Makes 1 quart.
This is one of my “prep” recipes. I prepare these almonds ahead of time and store them so that they are always available when needed. You do not need to add salt, flavorings, oil, or sweeteners. All of those additions just detract from the unique flavor of the roasted almonds. And they do not lose any nutritional value when roasted. Roasting almonds in this way enhances their flavor and dries them out a slightly so that they are even crunchier.
While there are other techniques for roasting almonds, I settled on this method a long time ago. You can roast almonds in a frying pan, if you like, but you will have to stir them continuously or run the risk of burning them. You can also roast them in a microwave oven, which I have also found to be a little unreliable. Even with a turntable in the microwave you will need to stop and stir the almonds occasionally so that the almonds are evenly roasted.
Roasting in the oven may require a little more time, but it does not require as much of your attention as the other two methods. There is also less chance of burning the almonds. Once you have roasted the almonds, you may want to finely chop some to keep on hand. Finely chopped almonds are frequently used in many gluten-free pastry and cookie recipes.
Ingredients:
1 quart shelled almonds, about 1 pound plus 6 ounces.
Instructions:
1. Spread the 1 quart almonds out evenly on a large baking pan. I prefer to use a standard 9 inch by 13 inch cake pan. Bake in a preheated 275º oven for 1½ hours.
2. Stir once every 20 minutes with a spatula while baking to make sure that the almonds are evenly roasted.
3. After the baking time is up, remove 2 or 3 almonds from the oven and cut in half to check their color. They should be lightly browned on the inside like the almonds on the left in the photograph below. If still light colored, stir the almonds again and bake for an additional 30 minutes.
My storage container of choice is a canning jar with a Ball® white plastic lid. You should be able to get the lids wherever canning supplies are sold. If not, you can get them on Amazon.com.
These almonds are ideal for making candy like English toffee. Your candy will have more flavor than the commercial toffee that you get at the store.
They are also a major ingredient to our Trail Mix with fruit and nuts.
Dry Roasted Almonds
Dry roasted almonds can make or break a recipe that uses almonds. Once you master this recipe you may never use unroasted almonds again.
These roasted or toasted almonds are great for snacking and putting in your favorite trail mix. They are also excellent additions when used in baking and making candy like English Toffee.
Ingredients
- 1 quart fresh shelled almonds, about 1 pound plus 6 ounces
Instructions
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Spread the 1 quart almonds out evenly on a large baking pan. I prefer to use a standard 9 inch by 13 inch cake pan. Bake in a preheated 275º oven for 1 1/2 hours.
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Stir once every 20 minutes with a spatula while baking to make sure that the almonds are evenly roasted.
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After the baking time is up, remove 2 or 3 almonds from the oven and cut in half to check their color. They should be lightly browned on the inside. If still light colored, stir the almonds again and bake for an additional 30 minutes.
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Remove from oven and allow to cool before storing in a jar with a tight fitting lid for storage.
My storage container of choice is a canning jar with a Ball® white plastic lid. You should be able to get the lids wherever canning supplies are sold. If not, you can get them on Amazon.com.
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