National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

Dark, bitter chocolate and toasted almonds, when consumed separately might seem fairly simple or even bland. But, when combined, the two flavors blend together to bring about a tasty treat that really just can’t be beat. 

It’s time to celebrate National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day!

History of National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

This intriguingly specific day celebrates a particular combination of flavors that actually has a fairly long history. In fact, it is one of the oldest recipes involving chocolate that is known in the English-speaking world, and even featured as the only chocolate dish in an 18th-century cookbook.

Of course, while the treat of dark chocolate and almonds goes back pretty far, National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day is a much newer occurrence. The day was founded by and continues to be sponsored by the National Confectioners Association, as well as being celebrated and promoted by organizations such as food.com, a site which aims to encourage cooking and the appreciation of food by holding various different food days all throughout the year.

Food themed days can be some of the most delightful to enjoy, but National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day offers a delicious way to celebrate without going to a lot of fuss!

How to Celebrate National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day encourages a delicious and nourishing dessert, which contributes to health and long life. Celebrate by dipping blanched almonds in the best dark chocolate that can be found, and serving to your friends with a glass of red wine!

Check out some of these other ideas for ways to celebrate the day and pay homage to this delightful treat:

Get Creative with Dark Chocolate and Almonds

In celebration of National Bittersweet Chocolate and Almonds Day, consider trying out a wide range of different recipes that these little treats can be incorporated into. In addition to simply snacking on them, consider some of these ideas, not just for this day but for any day:

• Sprinkle bittersweet chocolate and almonds on oatmeal for breakfast.
• Use almonds and dark chocolate along with other ingredients like raisins or dried fruits to mix up a trail mix or granola for an afternoon snack.
• When making dark chocolate covered almonds at home, try covering them on the outside with cinnamon, which has health benefits like reducing inflammation and supporting healthy blood sugar levels.
• Top a fresh lettuce salad with bittersweet chocolate and almonds for a delightful change of pace.

Share Some Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds

An ideal way to enjoy National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day is to raise awareness by sharing the fun with friends, family, coworkers, neighbors and more! This day is a great opportunity to show some love, say thank you and appreciate folks in your life with a tasty and healthy snack. Create little snack bags and pass them out to the kids on the soccer team or in the scout troop. Decorate some packs with bows and give them to teachers, students, business clients and so many others.

Learn About Health Benefits of Chocolate and Almonds

Some people might wonder why it is necessary to be so specific as to name the ‘bittersweet’ version of chocolate on this day. The reason is that, while milk chocolate can be rather unhealthy, filled with many calories and added sugars, bittersweet chocolate has many more health benefits. Both the tannins in dark chocolate and the various fatty acids in almonds have many health benefits, various studies have shown.

Bittersweet chocolate is a powerful source of antioxidants as well as other nutrients that may help with blood flow, lower blood pressure, protect the heart, and even possibly improve brain function. Almonds are filled with Vitamin E, protein and magnesium, and are also able to lower blood sugar levels, reduce the risk of heart disease and high cholesterol, and minimize feelings of hunger.