Last Updated on September 15, 2022 by Kimberly Stroh

Making homemade candy during the holiday season doesn’t mean spending hours in the kitchen with complicated steps. You can actually make candy very easily that’s delicious and beautiful. This Christmas Almond Cluster Drop Candy is our family’s favorite. The almonds are coated in a rich chocolate, dropped onto wax paper to dry and topped with a little sprinkle of sea salt to finish. They make a great homemade Christmas gift, too!

Every Christmas my kitchen is filled with baked goods and holiday treats. I love to gift friends and family with something delicious from my kitchen to let them know they’re loved. My whole kitchen island fills with irresistible candies, cookies and fudge. However, I don’t spend hours in the kitchen.

I keep everything as simple as possible. Time is precious during the holiday season. I’d much rather be doing fun stuff with my kids, and spending time as a family, than working in the kitchen. So I work with recipes that are super easy. Even my kids can make these Christmas Almond Cluster Drop Candy.

They look great on their own or you can serve them on a big tray of holiday treats. The clusters don’t dry out, like cookies, and you can definitely make them ahead of time. That’s why they’re a win in my book and I know you’ll love making them too.

Looking for other Christmas candy recipes? I’ve got several tried-and-true recipes that my Grandmother introduced me to and they’re now reader favorites:

• Christmas Snowman Truffles
• Homemade Rocky Road Candy
• Slow Cooker Chocolate Butterscotch Drop Candy
• Mini Marzipan Candy

How To Make Christmas Almond Cluster Drop Candy

There are only three ingredients to this recipe and there’s practically no skill required to make them. I do recommend that you have either wax paper or parchment paper on hand. You can let the candy set on the kitchen counter, or a cookie tray. It needs to be a completely flat surface as you work fast to drop the candy.

When To Make Almond Cluster Candy

I always make it for Christmas, but it’s great any time of the year. If I have a chocolate craving, these are so easy to throw together. Plus, they only require the three ingredients so I always keep them on hand. Compared to store-bought alternatives, the clusters are pretty healthy too. You know exactly what’s in them and almonds are a great superfood.

How To Keep Your Candy Fresh

After the chocolate has completely set, store them in airtight food storage containers. I keep them in the refrigerator to prevent any melting. The heat in the house can easily melt the chocolate when it’s left out on the counter. Just keep them out for a few minutes before serving if the refrigeration bothers you. For best freshness, enjoy the candy within 3-4 days.

Can You Freeze Christmas Almond Drop Candy?

Yes! It’s easy to freeze the almond candy. Freeze the candy, in freezer bags, to prevent freezer burn. Keep the candy frozen for up to three months. Let it thaw in the refrigerator for a few hours and then you can set it out on the counter before enjoying. Toss the candy after three months, if it’s been frozen.

I love to make the Christmas Almond Cluster Drop Candy a few months before Christmas. I keep it in the freezer and just transfer it to the refrigerator before adding it to my holiday treat trays.

Helpful Tips To Making Your Drop Candy

• If you leave the clusters out of the fridge, they will definitely need a cooler room to harden. If not, they will remain tacky. I tend to use the freezer if I’m in a hurry.
• You can swap out the almonds for another favorite nut. 
• I used unsalted almonds because the sea salt adds enough saltiness for me. However, if you like things a touch saltier, salted almonds would be just fine. 
• You can make bigger clusters if preferred. I just found the 1-inch cookie scoop to make the perfect size.

What You Need From The Grocery Store:

• Unsalted Almonds
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (12oz)
• Coarse Sea Salt
• Parchment or Wax Paper
• Optional: 1-inch Scoop (alternative is dropping them by the teaspoonful)

Directions To Make Christmas Almond Cluster Drop Candy

Line a baking sheet or any flat surface with parchment paper or wax paper.

Add the chocolate chips to a medium mixing bowl and microwave for 2 minutes, pausing every 30 seconds to stir. Microwave until the mixture is smooth and creamy when stirred.

Add the almonds to the mixing bowl and fold them in until they’re fully coated.

Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, fill the scoop until perfectly full and place on the prepared sheet. Repeat until all the mixture has been used.

Immediately sprinkle each cluster with a bit of sea salt. Place in the fridge for 20 minutes or until set. Enjoy!