten free recipe:
Bittersweet Almond Joy Vegan Truffles
Ingredients
- 2.5 Lb Bittersweet Chocolate (70% or higher)
- 1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
- 1.5 Cups Coconut Milk
- 1/4 Cup Agave Syrup
- 2 Cups Chopped Almonds, roasted with skins on
- 1/4 Cup Toasted Shaved Coconut (optional)
- 2 Ounces Amaretto or frangelico
Instructions
- Set up a double boiler by putting about an inch of water in a pot and placing a stainless steel mixing bowl on top. Bring the water to a boil. Heat the coconut milk in the mixing bowl and stir in 2 lbs of Chocolate (save the rest for dipping later), Amaretto, and agave Mix well, until it becomes thick and chocolate. Fold in half of the almonds and the coconut (if using). Refrigerate until it solidifies. If it is still a little loose, reheat and add more chocolate.
- While the truffle mix is chilling, Melt the remaining chocolate and coconut oil in the double boiler until smooth.
- Scoop the truffles into balls and dip them in the chocolate. Place on a baking rack to cool and sprinkle with chopped almonds if desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve and they solidify.