National Peanut Cluster Day is March 8th, but there are too many people who have peanut allergies. Thus, we’ve reworked the classic recipe into almond clusters.

> The recipe is below.

And for a spicy twist, we used Blue Diamond’s Limited Edition Almonds With Mike’s Hot Honey.

First, a few words about these almonds: How could they be a limited edition???

They’re too wonderful: sweet heat, a spicy honey coating on crunchy almonds. And a bonus: they’re a protein snack: almonds have 6 grams of protein per 1-ounce serving, plus more good nutrition*.

> The history of peanut clusters.

> The history of peanuts.

> The history of almonds.

> The history of chocolate.
 
 
INTRODUCING BLUE DIAMOND ALMONDS
WITH MIKE’S HOT HONEY

What happens when two number-one brands team up? You get something truly delicious: Blue Diamond Almonds With Mike’s Hot Honey (photos #2 and #7).

Blue Diamond Almonds, the world’s leading almond processor, has just launched its new flavor innovation, Hot Honey Almonds, in partnership with Mike’s Hot Honey, America’s No. 1 (and the original) brand of hot honey.

And oh my: How did we ever live without this perfectly blend of honey and chili with crunchy, high-protein almonds? These addictive, sweet and spicy nuts are so much more than snacks. Use them:
 
 
SNACKING & BEYOND: MORE WAYS TO USE HOT HONEY ALMONDS

 
Blue Diamond Almonds With Mike’s Hot Honey are now available on Amazon, as well as select Walmart locations nationwide plus Walmart.com.

Here’s more about them.
 
 
RECIPE: EASY ALMOND CLUSTERS

This recipe (photo #1) was adapted from a peanut cluster recipe submitted to Taste Of Home by Joy Dulaney of Highland Village, Texas.

We used spicy almonds, but you can use any nut(s) you like. You can also add dried fruits: cherries, cranberries, raisins, etc.

The total prep time is less than 30 minutes.

If your palate can tell the difference, it’s worth it to spend more on a quality chocolate couverture (we used Guittard). You can also use real chocolate chips.

You can use dark, milk, or white chocolate, or split the recipe and make some of each.

The recipe also uses toffee bits, an easier option than making caramel. However, if you have caramels on hand, you can chop up an equivalent amount to substitute for the toffee bits. We took that route, and preferred the chewiness of the caramel.

Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. MELT chocolate in a double boiler or in a microwave-safe dish. Stir until smooth.

2. STIR in the almonds and toffee bits. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets. If desired, garnish with sea salt. Let stand until set.

3. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 5 dozen clusters.
 
Variations

You can substitute the toffee/caramel bits for more nutritious inclusions, or divide the eight ounces into equal portions of toffee/caramel and the following::

 
________________
 
*Almond Nutrition: A one-ounce servings of almonds had these daily values: calcium 6% DV, iron 6% DV, potassiuum 4% DV, Vitamin E 71% DV, magnesium 15% DV. DV, or Daily Value refers to the recommended amount of a specific nutrient that a person should consume each day. Almonds are one of the “Magnificent Seven” heart-healthy nuts.

†Pun intended.

[1] It’s pretty easy to make nut clusters (photo © Chocolate.org).

[2] We made the nut clusters even better with the new Hot Honey Almonds from Blue Diamond (photo © Blue Diamond).

[3] If you want to make your own hot honey almonds—great for guests or gifts—we recommend this recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen. But limit yourself to eating 10 almonds a day or else make triple batches (photo © Natasha’s Kitchen).

[4] Start the recipe with dry-roasted almonds (photo © Walmart).

[5] You can find Heath Bar or Skor toffee bits at many grocers and online (photo © Webstaurant Store).

[6] With after-dinner coffee, how about these stand-ins for mignardises: almond clusters for those who want chocolate, without chocolate for those who want to save the calories? These almond clusters are available at Snowflake Chocolate.