Homemade Almond Joys Food

HOMEMADE ALMOND JOY CANDY BARS

Steps:

• In a heavy sauce pan (over medium on the stove) heat syrup, marshmallows, and salt. Stir until marshmallows are melted.
• Continue to stir over heat for an additional minute.
• Remove from stove and add coconut and vanilla. Stir well and transfer to a bowl to cool in the fridge. The mixture needs to get cool enough that it can be rolled into balls.
• In the meantime, melt the chocolate chips. I like to do the double boiled method by putting them in a metal bowl and placing the bowl over a pot of boiling water.
• Stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Roll the coconut mixture into small balls or ovals and press an almond into the top.
• Dip each one in chocolate then let cool on a chilled marble slab, parchment paper, or on wax paper over a chilled cookie sheet.For Homemade Mounds: omit the almond and use dark chocolate chips.

HOMEMADE ALMOND JOYS WITH DARK CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Stir together the coconut, condensed milk and vanilla. It should be sticky and hold it's shape when pressed together.
• Melt the chocolate (along with the optional coconut oil to thin it) in a glass bowl over a pan of water, or in the microwave at half power for about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds or so.
• Drizzle 1 teaspoon of chocolate into the bottom of each cup. Add 1 teaspoon of the coconut mixture. Press on the coconut slightly to make the chocolate slide up the sides of the liner.
• Top the coconut with an almond and then pour a teaspoon of chocolate on top. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to eat. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for a couple of months. Enjoy!

ALMOND JOY CANDIES

Steps:

• Toast the almonds in the oven at 400°F just till they are warm and you can start to smell them (3-5 min); set aside.
• Bring the Karo to a boil and add the coconut, remove from heat and add extract.
• Place in fridge till firm.
• Form into 12 round balls or 6 ovals and place on waxed paper -- press 1 almond to each ball or 2 to each oval and chill for 1/2 hour. (You can play with the size of these, if you like more filling to less chocolate, make them bigger, you'll just get fewer).
• Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in a microwave being careful to stir often and not cook--just melt.
• Dip each candy into the chocolate; coat evenly and completely. No coconut should be exposed! Place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet in the fridge till chocolate is set.
• Store in a airtight container.

COCONUT (ALMOND) JOYS

Steps:

• Combine melted butter, sugar and coconut and mix well.
• Shape rounded teaspoonfuls into balls and place on cookie or baking sheet lined with waxed paper.
• Flatten each ball slightly by making an indentation in the center with thumb or finger.
• Fill centers with melted chocolate.
• Place an almond half or sliver on top, if desired.
• Chill until firm and store in refrigerator.