Homemade Fruit and Nut Chocolates

Homemade Fruit and Nut Dark Chocolates

If you would like some healthy chocolates this Valentines day why not try making these easy homemade fruit and nut chocolates yourself. You can experiment with different dried fruits of your liking, and even add a liqueur if you wish.

I love prunes, especially the moist ones, and they do work well in this recipe by adding sweetness and a chewiness you often get from caramel. I think the fresh ginger complements the dark chocolate well and the nuts add some crunch and a little protein to the chocolates.

Dark chocolate of high cocoa content has been shown to be high in anti oxidants. There is some evidence to suggest that dark chocolate may help cholesterol control due to the polyphenols it contains.

These chocolates are very easy to make and can be kept in the fridge for about 4 days.

Homemade Fruit and Nut Chocolates

Ingredients

4 moist prunes
3 tsp fresh grated ginger
2 tsp chopped nuts
75g dark chocolate (high cocoa content)
3tsp liqueur (optional I used Disaronno)

Method (Makes 8 chocolates)

Chop up the prunes into small pieces, and add the grated ginger and 1tsp nuts.
Melt the chocolate and mix with the prune mixture until all is combined. Add the liquer and mix if you are adding this, or leave it out.
Turn the chocolate out into a mould or roll into small balls and place in the fridge and sprinkle the remaining nut on top.
Keep in the fridge for about an hour or until set.

(If you do not like prunes, you can replace these with apricots which also work well).

You can give these to a loved one, share with friends or simply eat them yourself.