Are you looking for the best Almond Roca candy recipe? This is it! Only 4 ingredients! The rich caramel covered with smooth chocolate and smashed almonds is delicious and contains no corn syrup. Great for gifting! Perfect every time.
Are you looking for the best homemade Almond Roca recipe? This. Is. It! It's taken years to perfect it, and we're so thrilled to share the recipe with you because it's so delicious and always gets excellent reviews. And more than a few requests for more!
You can take it to cookie exchanges to wow other party-goers!
This recipe is perfect atop our Chocolate Trifle.
Other popular homemade holiday treats include Saltine Toffee Candy and Peppermint Bark. We have 50 more Easy Christmas Treat Ideas you might like!
Watch The How-To Video
Jump to:
What is Almond Roca?
If 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 with incredible flavor and texture - with its hard caramel crunchy middle coated with creamy milk chocolate and topped with little pieces of smashed almonds, and it's delectable.
Ingredients
What is Almond Roca made of? Well, it only takes four simple ingredients to make a batch. Keep these on hand during the holiday season, and you'll never run out of the Best Almond Roca!
- Salted Butter (the better the quality, the better your end flavor)
- Sugar (granulated white sugar)
- Smashed Almonds (or crushed to your liking)
- Chocolate Morsels (semi-sweet, dark, or milk chocolate chips will do)
Is This Candy Gluten-Free?
Yes. Almond Roca Candy is gluten-free. Just make sure to use a brand of chocolate that doesn't contain gluten.
Traditional Almond Roca does not have peanuts.
Tips for How to Make A Good Batch of Almond Roca Candy
- We like to use salted almonds (because of that salty-sweet thing) in this candy, 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. Cook until the candy reaches 300 - 310 degrees F.
- 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 them to the recipe.
- To speed up the cooling process, place the pan of finished candy in the refrigerator.
- We love this recipe because it contains no corn syrup, so it 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 making the recipe and when it is done. Cook until it reaches between 300 - 310° F. (150 - 155° C.).
Steps to Make Almond Roca Recipe
Step 1 - Crush Almonds
Smash your almonds by placing them in a plastic bag and smashing them with a kitchen mallet or rolling pin.
Step 2 - Add Butter & Sugar To Pot
Turn the cooktop on high (or medium-high if you have a gas burner or use a large burner). Combine butter and sugar in a large saucepan over high heat.
Step 3 - Melt Butter With Sugar
Stir butter and sugar until they come to a boil. Attach a candy thermometer to the 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 with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula until the temperature reaches 300 - 310 degrees F. (hard crack), 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 as it becomes deep in color. You know it is done and ready for the smashed almonds.
Step 4 - Add Almonds to Pan
Mix 1 cup smashed or chopped almonds into the saucepan until thoroughly combined.
Step 5 - Spread & Cool
Pour into an un-greased cookie sheet (or jelly roll pan) and spread out. Do not scrap the sides of the pan to get the excess out. Let pan of toffee cool for 5 minutes.
Step 6 - Add Chocolate
Sprinkle ½ cup of chocolate chips over the top of the candy.
Let this recipe for almond Roca rest until chocolate chips melt enough to spread over the top of the candy.
Step 7 - Top With More Almonds!
Dust the pan with ⅛ cup of smashed almonds.
Once the chocolate is cooled (about 2 hours) and hardened, break it apart with a knife's tip to the desired size.
You can speed up the hardening process by placing the candy in the refrigerator.
This post contains affiliate links. Disclosure policy here.
More Great Candy & Treat Recipes
Adorable Candy Pretzel Turkey Bites
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Expert Tips
- Ensure you keep a steady temperature on your burner and continually stir the butter and sugar as they cook so they don't separate.
- If there is separation while cooking, keep stirring, and the fat should get reincorporated.
- Take care as you stir, and do not scrape the sides of the pan. You don’t want to clean the sides of the pan. However, you do 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 saucepan's sides and bottom to get every last bit of Roca. Just pour it out into the pan and leave the crystallized sugars behind in the pot.
How Long Does Almond Roca Keep?
Almond Roca candy will keep in a sealed container at room temperature for a couple of weeks. But, since it's beloved by all, it might not last long!
Recipe FAQs
Try keeping a steady temperature on your burner, and continuing to stir the butter and sugar as they cook is key to preventing the caramel from separating. Also, use a heavy-bottomed pan that distributes heat evenly.
Almond Roca and English Toffee are pretty much the same things. While English toffee describes a hardened caramel topped with chopped nuts and chocolate, Almond Roca refers to a brand name for the same delicious treat.
Almond Roca As Gifts
This recipe makes the best homemade gifts!
Just place your homemade candy in a jar that seals, a holiday tin, or cellophane and top with a ribbon or bow. These make fantastic gifts for Almond Roca Candy lovers or anyone on your list!
We Like Hearing From YOU!
If you try this Homemade Almond Roca or any other recipe on Suburban Simplicity, don't forget to rate the recipe and let us know how it went in the comments below, we love hearing from you!
Hungry for more? Follow Suburban Simplicity on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest to see more DIYs, recipes, and home tips!
Also, don't forget to sign up for email!
I only send one email a week, and it'll include my latest recipes, DIYs, and tips, information about exclusive "email only" giveaways, and more! See form below!
Want to subscribe to the Suburban Simplicity Recipe Club? It's only $5 per month, and you'll get ad-free PDFs of any new recipes that I post while supporting me at the same time! Join the club, here.
New images and recipe tips were added on 9/29/19.
