Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt Almond Clusters

These are my emergency chocolate stash. They live in the freezer. They take five minutes to make. They satisfy the "I need chocolate now" urge without derailing everything. The sea salt makes them taste like proper confectionery.

Why it's gut-friendly: Dark chocolate (70% or higher) contains polyphenols that act as prebiotics, feeding good gut bacteria. Almonds provide fibre and healthy fats. There's very little sugar.

Ingredients (Makes 8-10 clusters):

• 100g dark chocolate (70% or higher), broken into pieces
• 1 tsp coconut oil
• 100g whole almonds (raw or roasted, unsalted)
• Flaky sea salt

Method:

1. Line a baking tray with parchment.
2. Melt the chocolate and coconut oil together gently—either in a heatproof bowl over simmering water, or in short bursts in the microwave, stirring frequently.
3. Stir the almonds into the melted chocolate until well coated.
4. Spoon small clusters of the almond mixture onto the lined tray.
5. Sprinkle each cluster with a few flakes of sea salt.
6. Place in the freezer for at least 20 minutes to set.
7. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.