By: Jill Mills Posted: Dec 10, 2025

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

With just four simple ingredients, this Almond Roca Recipe features layers of almonds, toffee, and chocolate. It’s buttery, crunchy, and so easy to make!

Three pieces of almond roca on a white plate

This almond roca recipe tastes just like the classic candy in the gold wrapper, but fresher and made right in your own kitchen. Homemade toffee is poured over chopped almonds, then covered in a smooth layer of melted chocolate and topped with more almonds. It’s one of a few candy recipes I make every year, along with Southern pecan pralines and divinity candy. It’s the perfect treat for holiday trays, gifting to neighbors, or keeping in your freezer for a sweet bite whenever the craving hits.

Why I Make This Almond Roca Recipe Every Year

Only 4 ingredients. This recipe is made with butter, sugar, chocolate chips, and almonds. That’s it! I almost always have all 4 ingredients in the pantry.
Great for gift-giving. Almond roca makes a wonderful edible gift. It stays fresh for weeks, which makes it great for gifting around the holidays.
Stores well. I’ll often make this almond roca recipe well in advance of the holidays and keep it in the freezer. It stays fresh in the freezer for 2-3 months and for up to 2 weeks at room temperature.

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make an almond roca recipe

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s an overview of the 4 ingredients needed to make this almond roca recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Butter – I used unsalted butter but salted butter works too.
Sugar – White sugar is classic, but light brown sugar adds a caramel flavor
Chocolate chips – Semi-sweet chocolate chips are typically used. Feel free to use dark chocolate for a richer flavor, or white chocolate for a fun twist.
Almonds – While it wouldn’t technically be almond roca anymore, they can be swapped for pecans, walnuts, or hazelnuts.

How To Make Almond Roca

This candy recipe is super easy to make. Just be sure to have a candy thermometer handy! The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Sliced toasted almonds in a square baking pan

Prep. Line a square pan with parchment paper. Sprinkle ½ cup of chopped almonds across the bottom.
Make the toffee mixture. Combine the butter and sugar in a saucepan. Heat over low until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves, stirring continuously. Insert a candy thermometer. Stir frequently until it reaches 300F.
Pour over the almonds. Keep stirring as you remove the toffee from the heat. Pour it over the almonds. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
Add the chocolate. Microwave the chocolate chips in 30-second intervals until smooth. Spread it over the toffee. Top with the remaining almonds.
Chill. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until the toffee and chocolate are set.
Enjoy. Slice (or break) into pieces. Enjoy!

Candy Variations

There are lots of ways to customize this almond roca recipe, just by adding an ingredient or two. Here are a few ideas:

Sea Salt Roca. Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top of the chocolate layer.
Holiday Roca. Add crushed peppermint candies on top for a festive touch. Holiday sprinkles would also be a nice touch.
Nut-Free Toffee. Skip the nuts altogether for a buttery chocolate toffee.
Espresso Roca. Stir 1 teaspoon instant espresso into the hot toffee mixture before pouring.
Cranberry White Chocolate Roca. Use white chocolate and top with dried cranberries and almonds.

Tips for Success

While this recipe is easy to make, there are a few important things to keep in mind.

Use a candy thermometer. Getting to 300°F is key for crunchy toffee, too low and it’ll be chewy. I do not recommend trying to guesstimate the temperature without a thermometer.
Low and slow. Keep the heat on low to avoid burning the sugar.
Stir gently. Stir often but not too vigorously to keep the butter and sugar from separating.
Toast the almonds. For even more flavor, toast the chopped almonds before adding them to the candy.
Break or slice. Once chilled, you can cut into neat squares or break into rustic pieces.

A hand holding a piece of homemade almond roca

Proper Storage

Room temperature. Store almond roca in an airtight container at room temperature. It will stay good for up to 2 weeks.
Freezer. For longer storage, keep the candy in a ziploc bag or container in the freezer. Thaw on the counter before enjoying.

No ratings yet