Printable Recipe
Homemade Almond Roca Recipe
Equipment
- pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound salted butter (4 sticks)
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 cup smashed almonds + ⅛ cup for topping (salted or unsalted)
- ½ 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. Or chop them with a sharp knife.
- 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 the side of the pan and watch closely.
- Continue stirring until the temperature reaches 300- 310 degrees (150 - 155° C.), 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 ½ cup chocolate chips over the top. Let rest until chocolate chips are melted enough to spread over the top of the almond Roca.
- Dust with ⅛ cup smashed/chopped almonds.
- Once the chocolate has cooled and hardened, break apart with a tip of a knife to the desired size.
- This recipe makes about 2 lbs of candy and is perfect for gifts!
Video
Notes
- NUTS: We like to use salted almonds (because of that salty-sweet thing), but you can use unsalted if you prefer. We prefer to smash the almonds because you get a good mixture of larger and smaller pieces for the topping. Pecans are also good. Other recipes may call for chopped or blanched almonds, which are fine to use.
- CANDY THERMOMETER: 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.
- COOLING: To speed up the cooling process, place the pan of finished candy in the refrigerator.
- TASTE: We love this recipe because it doesn't contain any corn syrup, so it tastes rich and natural.
- COOKING 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.
Kellie says
So I made this today for family gifts for Christmas. It was super easy and I was able to convert it to dairy free. Everyone loved it and it was very yummy. Thank you
Erin says
I'm so glad, Kellie! And kudos to you for converting the recipe to dairy free and making it come out great! Wish you a very a Happy Holiday!
Shannon says
Ok, just made this, not sure if this makes a difference or not, but I live in the Pacific Northwest, and we just had 6 inches of rain in the last 48 hours, and the toffee set up like ole gum. I would have liked it to be crunchy, but that did not happen. This is why I never make candy, I can never go by someone else's recipe! Very disappointed after a pound of butter, and I can't gift it away.
Erin says
So sorry, Shannon. That's frustrating. We live in the NW too and the weather has been something lately! My guess is your recipe didn't cook quite long enough. You really need to wait until it starts to smoke and turn an amber color....it almost seems like it's burning. Sometimes candy thermometers don't let it cook until it gets to this point so it's too soft and gummy.
Jessy | The Life Jolie says
This is my kind of candy- it looks amazing! Pinning!
Erin says
It's get amazing reviews from anyone who tries it! Thanks for the pin!
Nikki Frank-Hamilton says
Erin, I had never heard of Almond Roca before, and now I can't get it out of my mind! LOL It looks so good, and it's gluten free. Right up my alley! I see so many things that look delish but most of them have hidden gluten, somewhere, and yes I can make substitutions, but it's not as easy as a one-to-one swap. Usually it involves 3 or 4 different items. This is the best recipe and I'm sure that my daughter will love to make it (and eat it) with me!!!!
Charlotte says
Wow this looks great!I have pinned and shared! I have never tried making roca before xx
Erin says
Thanks for checking it out, Charlotte! And thanks for the pin and share. It's delicious! XO
Life Loving says
I've actually never heard or roca before, but it looks really tasty. I assume it's quite brittle from the pictures, so it is like a snappy caramel?
Sally @ Life Loving
#LifeLovingLinkie
Erin says
Oh, my gosh! It's so good! Sometimes it's call English toffee, but either way it's a treat! Yes, it's a buttery and brittle, so like a caramel brittle.
Sadhna Grover says
This almond roca looks and sounds great, i never made it before, I love almonds and use them in many recipes. # way wow link party.
Erin says
Thanks for stopping by, Sadhna! You can't go wrong with this recipe. Buttery and delicious!
Carrie Groneman says
My handsome hubby gave me a fancy-pancy thermometer for Christmas and I think I may just have to use it to make this! He LOVES Almond Roca. THANKS for the recipe.
Erin says
We give this Almond Roca out as gifts every year...people love it...so does the family! Enjoy! Happy New Year!
Amy says
Hi Erin, just letting you know that I will be featuring your Roca on Best of the Weekend on December 31. Happy New Year!
Erin says
Ahhh, thanks! I appreciate it!
Jaxon says
Hey Erin I was given a recipe exactly like this from 2 old ladies who got from a sheriff here in Montana in.the.30'state. No candy thermometers
Cool it until separates, then stir it back together and it is ready. Never fails and the best. I have started using Google a candy thermometer and it stops way before I normally would and is good also. But I still like the break down and stirring it back. It smells like it is burning get but it is not. Good stuff. Thanks
Erin says
I totally agree that you need to cook it until it smells like it's burning, but it's not. The candy thermometer often says to take it off the heat before it gets to that point.
Amy says
Hi Erin, just letting you know that I'll be featuring your Roca on December 31 on Best of the Weekend! Happy New Year!
Krista says
This looks delish and seems rather quick to make. Thanks for sharing at the MeetUp Monday Link Party!
Erin says
Yes - it's fairly quick - and so delicious! Thanks for stopping by, Krista!
Leslie says
I love almonds, this sounds perfect. Yummy, thanks for sharing!
Erin says
It is soooo yummy! Enjoy!
Iryna says
Oh yum! How delicious is looks! Pinning for later!
Erin says
Thank you for the pin! Appreciate it! Thanks for stopping by!
Claire says
I just love Almond Roca it's my fav, pinning to make later. Thanks
Erin says
Thanks for the pin! You'll love this recipe! Enjoy!
Andrea Nine says
I've always purchased the foil wrapped Roca but never attempted it. I'm so in, this looks heavenly and yes, great to bundle up for gifts!
Erin says
This is way better than the foil 🙂 Perfect for homemade gifts or toppers for Xmas gifts!