You can make Homemade Almond Joy bars in 15 minutes with just 5 everyday ingredients and, I promise, they taste even better than the original!
Remember that Almond Joy commercial from the '80s?: "Sometimes you feel like a nut... Sometimes you don't... Almond Joy's got nuts, Mound's don't..." (Weird Al Yankovic wrote the jingle - who knew?)
When it comes to candy and cookies, I always 'feel like a nut,' so Almond Joy bars were a favorite candy of mine growing up. I hadn't had one in years and instead of a trip to the grocery store I headed to the kitchen and came up with these homemade Almond Joy bars.
This is a copycat Almond Joy recipe, but it's a big improvement on what you buy in the grocery store. For one thing, there's the ingredient list. See the Almond Joy ingredient label below:
Compare it to: coconut, coconut oil, honey, vanilla, almonds, dark chocolate and salt (optional).
Making these is as simple as melting a few ingredients and some stirring and sprinkling.
A 12-cup mini muffin tray works perfectly and it's fun for kids of all ages (ahem) to cram the coconut mixture into the mini muffin liners. Oh, and if you don't 'feel like a nut,' skip the almonds and voilà!, homemade Mounds bars.
Love These? More Dessert Recipes You Need to Try!
- Crepe Cake (made with an incredible Whipped Cream Frosting.)
- S'mores Brownies (have you ever had marshmallow meringue?)
- Almond Flour Brownies (thick and fudgy gluten free brownies!)
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies (crispy and chewy with a salted top - SO good!)
- Cowboy Cookies (if you like cookies with all the lumps and bumps, yum!)
- Butter Cookies (melt in your mouth delicious!)
How to Make Homemade Almond Joy
1. Cook and stir coconut oil and honey over low heat until melted. Stir in vanilla and pour over shredded coconut. Stir to coat coconut evenly.
2. Spoon coconut mixture into mini muffin pan liners, compressing firmly with the back of a spoon.
3. Top each candy with a toasted almond.
4. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or glass bowl set over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Spoon chocolate equally over each candy.
5. Sprinkle each candy with flaky sea salt. (Optional) Refrigerate until firm then enjoy!
Homemade Almond Joy
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups unsweetened shredded coconut 100 grams
- ⅓ cup virgin coconut oil or other coconut oil that is solid at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon real vanilla extract
- 12 toasted almonds
- 3 ½ ounces dark chocolate broken into small pieces (I used Theo 85%)
- sea salt flakes such as Maldon (optional)
Instructions
- Line 12-cup mini muffin pan with liners. Set aside.
- Add shredded coconut to a medium bowl.
- To a saucepan over low heat add coconut oil and honey; cook and stir just until coconut oil has melted. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over flaked coconut and stir until thoroughly coated.
- Spoon coconut mixture evenly into prepared pan, pressing firmly to compress. Continue to stir mixture throughout the process to keep oil distributed. Top each candy with a toasted almond.
- Place chocolate in a double boiler or glass bowl over simmering water; stir constantly until chocolate is melted and smooth. Spoon melted chocolate over each candy, gently spreading to the edges with back of spoon. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until chocolate and coconut mixture are firm. If desired, lightly sprinkle the top of each bite with flaky sea salt. Serve.
ah yes your recipe sounds much more healthy! not a fan of coconut oil tho, so i would have to use something else. i always melt chocolate in the microwave - soooo much easier and never fails. cheers and happy new year!
Thanks, Sherry! You might try palm oil (AKA non-hydrogenated shortening like Spectrum brand) in place of the coconut oil. Cheers and Happy New Year to you!
Very scary to look at ingredients' lists sometimes hey?!
Love this simple version of a classic. In England we call these 'Bounty' bars!
Hi, Helen! 🙂 I've heard of Bounty bars, but didn't know they were the same. And, yes, about the ingredients list! I often wonder why make it so complicated?
These look SO good! I love that they can be ready in 15 minutes. I always "feel like a nut" too so these look perfect 😉
I'm glad I'm not the only one who always feels like a nut, haha. Thank you, Katherine!
Oh my gahhhh, Marissa!! Almond joy was my favorite candy before I developed an allergy to cocoa!! I kid you not, I want to cry when I see them (AND reeses) staring at me near the check out in grocery stores. So sad. Needless to say, I'm DYING over these!! They look amazing! Be a doll and eat a few dozen for me, mmm'kay? Cheers! Xoxo
Thank you, Chey! And boooo to cocoa allergies! Now I'll be on the lookout for a substitute. 😉
Take me back! I love the music trivia piece. I have pinned these for my next get together.
Who knew, right!? Thank you, Shauna!
I love what you're serving up today Marissa! Almond Joys are a fave of mine! I love the healthier ingredient list too.
Mine too...love them! Thank you, Mary Ann!
How delicious 🙂 My favorite candy bar as a kid-- but yes, the ingredients are scary! I have all these things on hand...
