Best Chocolate Covered Fruit Recipes

CHOCOLATE COVERED FRUIT

Steps:

• Peel oranges and separate into sections.
• Wrap sections in plastic wrap so they do not dry out.
• Rinse strawberries under cold running water, do not remove the stems.
• Pat berries completely dry with paper towels.
• Set fruit aside.
• Fruit should be at room temperature for dipping.
• Place peanuts in a small bowl.
• Into a double boiler top, not over water, grate semi sweet chocolate squares.
• Set candy thermometer in place, set aside.
• Heat water to boiling in double boiler bottom; remove from heat.
• Place double boiler top over hot water; melt chocolate, stirring constantly with rubber spatula, until temperature reaches 130 degrees.
• Immediately discard hot water from double boiler bottom and refill with cold water to come one-third of the way up the side of the double boiler.
• Set top in place and cool chocolate, stirring constantly, until chocolate temperature reaches 83 degrees.
• Remove double boiler top and replace cold water in bottom with warm water (about 85 degrees).
• This will keep the chocolate and dipping consistency longer.
• With fingers, hold one piece of fruit at a time and dip it into chocolate, leaving part of fruit uncovered.
• Shake off excess chocolate or gently scrape one side of fruit to remove excess.
• Place on waxed paper.
• Working quickly, stir peanuts into leftover chocolate in pan.
• Drop mixture by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper.
• Let chocolate covered fruit and peanut clusters stand until chocolate is set (about 10 minutes) before removing from waxed paper.
• Serve dipped fresh fruit same day.
• Store peanut clusters in tightly covered container; use within one week.
• Note: Chocolate can be easily melted in the microwave as well.
• Break chocolate into chunks and microwave in increments of 20-30 seconds, stirring in between each session.

PASSION FRUIT CARAMEL GOLD COINS, CHOCOLATE COVERED CARAMEL ALMOND MAGIC BEANS, AND CINNAMON CARAMEL MACADAMIA CHOCOLATE BARS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, cook the sugar, corn syrup and water to a dark amber caramel. Add the passion fruit puree, butter, vanilla seeds and sweetened condensed milk. Bring to a boil and cook to 235 degrees F while stirring the entire time. Stir in the salt. Spray parchment paper with nonstick and put on a sheet pan. Set the metal caramel frames to 8 by 12 inches on top. Pour the caramel inside the frame and place in the freezer until frozen.
• Once the passion fruit caramel is frozen, cut out about 36 disks with 1 1/2-inch round cutters. Store the caramel in the freezer. Melt the dark chocolate. Dip the frozen passion fruit caramel disks into the chocolate and let set at room temperature until the chocolate hardens.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, cook the sugar and the water to soft ball stage, 240 degrees F. Add the almonds and keep stirring until caramelized to a dark amber color. Add the salt and butter. Spread onto greased sheet pans and let cool 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the temperature of the room. After they have cooled, put in the refrigerator about 1 hour.
• Transfer the almonds into a stainless steel bowl and coat the almonds with the melted chocolate while stirring constantly. When set, sift the cocoa powder or powder sugar over the almonds.
• In a small saucepan, bring the cream, cinnamon, and glucose to a boil. Place the butter, salt, and both chocolates in a small bowl. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let stand for 10 seconds. Whisk to combine. Let stand at room temperature until the edges of the ganache start to crystallize.
• Meanwhile, melt the dark chocolate to 186.8 degrees F. Pour into the chocolate bar molds to coat, then pour back out. Tap all of the excess chocolate out, then invert onto parchment paper until the chocolate hardens completely. Pipe the ganache half way into the chocolate shell.
• In a small saucepan, caramelize the corn syrup and sugar to a dark amber. Place the cream in a small microwave-proof container and heat in the microwave until hot to the touch. Carefully add the caramel to the hot cream. Bring the mixture back to a boil. Place the chocolate and honey in a medium bowl. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate. Let stand for 10 seconds and whisk to combine. Fold in the macadamia nuts. Let stand at room temperature until the edges of the ganache start to crystallize. Spoon the caramel on top of the cinnamon chocolate ganache and top with the rest of the tempered chocolate. Let it set up in the refrigerator, about 1 hour. Tap the bars out of the mold.

CHOCOLATE, NUT, AND DRIED FRUIT COVERED MATZO

Steps:

• Place matzo on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet. Brush one side of matzo with either the white or dark chocolate; drizzle over dark chocolate, if matzo was brushed with white chocolate, or white chocolate, if matzo was brushed with dark chocolate. Sprinkle over nuts and fruit.
• Transfer matzo to refrigerator until chocolate is set, about 15 minutes. Break into pieces. Serve immediately.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED FRUIT GHOSTS

Steps:

• Dip apple slices, 1 at a time, in white chocolate; place in single layer on parchment-covered baking sheet. Repeat with strawberries and remaining white chocolate.
• Add 2 chocolate chips to each "ghost" for the eyes.
• Refrigerate 1 hour or until chocolate is firm.