Best Snack Ever...I'm hooked!!

[qbu]

I've had them and they are great! I tried this recipe from Linda Sue's Low Carb Menu and Recipes site. Not exactly the same as the Emerald, but really good. I used all whole almonds when I made them.

COCOA COATED NUTS VARIATION
2 ounces pecans, about 3/4 cup *
2 ounces almonds, about 3/4 cup *
1 egg white
Generous pinch salt
1/8 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup granular Splenda or equivalent liquid Splenda
2 tablespoons cocoa, sifted
In a small bowl, whisk the egg white with a fork until frothy. Whisk in all but the nuts until as well blended as possible. The mixture will be very thick and almost dry. Add the nuts and stir with a rubber spatula until they are well coated. Spread the nuts on a nonstick foil lined baking sheet. Bake at 325º for 15-20 minutes until the coating has set and becomes crisp. Cool then break apart before eating. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Makes 4 servings or about 4 1/2 ounces
* You can use any kind of nuts for this but you'll have to adjust the counts. I used finely chopped pecans and sliced almonds because that's all I had on hand.
With granular Splenda:
Per Serving: 204 Calories; 18g Fat; 6g Protein; 9g Carbohydrate; 3.5g Dietary Fiber; 5.5g Net Carbs
With liquid Splenda:
Per Serving: 192 Calories; 18g Fat; 6g Protein; 6g Carbohydrate; 3.5g Dietary Fiber; 2.5g Net Carbs
This version came out a lot more like the Emerald Cocoa Roasted Almonds. The coating is much drier than my previous version. The extra cocoa really boosted the chocolate flavor too. Because the coating mixture comes out so much thicker with the extra cocoa in it, you'll really have to toss the nuts in it well to get them evenly coated. It won't seem like there is enough coating but there is.

[tfek70]

I like the Smokehouse flavor and the Jalapeno Smokehouse. I hate the Wasabi flavored. If I were to make these from scratch and do the cocoa thing, I would be remiss if I didn't add a dash of cinnamon to the recipe. Cinnamon has been known to help regulate blood sugar and slow the absorption of carbs just like cardamom (curry). I try to use either cinnamon or curry in all of my cooking, and the cocoa would be great with cinnamon and maybe some nutmeg.

T. J.

[LageNomAi]

Originally Posted by tfek70

Cinnamon has been known to help regulate blood sugar and slow the absorption of carbs just like cardamom (curry).
T. J.

This is very interesting and I did not know this. My parents add some cinnamon to their morning coffee before brewing it for other health benefits (IIRC, it helps lower cholesterol), but I wonder if adding cinnamon would help Atkineers who otherwise can't have coffee because of the impact on their blood sugar. Does anyone happen to know?

[tfek70]

Coffee!!!!! Great idea. Here is one of many articles about cinnamon and insulin response:

Health Benefits of Cinnamon - Cinnamon for Diabetes and Insulin Resistant

[qbu]

Love cinnamon in coffee!

[NETTY12]

Thanks to you - I have been searching them and I found it at Publix (grocery store) I didn't see it in the individual packs but I bought the regular size - they are AMAZING!!! thank you, thank you, thank you soooo much for informing us - I personally LOVE the cinnamon almonds but I can't find it without sugar and this is very close, even better because I start to crave chocolate around you know when and this really hit the spot.

Wonderful snack

[jadensmom]

Hi,
I bought a 38oz canister of the emerald cocoa almonds at sams club for 9.66. Which beats safeways price of $7 for 11 ounces. They have some awesome buys. The card paid for it self the first time we shopped. 3 pounds of hormel bacon for $4 can't beat that.

[dreamagreatdream]

i got these in the hundred calorie pack. 2 carbs!

[transypodge]

Update: It has been a little over a month since I discovered the Cocoa Almonds. I've eaten them nearly everyday. On many days, I've eaten way more than I should have--it is just so hard to stop. The result?...I've officially hit a 'stall'--a month exactly. I'm not telling you guys to quit eating them, but rather, to eat cautiously. I'm cutting them out for a week or two to see if they are indeed behind my stall. When, and if, I start to eat them again, I will hold them to 1oz/day...in my work lunch...no more carrying around the jar!!

As for my Mom's efforts to recreate the recipe, our almonds just didn't turn out as good. They had sort of a scorched flavor...maybe it was for the best?!?