Honey Roasted Almonds

Homemade honey roasted almonds are THE BEST topping for any salad. Lightly sweetened and perfectly crunchy, they add the perfect contrast to your crisp veggies and creamy dressings.

There are certain times of year when we are more intentional about eating well. One of the biggest times for a real food reset is after the holidays, when we’ve indulged in some of our favorite treats.

At our house, that means aiming for more smoothies, more salads, and more vegetables at the dinner table.

But I have a confession to make.

Even after all the effort I put into the planning and preparation phase of clean eating, it’s sometimes hard to stir up the “want to”.

My solution?

Easy recipes that make healthy food more fun to eat! Things like Apple Oatmeal Breakfast Bars that feel like dessert for breakfast, delicious Homemade Ranch Dressing for dipping those veggies, and – you guessed it – honey roasted almonds to add something special to those salads!

WHY MAKE HOMEMADE HONEY ROASTED ALMONDS

These honey roasted almonds are delicious on top of just about any green salad. I know this because I’ve eaten twice as many salads in the past week as I normally would, simply because I had a fresh batch of these salty-sweet gems to sprinkle on top!

Yum!

They’re also:

• Easy. Honey roasted almonds take just a few minutes to prep and less than half an hour to cook.
• Made with only 3 ingredients! It doesn’t get much simpler than that!
• Work for other nuts. Once you know how to roast almonds, you can try this method with other nuts too. Almonds are one of the more frugal options, but honey roasted cashews or walnuts or pecans would be yummy too.
• Source of healthy fats. Almonds have one of the highest levels of healthy monounsaturated fat.
• Giftable. Honey roasted almonds also make great gifts! Perfect for that last-minute gift you forgot you needed.

HONEY ROASTED ALMONDS RECIPE INGREDIENTS

If you’ve never roasted your own raw nuts, I assure you – it could not get any easier than this roasted almonds recipe! You only need three ingredients.

• Honey. Raw honey is your best nutritional option for foods you eat raw, but for cooking, you can use filtered honey.
• Garlic Salt. Or regular sea salt works too. The garlic adds a subtle flavor that complements the sweetness of the honey.
• Almonds. I prefer to buy raw almonds from Costco. But if you have plain roasted almonds (like these) on hand, you can use those! Or use whatever nuts are in your pantry.

If you want to experiment with variations, try a sprinkling of cinnamon for a sweet version, or a pinch of cayenne pepper for a bit of a spice kick.

If you’re going to use salt, make sure it’s a good one like Ava Jane’s Kitchen that doesn’t have microplastics! You can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt right now (just pay shipping and handling!).

HOW TO ROAST ALMONDS WITH HONEY

Step 1. Preheat oven to 350F.

Step 2. Mix the honey and almonds in a small bowl.

Step 3. Spread in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with garlic salt.

Step 4. Bake for 15-25 minutes (less for sliced or slivered almonds and more for whole almonds), stirring occasionally.

Note: Depending on the type of pan you use, if your oven has hot spots, and the size of your almonds, you may find that roasting almonds with honey takes less time. Check the roasted almonds at 10 minutes the first time you bake them to avoid burning around the edges and adjust the baking time accordingly.

Step 5. Remove from oven and let cool completely. The longer they sit, the crispier they’ll get. Once they’re fully cooled and crispy, break them into smaller clusters to your liking.

STORAGE

Store honey roasted almonds in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Glass jars work great! A jar is also pretty if you give as a gift.

SERVE HONEY ALMONDS WITH

My favorite way to enjoy almonds honey roasted is on top of salads – they add a crunch and a bit of sweetness that gives your salad that “something extra”. Try them on one of these delicious recipes:

• Spring Greens with Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Spinach Salad with Apples and Cranberries
• Roasted Veggie Salad
• Strawberry Pecan Salad with Blue Cheese (use these honey roasted almonds instead of pecans)
• The Best Kale Salad

They’re also great added to Homemade Yogurt or just eaten by the handful as a snack (my husband’s favorite).

ROASTED ALMONDS FOR FAT AND FLAVOR

Honey roasted almonds will add both fat and carbohydrates to your meal, and like other salad toppings, they can be easy to overdo (anyone else find themselves eating the salad for all of the yummy extras rather than the greens and veggies?).

When including these tasty roasted almonds, keep the focus on your protein and produce, and stick to one serving of honey roasted almonds. That means you might need to measure out 2 Tablespoons the first couple of times, so you know how much that actually is!

Healthy fats are an important part of a balanced diet, and honey roasted almonds are a delicious way to include those heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that you need!

ROASTING ALMONDS FAQS

MORE DELICIOUS SALAD TOPPINGS

• Homemade Candied Pecans
• Parmesan Cheese Crisps
• Dehydrated Apples
• Dehydrated Cranberries
• Perfectly Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
• Almond Sesame Ginger Dressing
• Thai Peanut Dressing