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To make chocolate covered cashews, you melt chocolate, dip the cashews, and let them set until firm.
It’s one of those simple treats that looks impressive but takes barely any effort.
Whether you’re making chocolate covered cashews for a party, a homemade gift, or just a snack, the process is straightforward and forgiving.
Plus, you can make chocolate covered cashews with dark, milk, or white chocolate, depending on what you love.
In this post, we’ll walk through how to make chocolate covered cashews step by step, the best chocolate to use, and a few tricks for a smooth, glossy finish every time.
Let’s dive in.
How Do You Make Chocolate Covered Cashews?
You make chocolate covered cashews by melting chocolate, coating each cashew, and letting the chocolate harden.
Here’s the breakdown of each step so you nail it the first time.
1. Gather Your Ingredients
To make chocolate covered cashews, you need just a few things.
You’ll want about 2 cups of roasted cashews and 8 to 10 ounces of good-quality chocolate.
You can make chocolate covered cashews with chocolate chips, bars, or melting wafers.
Just pick something you enjoy eating on its own, because the flavor of the chocolate really shines through.
A pinch of sea salt is optional but highly recommended for balance.
2. Melt the Chocolate
Melting chocolate properly is the most important part of making chocolate covered cashews.
Use a double boiler or microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring between each round.
The key is gentle, even heat, so the chocolate stays smooth instead of seizing or scorching.
If the chocolate feels thick, stir in a teaspoon of coconut oil to thin it out.
That little trick keeps your chocolate covered cashews looking glossy rather than dull.
3. Dip the Cashews
Drop a handful of cashews into the melted chocolate and stir until they’re fully coated.
Then scoop them out one by one with a fork, letting the excess chocolate drip back into the bowl.
This is how you get chocolate covered cashews without clumps or puddles.
Place each coated cashew on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving a little space between them.
4. Let Them Set
Chocolate covered cashews need to firm up before you eat them, so be patient.
Pop the tray in the fridge for about 15 to 20 minutes until the chocolate is completely hard.
You can also let chocolate covered cashews set at room temperature if your kitchen isn’t too warm, though the fridge is faster.
Once set, they’ll peel right off the parchment paper.
Best Chocolate for Chocolate Covered Cashews
The chocolate you choose makes or breaks your chocolate covered cashews, so here’s what to look for.
1. Couverture or Melting Chocolate
Couverture chocolate and melting wafers are made for coating, which makes them ideal for chocolate covered cashews.
They melt smoothly and set with a professional-looking snap and shine.
I use these whenever I make chocolate covered cashews for gifts because they look so polished.
2. Chocolate Chips With a Boost
Chocolate chips work fine for chocolate covered cashews, but they’re designed to hold their shape, so they don’t melt as smoothly.
Stir in a teaspoon of coconut oil or shortening per cup to loosen them up.
Your chocolate covered cashews will still taste great and set just fine.
3. Dark, Milk, or White
Honestly, chocolate covered cashews work with any type of chocolate.
Dark chocolate balances the natural sweetness of cashews beautifully, while milk chocolate makes chocolate covered cashews taste extra indulgent.
White chocolate covered cashews are a fun twist and look gorgeous drizzled with dark chocolate.
Tips for Perfect Chocolate Covered Cashews Every Time
Want your chocolate covered cashews to turn out like they came from a candy shop?
These tips will get you there.
1. Use Roasted Cashews
Raw cashews taste a little bland inside a chocolate shell.
Roasted cashews give chocolate covered cashews that rich, buttery flavor people love.
You can buy roasted cashews or roast raw ones at 350°F for about 10 minutes.
2. Keep the Cashews Dry
Any moisture on the cashews can cause the chocolate to seize, so pat them dry if needed.
Dry cashews also help chocolate covered cashews set properly and last longer.
3. Store Them Right
Store your chocolate covered cashews in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.
If your kitchen runs warm, keep chocolate covered cashews in the fridge and bring them to room temperature before serving.
And if you’re giving chocolate covered cashews as a gift, pack them in a pretty tin and add a ribbon.
They’ll disappear fast either way.
So, How Do You Make Chocolate Covered Cashews?
You make chocolate covered cashews by melting quality chocolate, coating roasted cashews, and letting them set until firm.
It’s a simple process that rewards you with a sweet, crunchy treat.
Use dark, milk, or white chocolate, add a pinch of sea salt if you like, and store your chocolate covered cashews in an airtight container so they stay fresh.
Once you start making chocolate covered cashews at home, you may never buy the store-bought kind again.