Homemade Almond Roca Recipe

Homemade Almond Roca Recipe

Are you looking for the best Almond Roca recipe? This. Is. It! It’s taken years to perfect it, and we’re so thrilled to be able to share the recipe with you because it’s soooo good and always gets rave reviews. And, more than a few requests for more!

What is Almond Roca? In case you don’t know, Almond Roca is a delectable chocolate-covered, almond butter crunch, hard toffee with a coating of crushed almonds. 

If you haven’t tried making homemade Almond Roca before, you DEFINITELY should. This candy is packed incredible flavor and texture – with its hard caramel crunchy middle that’s coated with creamy milk chocolate and topped with little pieces of smashed almonds, and it’s delectable.

Almond Roca Ingredients

It only takes a few simple ingredients to make a batch of Almond Roca Candy. 

• Butter (the better the quality, the better your end flavor)
• Sugar (white sugar)
• Smashed Almonds (or crushed to your liking)
• Chocolate (semi-sweet, dark or milk chocolate will do)

Did you know if you make sure to use chocolate that doesn’t have any gluten, this candy recipe is gluten-free and incredibly addictive! 

Tips for How to Make A Good Batch of Almond Roca

• We like to use salted almonds (because of that salty-sweet thing), but you can use unsalted if you prefer. 
• Other recipes may call for chopped or blanched almonds. We prefer to smash the almonds because you get a good mixture of larger and smaller pieces for the topping.
• We have not used a candy thermometer for years, although it’s smart to use one the first several times you make Almond Roca, to make sure you get it just right.
• Some readers use Hershey’s chocolate candy bars for the top. It’s so rich, crunchy and buttery, they say!
• If you like, you can toast your almonds in a pan before adding to the recipe. 
• To speed up the cooling process, place the pan of finished candy in the refrigerator.
• We love this recipe because it doesn’t contain any corn syrup, so tastes rich and natural.

IMPORTANT TIP: Always look for a dark amber color when cooking the sugar and butter mixture. Expect the mixture to smoke a little bit as it becomes deep in color. That’s when you know it is done and ready for the smashed almonds.

You may need a Candy Thermometer like this one to make sure it’s ready. Again, it’s a safe bet to use one at first until you get a feel for how to make the recipe, and when it is done.

How Long Does Almond Roca Keep?

Well, since it’s beloved by all, it might not last long, but if it does, the candy should keep just fine in a sealed container kept at room temperature for a couple of weeks.

Steps to Make An Almond Roca Recipe

Step 1 – Smash your almonds by placing them in a plastic bag and smashing them with a kitchen mallet or rolling pin.

Step 2 – Turn cooktop on high (or medium-high if you have a gas burner or are using a large burner). Combine butter and sugar in a large saucepan over high heat.

Step 3 – Stir butter and sugar until they come to a boil. Attach a candy thermometer to side of the pan and watch carefully! 

Note: Nothing beats homemade candy, but getting sugary sweets to turn out “just right” is an exact science. Sugar is very fickle. Miss the temperature by even a few degrees and your best recipe for perfect Almond Roca turns out all wrong. 

Continue stirring until temperature reaches 310 degrees, then immediately remove from heat. 

Note: Always look for a dark amber color when cooking the sugar and butter mixture. Expect the mixture to smoke a little bit as it becomes deep in color. That’s when you know it is done and ready for the smashed almonds.

Step 4 – Mix 1 cup smashed almonds into the saucepan until thoroughly combined.

Step 5 – Pour into an un-greased cookie sheet (or jelly roll pan) and spread out. Do not scrap the sides of the pan. Let cool for 5 minutes.

Step 6 – Sprinkle 1/2 cup chocolate chips over the top. Let rest until chocolate chips melt enough to spread over top of the Almond Roca.

Let rest until chocolate chips melt enough to spread over top of the Almond Roca.

Step 7 – Dust with 1/8 cup smashed almonds.

