Chocolate With Nuts
Delicious milk or dark chocolate poured over nutritious, tasty nuts creates a formidable snack that might induce guilt but falls on the healthier side when consumed with moderation. Both chocolate and nuts have been linked to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, which decrease the risk of heart disease.
Chocolate-covered nuts are a popular comfort food due to their crunchy texture and rich flavor. Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a compound that reacts with the brain similarly to endorphins, increasing feelings of happiness and contentment over pain and anxiety.
A chocolate coating on crunchy almonds, sweet and buttery cashews, crisp pecans, chewy peanuts, and exotic macadamia nuts creates a uniquely textured and flavored snack that satiates sweet and bitter-sweet cravings.
Individuals have enjoyed chocolate with nuts for generations due to their satisfying, crunchy texture and delicious flavor. They’re great treats, whether included in a party spread or consumed in smaller quantities whenever one feels like a treat.
Milk Chocolate-Covered Nuts
These chocolate nuts offer a sweet and savory flavor profile that satisfies a variety of cravings. They’re sweeter and contain more sugar than dark chocolate nuts, making them a perfect pick-me-up snack to boost energy levels, especially during afternoon slumps.
Milk chocolate-covered nuts contain dairy, which provides protein and calcium that increases the strength of bones and teeth. Cocoa-rich milk chocolate contains flavonoids, a type of antioxidant found in tea and red wine – that can reduce the damage caused by free radicals in the body, responsible for causing disease.
Chocolate is a natural source of magnesium and caffeine, which stimulates healthy brain functioning, especially blood flow to the brain. This improves concentration, alertness, and other cognitive activity; whether you like cashews, almonds, peanuts, or macadamias, nuts covered in milk chocolate offer far more than just a sweet treat.
Milk chocolate has the same number of benefits as dark chocolate; however, it works to a lesser degree due to its dairy and sugar components. However, our bodies still require a percentage of fat and sugar to operate at their optimum, and milk chocolate-coated nuts are a healthier, sugary snack compared to alternatives with less nutritional value.
Dark Chocolate-Covered Nuts
Dark chocolate-covered nuts appeal to those who prefer a slightly more bitter, cocoa-rich taste that’s less creamy than milk chocolate. The antioxidants in dark chocolate alleviate stress, boost brain activity, improve liver health, and protect against heart disease.
Adding dark chocolate-covered nuts to your trail mix or list of snack options provides all the benefits of nuts and dark chocolate combined. Dark chocolate contains 50-90% cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar, giving it a chalky texture.
Nutty flavors pair well with the intensity of dark chocolate. Its strong, bittersweet flavor is best paired with almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, and peanuts. When combined with roasted nuts, dark chocolate provides a delicious bite with added crunch.
When eaten, dark chocolate instantly boosts mood and can, over the long term, improve memory. Dark chocolate-covered nuts needn’t be a guilty pleasure as they offer numerous health benefits.
Nutrition & Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
Milk and dark chocolate offer many health benefits when eaten in moderation. Dark chocolate is full of incredible antioxidants such as procyanidins, catechins, and epicatechins, which are called flavonoids. These boost immune systems to ward off disease and reduce inflammation.
Adding a small portion of chocolate-covered nuts to your diet is an easy way to increase fiber intake, of which many people fail to consume the recommended daily amount. Chocolate is a rich source of iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium, which are important minerals the body needs to function properly.
According to Medical News Today, a 100-gram bar of dark chocolate 70-85% cocoa contains approximately 604 calories with:
- Protein = 7.87g
- Fat = 43.06g
- Carbohydrates = 46.36g
- Dietary fiber = 11g
- Sugar = 24.23g
- Iron = 12 mg
- Magnesium = 230 mg
- Zinc = 3.34 mg
Can Chocolate Improve Brain Function?
Research indicates the consumption of at least 70% dark chocolate improves brain function, as flavonoids in the chocolate improve blood flow. This boosts memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem-solving skills, reducing overall cognitive decline.
Is Eating Chocolate Good For Your Skin?
Chocolate-covered nuts can be beneficial to your appearance. The flavonoids from cocoa improve blood flow, boost skin cell regeneration, and protect it against sun damage. Some studies suggest that the antioxidants found in chocolate boost the immune system and strengthen the body’s natural detoxification process, ridding the skin of harmful oxidants.
Is Dark Chocolate Good for Diabetics?
Dark chocolate has a low sugar content and does not cause a spike in blood sugar snacks saturated with sugar. It supports glucose control and increases sensitivity to insulin, which can delay the onset of diabetes, making it beneficial for those who are prediabetic. For people with diabetes, it can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and aid weight management.
What are Other Benefits of Dark Chocolate?
Dark chocolate quells unhealthy snack cravings and is a good substitute for those on a weight loss or maintenance plan. In addition, it improves and reduces anxiety. Certain studies even indicate that it helps with cancer prevention.
Are Chocolate-Covered Nuts Good for You?
From improved brain functioning to stronger cognitive ability and cardiovascular disease protection, chocolate-covered nuts have a wide range of health benefits with positive effects when consumed in moderation, together with a healthy eating plan.
General Questions
What are Chocolate-Covered Peanuts Called?
These are called goobers. The word goober comes from the Congo name for peanuts ‘nugba’. They’re small and irregularly shaped and were first popularized by Nestlé and the Blumenthal Chocolate Company in the US. Nowadays, they are sold at movie theaters and in supermarket snack isles around the globe.
How Long are Chocolate-Covered Almonds Good for?
Chocolate-covered almonds almost last for 2-3 weeks when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Can You Freeze Chocolate-Coated Nuts?
While you can free chocolate-coated nuts, we recommend eating them sooner to experience the best taste.
What Nut Goes Best with Chocolate?
Dark chocolate pairs well with the distinct flavors of peanuts, pecans, almonds, and hazelnuts, whereas walnuts have a milder flavor that compliments milk chocolate. Lastly, nuts like macadamias usually taste best with sweeter white chocolate due to their creamy, mild flavor.
Where to Buy Chocolate-Covered Almonds & Other Nuts?
You can buy a variety of chocolate-coated nuts in bulk at NutStop.
Culinary Questions
How Many Calories are in Chocolate-Covered Almonds?
One serving (1oz. Or six pieces) typically contains between 150-160 calories, including 34.5% carbohydrates, 58.4% fat, and 6.9% protein. Chocolate-covered nuts are highly enjoyable, so be sure to watch your intake as it’s easy to eat more than one serving.
What are Easy Chocolate-Covered Nuts Recipes?
Chocolate-Covered Almond Cookies taste like delicious chocolate chip cookies but with added nuts.
Ingredients:
¾ of unsalted butter
¾ cup of brown sugar
¼ of white sugar
One medium-sized egg
1 tsp of vanilla essence
¾ of almond extract
2 tsp of cornstarch
1 tsp of baking powder
½ tsp of salt
2 cups of all-purpose flour
One and ½ cups of chocolate-covered almonds
Instructions:
- Mix cream butter, brown and white sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg, almond, and vanilla. Then add cornstarch, baking soda, salt, and flour and mix to form a soft dough. Stir in almonds.
- Refrigerate the dough for two hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Roll cookie dough into small balls and place them on a lined or greased baking tray.
- Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
* Note that cookies will appear uncooked and set when cooled. Chocolate-covered nuts like Almonds can be added to virtually any plain cookie dough.
