It’s Monday. And Mondays require chocolate, right? Don’t worry – I’ve got you covered!
As a child, Almond Joys weren’t even on my radar: my favorite candies were pretty much all peanut-based (Snickers, NutRageous, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, etc.) This probably stems from the fact that my brother is allergic to peanuts. The only time we really had much candy was at Halloween—we got some at Easter, but that was mostly jelly beans and malted milk eggs—and after our post-trick-or-treating candy swap each Halloween, my candy stash ended up being nearly exclusively peanut candy. It wasn’t until maybe college or so that I realized how much I like Almond Joys!
In fact, I like Almond Joys so much that last fall, when I brought in some candy for my students right before Halloween, they never even knew that that assortment had originally included Almond Joys…heh heh heh. It started when I told myself I could open the bag early just to take out one or two pieces for myself, but then things just sort of snowballed from there and I decided that what they didn’t know [had once existed] wouldn’t hurt them, right?! Almond Joys = my kryptonite, apparently.
What are your favorite candies? Have your favorites changed since childhood?
These truffles are inspired by Almond Joy flavors – chocolate, almonds, and lots of coconut! – but are a bit richer and more more chocolate-y than the actual candy bars. They make a great little homemade gift, perhaps for a housewarming gift or a host(ess) gift, or any sort of gift, really!
- 3 cups sweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 tablespoon amaretto (optional)
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips, melted
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1 3/4 cups chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut (optional)
- In a large bowl, stir together coconut, vanilla extract, sweetened condensed milk, and amaretto (if using). Add melted chocolate and almond butter, and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Use a spoon to scoop out 1-2 teaspoon portions of the filling and roll into balls with your palms. Set on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat and place the baking sheet in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- While the balls of truffle filling are in the freezer, melt remaining 1 3/4 cups chocolate (mixed with 1 teaspoon oil). I recommend doing this not in the microwave, but by simmering water in a saucepan and placing a heat-proof glass bowl on top. This way, the chocolate will be heated continuously and stay melted as you coat the truffles; if the chocolate is removed from the heat, it will gradually cool and make things much messier and more difficult.
- To coat truffles, drop each ball individually into the melted chocolate and spoon chocolate over the top (do not swirl the truffle around!). Pick up with a fork and gently tap your fingers against the hand holding the fork to shake off excess chocolate. Use a toothpick or cake-tester to slide the truffle onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Sprinkle with coconut (if desired).
- Once all the truffles are coated, refrigerate for 10-15 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden.
- If you’re trying to go dairy-free, you can probably omit the sweetened condensed milk, but you may want to add a little bit more almond butter if the filling isn’t sticking together.
These look amazing! Lovely combination of coconut and almonds and chocolate.
Thanks so much!
They look absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to try them!!!
Thanks! Let me know how it goes if you make them 🙂
I love the photos that you shot for this post! And you are SO right. Mondays, do indeed require chocolate haha!
Aw, thanks!! Basically, I think Monday should be renamed “Chocoday.”
oh my goodness these look yummy!! like pop-able little almond joys, perfect!
Exactly! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I want one right now!
Me too, haha! Mine are all long gone now…
Almond Joys are one of my favorites too! I’m sure these are much better, since they contain real chocolate and not the fake “mockolate” stuff. They look delicious!
Thanks, I like to think so! I also made these with semi-sweet chocolate rather than milk chocolate – I’ve always been partial to that aspect of Mounds bars in comparison to Almond Joys.
A more chocolatey Almond Joy?! Oh my gosh count me in! These look phenomenal!
Thanks!!
Pretty much every weekday requires chocolate for me 🙂 These look amazing! I always loved almond joy candy bars!
Oh me too, definitely! I wasn’t sure if that was just me, though 😉
Loving these truffles! They look amazing. My favorite two candy bars have remained by my side throughout my life… good ole’ twix and kit kat. Love those things. They’re family haha
Ohhhh man, I’m so glad you mentioned Twix…how did I forget about those?! I’ll have to come up with a Twix-inspired dessert now!
Oooh, yum! Looks delicious, and quite simple! Chocolate and coconut is one of my favorite combos!
A Twix inspired dessert would be delicious… (actually come to think of it, I think I just saw one of Food52, if you want the recipe…! Haven’t tried, but looks promising)
Thanks! I’ll have to pop over to Food52 to go check out that Twix dessert – thanks for the tip!
These truffles look so delicious! What a great combination of flavours 🙂
Thanks! I can’t really take credit for coming up with the flavor combo, though – that was all Almond Joy!
These look so so good and delicious !!
Thank you!!
I just recently discovered a love for Almond Joys too! I love your cute little bites- so fun! Pinning 😉
I love coconut! One of my favorite candy bars is Bounty in fact. These coconut almond truffles are yummy. I have to try them 😉
I’d never heard of Bounty until you mentioned it, but it looks like it’s pretty similar to Mounds, which is one of my favorites too! I hope you get a chance to try these 🙂
Wow, these look fancy and delicious! (And like you, I was not into Almond Joys as a kid, but now I love the combination of coconut and chocolate — and I love that you stuck some almonds in there too.) These look 1000x better than an actual Almond Joy bar. 🙂
Thanks so much!!