Once the chocolate is cooled (about 2 hours) and hardened, break apart with a tip of a knife to the desired size.

You can speed up the hardening process by placing the candy in the refrigerator.

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Tips for Making Homemade Almond Roca

• Make sure you keep a steady temperature on your burner and continually stir the butter and sugar as they cook so they don’t separate. 
• Take care as you stir not to scrape the sides of the pan. You don’t want to clean the sides of the pan, you simply want to stir and scrape the bottom of the pot gently to avoid scorching. You don’t want the crystalized sugar to get into your toffee.
• Also, as you pour the toffee onto the prepared baking pan, do not scrape the sides and bottom of the saucepan to get every last bit of Roca. Just pour it out into the pan and leave the crystallized sugars behind in the pot.

Almond Roca As Gifts

This recipe makes the best homemade gifts! Just place in a jar that seals, a holiday tin or cellophane and top with a ribbon or bow. These make fantastic gifts for Almond Roca lovers or anyone on your list! Bring it to work and watch it disappear. 

If you try this Homemade Almond Roca or any other recipe on Suburban Simplicity then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let us know how it went in the comments below, we love hearing from you! Better yet, use the hashtag  #suburbansimplicity if you make the recipe.

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New images and recipe tips added 9/29/19.

Homemade Almond Roca

Are you looking for the best Almond Roca recipe?  This is it!  Perfect every time. The rich caramel covered with smooth chocolate and almonds is delicious.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 16 about 2 lbs.

Calories: 383kcal

Author: Erin Henry

Ingredients

• 1 pound butter (4 sticks)
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup smashed almonds + 1/8 cup for topping (salted or unsalted)
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or dark chocolate)

Instructions

• Smash almonds by placing them in a plastic bag and smashing them with a mallet or rolling pin. 
• Turn cooktop to high (or medium-high if your burner runs hot). Combine butter and sugar in a large saucepan over high heat.
• Stir butter and sugar until they come to a boil. Attach a candy thermometer to side of the pan and watch closely.
• Continue stirring until temperature reaches 310 degrees, then immediately remove from heat.
• Mix 1 cup smashed almonds into saucepan until thoroughly combined.
• Pour into an ungreased cookie sheet. Let cool for 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle 1/2 cup chocolate chips over top. Let rest until chocolate chips are melted enough to spread over top of the almond Roca.
• Dust with 1/8 cup smashed almonds.
• Once chocolate has cooled and hardened, break apart with a tip of a knife to desired size.
• This recipe makes about 2 lbs of candy and is perfect for gifts!

Video

Notes

• We like to use salted almonds (because of that salty-sweet thing), but you can use unsalted if you prefer. 
• Other recipes may call for chopped or blanched almonds. We prefer to smash the almonds because you get a good mixture of larger and smaller pieces for the topping.
• We have not used a candy thermometer for years, although it's smart to use one the first several times you make Almond Roca, to make sure you get it just right.
• To speed up the cooling process, place the pan of finished candy in the refrigerator.
• We love this recipe because it doesn't contain any corn syrup, so tastes rich and natural.
• Always look for a dark amber color when cooking the sugar and butter mixture.  Expect the mixture to smoke a little bit as it becomes deep in color. That's when you know it is done and ready for the smashed almonds.

Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.

★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!

Nutrition

Calories: 383kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 203mg | Potassium: 101mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 710IU | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 0.7mg

Course: candy, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @Suburban_Simplicity or tag #suburbansimplicity!

Truth be told, my husband is the one with the gift to make Almond Roca taste soooo good. I’m better at making Saltine Toffee. He’s been making this family recipe for years and gives it out at work and to family & friends during the holidays. However, it’s good year-round in our opinion 🙂

We hope you enjoy this treat as much as our friends and we do!

You may also like this recipe for Saltine Toffee.

You May Also Like:

Christmas Crack Recipes

Amazing Saltine Toffee

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Edible Christmas Gifts

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