How to Roast Almonds

There are two reasons you may need to know how to roast almonds - either to use them in a recipe, or to create a quick, easy and flavorful snack.

Roasting almonds amps up their flavor, really bringing out their nuttiness and giving them a crisper texture. 

Almonds can be roasted dry, which is the best option if you'll be baking with them - as an ingredient in cookies, for example.

Alternatively, they can be roasted with oil, which adds a little extra flavor. Almonds roasted in oil are the perfect choice for a snack, to use as a salad topper or  to add flavor and texture to a curry.

Almonds are particularly good when roasted in their own oil, so it's good to good to keep a bottle of almond oil to hand! But if you don't have any, any other oil would work just as well.

Simply toss the almonds in a teaspoon or two of oil before proceeding with the below method:

Note: Be VERY careful when roasting almonds. They go from being done to burnt in just a minute or two!

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spread the almonds in an even layer on a baking sheet. 
2. Roast almonds for about five minutes. 
3. After five minutes, stir the nuts so the ones that were in the middle are on the edges, and vice versa; this is to ensure even cooking throughout. 
4. After about three minutes, check the almonds to see if they are done. They should look a few shades darker when done and you will be able to smell their nutty scent. You may also hear them crackling. If they aren’t done, return for another three minutes and check again. In general, almonds can take about 8-12 minutes to cook, but rarely more than 15 minutes.
5. Once cooked, transfer the almonds onto a plate or a new baking sheet; this is to prevent any residual heat from the tray continuing to cook them. 

If your recipe calls for chopped, roasted almonds, always chop them after they have been roasted. If you chop them prior to roasting, they are likely to burn and it will be harder to cook them evenly. 

There are lots of delicious additions you can use when roasting almonds. Try using these when you are roasting the almonds for snacking or salad toppers, as they add a real pop of flavor.

Here are some tasty combos:

- Sea salt and smoked paprika

- Cayenne pepper and paprika

- Honey, sugar and cayenne pepper

Just add the spices to the oil prior to coating the almonds, and make sure you toss them well so they are completely covered.

Why not try...

Fried Almonds with Thyme

Homemade Almond Joy cookies

Mocha Almond Bites