I was surprised when I read the label! If you decide to try them, let me know how it goes. 🙂
Haha, I do remember that commercial and I'm with you - always nuts when it comes to candy! 😉 I love how healthy the ingredient list is here, and I love making a treat like this and keeping it in my fridge for those days when a chocolate craving hits. I'm bookmarking this one to make, and I think I have everything on hand! (And P.S., Theo is the best!!)
How did I not reply to this, Faith!? I remember you made these and I loved your photo! So much so, that I had to re-do these with vanilla added - your suggestion! Thank you, sweet friend!
Brilliant post! These bites look absolutely delicious and I love that you posted the ingredient list, that's a powerful tool, I'll never look at the candy in the store the same way again!
Thanks, Nicole! I know what you mean - when I looked up the label, the list of ingredients was even more complicated than I'd anticipated!
Like you, I'm always feeling nutty when it comes to desserts! These look super yummy and for me, there's nothing "optional" about those sea salt flakes! Thanks for the awesome bit of trivia- Weird Al...who knew?!
haha, it's good to be nutty! 🙂 Thanks, Sonali.
These look so good! And of course healthier! Pinned to try them!
Thank you, Mira!
Wow! I mean I'm not really a coconut candy kinda guy, but I'd go for these if we were neighbors and I invited myself over with a need some sugar excuse. 😉
I wish we were neighbors! I have a feeling we'd be cooking up a storm together...
Okay this is getting scary! Almond Joy bars were hands down my favorite candy bar going up… many, many, many moons ago. These days, I try very hard to stay away from candy bars, but hey if it is on Pinch and Swirl it must be healthy!
Well maybe not… but always good!
I to was surprised by the Weird Al revelation! Music Trivia is also one of favorite things.
haha, love it! Tom, these are pretty darn healthy, when it comes to treats anyway. Not everything can be kale, right? 😉 So you love music trivia - how about movie trivia? I think I'm better at that...
Meet you halfway... TV
First video shown on MTV?
The date was 8/1/81
Keith knew immediately: Video Killed the Radio Star. 🙂 I wouldn't have known...
We made the almond joy squares last night!
Unfortunately, I had to make a late night run to the store. When I went to get the almonds, I found our jug was empty.
My sweetie ate them all on the way out the door to swim to do her laps at 5:30 am .
It is sooooooooo hard to make treats, when you have swimmer in the house!
have not tasted them yet - that is tonight
How were they? They're not as sweet as what you buy in the store - but you can always add more honey. 🙂
Yayy!! This recipe is genius!!! I loved almond joy bars because, well, who doesn't love coconut, almonds, and chocolate together?? I love that you created this natural, healthier homemade version. They look SO good! I cannot wait to make these!! <3
Thank you, Beeta! So true - who wouldn't love coconut, almonds and chocolate together? It's against the rules, right? 😉
I have never tried an almond joy. Oh the shame of it all! But I can make these which makes me very happy 🙂
What? Never had an Almond Joy...well now you have to try these! 🙂
Hahahaha - I sing that jingle REGULARLY still. No idea Weird Al wrote it - funny! My dad would loveeee these bites!
Once I get in my head, it stays there for days! I almost felt guilty about bringing it up in this post. 😉
We have Almond Joy in the UK too, Marissa, but we call them 'Bounty' bars!!
Your homemade ones look incredible, and I love how you've made them in ice cube trays. They look really snazzy when you turn them out!
These would make great gifts! 🙂
I had no idea? Isn't it funny how the same food has different names in different countries - or even from one coast to the other in the US. Like Best Foods Mayonnaise is called Hellman's on the East Coast. I've always wondered why...
Great idea on the gifts too! I love edible gifts (giving AND receiving.:) ) xo
Lol, I remember those commercials! But I had no idea Weird Al wrote it, but why am I not surprised? I'm seriously loving this natural and WAY better version, and they're so easy to make! Why ever buy the name-brand with all of those crazy ingredients when you can have these amazing treats!
Crazy, right?
Thanks so much, Kathleen! xo
Hi Marissa! Coconut and chocolate are meant for each other! I love Theo's chocolates! I discovered them at a co-op in Knoxville last year. I order them online and I believe I have one left and it is dark chocolate so I am all set to make these! And I'll have to order more from Theo's!
I love it that you've discovered Theo!! If you're ever in Seattle, they have the sweetest little factory that you can tour and see the whole process in person. Plus they have samples of every kind of chocolate they make so, if you're like me, you can go home with a belly ache too. 😉
Hi Marissa! I have a cousin who lives in Maple Valley, Washington and I have only seen him twice in the last fifty years...I talk to him three or four times a year. It is on my bucket list to visit Seattle and when I do I will definitely visit Theo's! Plus, eat lots of seafood!
These look unreal! I am an almond joy fiend, but I don't love the processed and unsustainable ingredients in the storebought version. Love the simplicity here 🙂
Thanks so much, Medha!