Whether you’re making this Chocolate Almond Bread as a fun appetizer or a unique sandwich bread, I  guarantee you will not be disappointed, especially if you pair it with that phenomenal salted caramel butter.

Chocolate Almond Bread Recipe

This recipe is a copycat recipe inspired by our visits to Universal CityWalk’s Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, located just outside of the gates of Universal Studios Orlando.

The restaurant offered several unique recipes featuring chocolate in ways that I hadn’t had before – from chocolate stout chicken wings (which we’ve re-created) to chocolate-covered bacon garnishing a pork belly slider. This bread was no different.

While the bread was somewhat sweet, especially when your tongue hit on a chocolate chip, it was more akin to a rye bread than a banana bread.

But what really set off this appetizer bread was that unbelievable salted caramel butter.

Salted caramel is always a weakness for me, but I couldn’t imagine how it would work in an appetizer.

Let me tell you how it works: AMAZINGLY WELL. If you make this bread without also adding in some salted caramel butter, you’re seriously missing out. I wanted to eat the butter with a spoon, it was sheer caramel-y, buttery perfection, and not to mention the smoothest butter you will ever spread on bread.

For our homemade version of this appetizer, we made the bread from scratch but we cheated and just whipped some butter with salted caramel ice cream topping. I also tried to use re-solidified browned butter, but I found that it had a grainy texture.

This bread keeps well for about 3 days, after which the yeast flavor starts to take over and I’m out (however, if you don’t mind the yeast flavor being prominent, you can hold onto your bread for a bit longer).

While we just enjoyed it with our meal, I think this chocolate bread would be an amazing sandwich bread! If you end up trying it, please let me know what toppings you add to it. I think a honey ham would be gorgeous, or a chicken sandwich. Of course, a peanut butter and jam or almond butter and honey would also taste great.

Could you imagine the kids faces if you made their lunches with this chocolate bread? (Just swap out the almond butter for a sunflower butter if your school has a ban on nuts.)

Check out our quick recipe video to see how to make this chocolate almond bread for yourself – and then don’t forget to scroll down to grab your free printable recipe card:

Ingredients for Chocolate Sandwich Bread

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
• 2 Tablespoon raw sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, or more as needed
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup almond butter
• 2 teaspoons salt, to taste (omit if the almond butter is salted)

Tip: can swap out almond butter for your favorite nut butter – peanut butter, cashew, or even sunflower butter for a nut-free option.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Baking stone or baking sheet
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon
• Clean kitchen towel

How to Make Chocolate Sandwich Bread

In a large bowl, combine the warm water, yeast and raw sugar.

Let the mixture proof for 5 minutes. It should be bubbly and frothy at the 5 minute mark – if not, you need new yeast.

Stir in the almond butter.

Slowly add in the cocoa powder and flour, 1/2 cup at a time.

You may need to use your hands to knead in the last of the flour – but don’t force it if the last 1/2 cup or so isn’t incorporating.

Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel (or plastic wrap then a towel) and place in a warm spot in your kitchen to rise.

Let rise for 1 hour.

When the bread has risen, punch down and knead well, then incorporate the chocolate chips.

Form the dough into a loaf shape on your baking stone, and then cover and let rise again for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 450F

Bake the bread for 25-35 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, rotating halfway through if your oven has hot spots.

To make the salted caramel butter, simply whip 1 Tablespoon of caramel ice cream topping (or butterscotch topping) into 1/4 cup salted butter. Add additional flaked salt as needed.

Pin this Super Simple Sandwich Bread recipe:

Grab your free printable for our chocolate almond bread recipe:

What do you think of this chocolate sandwich bread? Would you try it as an appetizer or make a couple sandwiches with it?

For more delicious recipe inspired by Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, please check out our Chocolate Stout Chicken Wings recipe or our Steak Oscar recipe.