The “Delicious” Costco Chocolate I Buy 3 Pounds of Every December (They Taste Like the Gourmet Ones from Japan — For Cheap!)

A long time ago in a galaxy country far away (Japan), I fell utterly and hopelessly in love with a man named Taka specific brand of chocolate-covered almonds. It was a problem. The chocolate coating was generous and glossy, and it was far too easy to mindlessly eat an entire box of them. Each box had about 20 or so and, again, it was really easy to eat a whole box.

The almonds were especially well roasted, so when the thick layer of milk chocolate gave way to my insatiable bite, a wonderful crunch awaited. I think about them still, and I buy them whenever I see them in a Japanese grocery store, lamenting at the enormous (and necessary, c’mon, they’re imported) markup. So imagine my delight when I discovered a three-pound container of chocolate-covered almonds among my favorite Costco items for just $25.

The packaging shows a handful of the almonds, along with a cross-section image of one, which reveals a generous coating of chocolate. They’re also super glossy, which gave me a lot of hope that they might be similar to the ones I’d fallen in love with all those years ago. Dare I dream of a future where I spend less on one of my favorite sweets?

These are pretty much as good as the ones I used to buy in Japan, which is simultaneously great and a problem. The chocolate coating is, indeed, thick, and the nuts inside deliver a satisfying crunch. The chocolate is sweet and creamy and the almond is everything I want it to be: well-roasted, crunchy, nutty.

The glossy sheen on the chocolate is attractive and makes it so you can hold a few in your hand while you casually munch away without worrying about them melting and making a mess right away.

It’s also hard to argue with the price. At $24.99 for a three-pound tub, these almonds are just $0.52 an ounce. When I find the originals I fell in love with in American shops, they range between $4 and $5 for a 3.10-ounce box (that’s between $1.29 and $1.61 an ounce!).

I do love to have a handful when I’m feeling snacky and looking for a sweet little something. Because that glossy glaze gives the chocolate a bit of a buffer, it’s a great game-night snack to have around (no messy game pieces, cards, or D&D character sheets). I put a bowl out for a recent game night and they were a big hit.

Lately, especially for holiday gatherings, I’ve been putting little piles of them on cheese and charcuterie boards. None of my friends are ever upset to see these around.

Find it in stores: Kirkland Signature Chocolate-Covered Almonds, $24.99 for a 3 pounds at Costco

What Costco sweets are you picking up for the holidays? Tell us about it in the comments below.