Chocolate Almond Braid with Caramel

Making this Chocolate Almond Braid with caramel was possibly the easiest recipe I’ve made this year.  There are only four ingredients in this recipe and it takes mere minutes to prep. I made this Chocolate Almond Braid to nosh on as a dessert, but I feel like it would also make a great addition to brunch.  

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This recipe/ post was originally published on February 28, 2019.  It was republished on July 15, 2021 with updates.

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So Easy A Caveman Could Do It

 

I honestly don’t know why I don’t make this chocolate almond braid more often.  All you need is puff pastry, a chocolate bar, and an egg.  Then there’s always the option to jazz it up by throwing in nuts, caramel, or whatever else floats your boat.

Yet, for some unknown reason, this is only the second time I’ve made this quick dessert.  Despite my love for over complicating everything, this recipe is the perfect last minute dish you can throw together to bring to a potluck, family brunch, or satisfy your late night sweet tooth.

 

 

Baking Procedures

 

So, in my kitchen, I have this little notebook that I keep on hand to write notes about recipes as I bake.  I might write down the ingredients, method, notes for future bakes, notes for a blog post, etc. Guys, this recipe was so crazy easy that I didn’t even remember to write anything down.  I just flipped open the notebook and realized I never made a page for this recipe!

Let me break it down for you.  Once your puff pastry is cool, but not too soft and warm, unfold it on a piece of parchment paper.  Place a chocolate bar of your choice on the center section. Cut slits along the sides, making sure to have an equal number per side.  Remove the top two strips (they’ll look funny anyways). Fold the top flap over the bar and braid the strips, making sure to flip the bottom flap up before you finish.  Brush it with an egg wash, sprinkle on your nuts, and bake!  Boom. Done.

 

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Tips for the Chocolate Almond Braid

 

This recipe is crazy easy, but that doesn’t mean I won’t give you any tips I can think of.  First of all, if your puff pastry gets too warm, just pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes before you begin the recipe.  

The first time I made this, I used a Lindt chocolate bar and it did seem a tiny bit wider than the center section. It totally worked though!  On round two, I used a smaller Godiva bar.  But to fill up some space, I drizzled on some caramel and I regret nothing.

 

 

I’m Nuts Though

 

My only issue with the recipe is the almonds.  That’s a silly problem to have with a Chocolate Almond Braid.  After baking for 25 minutes, they were definitely overcooked and some were burnt. And after the first time I made this recipe, I vowed to not put nuts on top.

 

So naturally, when I made this chocolate almond braid again, I put nuts on top.  I know, I know.  Do as I say, not as I do.  In the future, for realsies, I’m going to put the almonds on top of the chocolate before I braid the pastry.  You can also nix them completely if you’re not big on nuts.

 

Related Reading: Make Rough Puff Pastry From Scratch

 

Watch This Chocolate Almond Braid With Caramel Come To Life

 

As simple as this recipe is, that whole “braiding pastry” bit can trip you up.  So I decided to make you a quick video that shows the whole process.  Check it out!  And if you want to see more of my videos, be sure to subscribe to the Bakes & Blunders YouTube channel.

 

 

Serving the Chocolate Almond Braid

 

You can slice and dice this braid into as many servings as you want.  Puff pastry is highly caloric. I cut this braid into 6- 8 servings that were a perfect size for indulgence and satisfaction. Even still, this recipe is not a light one.

This Chocolate Almond Braid screams brunch to me.  It’s got that Breakfast Pastry feel to it, even though it is in no way nutritious or right for a morning meal.  But isn’t that what brunch is all about? If you do bring this to a brunch, I would consider slicing it into 12 servings.  That would be enough of a bite to enjoy, but also allow guests to nosh on the other sweet brunch offerings.

 

 

Chocolate Dessert Satisfaction

 

I’ve just been struck with a thought of pure genius.  Okay, it might not be “pure genius”, but it certainly is “pure chocolate” and those are the same thing to me.  Without the almond topping, this braid will be pretty, but a bit plain. Jazz it up with a generous drizzle of chocolate ganache.  I’ve even got a full tutorial about ganache in case you’re not super confident about making it.  

Adding even more chocolate to this Chocolate Almond Braid definitely moves the pastry fully into the dessert category.  With this added chocolate topping, I would definitely do the 12 servings so that you don’t overdose on sugar.

 

Enjoy!

 

Make this easy, Chocolate Almond Braid with caramel as a simple dessert, or even an effortless brunch dish.  The braiding of the puff pastry makes this recipe look elegant and complicated. No one has to know if you have zero skills in the kitchen.  I won’t tell! 

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