Chocolate-Covered Almonds

So here’s the deal: chocolate-covered almonds from Puglia—known as "le mandorle atterrate al cioccolato"—are just crazy good. I mean, they bring together the crunchy goodness of toasted almonds with that rich, velvety dark chocolate flavor. Really, it’s so so addictive. People in southern Italy love them, especially around Christmas. It’s a thing, you know? Puglia has this special bond with almonds—they show up in all kinds of desserts, like cantucci or that crunchy almond brittle everyone shares during the holidays.

But look, this dark chocolate almonds recipe really stands out because it’s super simple. With just high-quality dark chocolate and fresh almonds roasted until they're golden and aromatic, you’ve got the perfect snack for after a big meal—or a homemade gift. And the thing is, you can swap in different types of chocolate like sweet milk or white chocolate, or even mix in other nuts. And basically, the options are endless.

In Puglia, folks get really into experimenting—so you might find almond clusters mixed with hazelnuts or pistachios. These easy chocolate almond recipe bites are super flexible. You could even go sugar-free if you're looking for something lighter. And listen, compared to fancier desserts, these chocolate-coated nuts are the kind of thing you can whip up fast. But still, you get those rich, moist bites that feel special.

Wrap them up in a bag or toss them in a gift basket, and they feel homemade—plus, there’s that touch of nostalgia. Trying these is a fun way to dive into Italian holiday traditions, especially if you’re curious about Puglia’s unique sweets. Between the tender almond inside and the chocolate shell snap, every bite is a bit rustic, a bit sweet, and totally about sharing good food with those you love. Pretty simple, right?

You might also like:

• Candied almonds
• Almond crunch
• Cantucci (Almond cookies)
• Italian Ricciarelli Cookies