Chocolate Covered Apricots with Toasted Nuts
Fresh apricots are only available for a short season, so over the summer, I usually buy at least one box from Costco’s to enjoy this delicate stone fruit. Fortunately, dried apricots are readily available, so these beauties can be enjoyed year-round.
Although I like the bright orange color of dried apricots that have been treated with sulphur dioxide gas (which acts as a preservative and prevents them from turning brown), I try to buy unsulphured apricots to limit the amount of foods that my family eats that are treated with preservatives. People with asthma may have a reaction to foods treated with sulfite. Although no one in our family has asthma, one of my kids is susceptible to asthma when he gets sick.
These sweet morsels are so easy to make.
One thing to remember when eating dried fruits is that it’s easy to keep popping these little sweet morsels into your mouth without thinking. So, although you might not eat 5 apricots at one sitting, it’s very easy to pop that many dried apricots in your mouth. One apricot only has 17 calories and 3.2 grams of sugar, but if you eat five, you can see how the calories and sugar can add up.
Today, I’m sharing a sweet treat that’s really not a recipe at all, but an easy way to satisfy a craving for something sweet and chocolatey. Originally, I was going to stuff the dried apricots with nuts and then dip them in melted chocolate, but cutting the apricots in half, or sandwiching walnuts between two dried apricot halves proved more work than it was worth. Sometimes, keeping things simple is just better.
When my youngest son popped one of these little morsels in his mouth, I asked how he liked it. He said they were kind of hard to eat to which I replied, “Maybe you should just eat half first instead of stuffing your mouth with the whole thing.” Funny, but for some reason because these apricots were half dipped in chocolate, he thought the only way to eat it was by eating the entire chocolate dipped apricot in one bite. Meanwhile, my older son had no trouble finishing off this plate of sweets.
This week, a group of bloggers is featuring Apricots as a Power Food. This weekly food blogging group features a different Power Food each week based on the book Power Foods: 150 delicious recipes with 38 Healthiest Ingredients from the editors of Martha Stewart’s Whole Living Magazine. Power Foods are foods that are outstanding in the amounts of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, essential fatty acids, fiber and more, that help fight disease and promote good health.
These Chocolate Dipped Dried Apricots coated with toasted nuts are a great treat to satisfy any sweet tooth. Not only are apricots packed with Vitamin A and vitamin C, but they’re also a good source of fiber and potassium. Dipped in antioxidant rich dark chocolate, and healthy nuts, these sweet bites are packed with goodness – just don’t overdo ;).
Chocolate Dipped Dried Apricots with Nuts
Ingredients
- Unsulfured Dried Apricots Trader Joe's and Whole Foods carry them
- Dark Chocolate
- Chopped Toasted Nuts e.g., walnuts, pistachios
Instructions
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Melt dark chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave for one minute. Stir, and continue to heat in 30-second increments until melted.
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Dip half of dried apricots in melted chocolate.
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Dip chocolate coated side in a small bowl of chopped toasted nuts.
Check out what these other bloggers have cooked up for this week’s Power Foods post: (If you’re interested in joining our group, contact Mireya from My Healthy Eating Habits.)
Alyce – More Time at the Table
Ansh – Spice Roots,
Chaya – My Sweet and Savory
Martha – Simple-Nourished-Living
Mireya – My Healthy Eating Habits
Sarah – Everything in the Kitchen Sink
Minnie – The Lady 8 Home
This post has been linked up to Tidy Mom’s I’m Lovin’ It and Beyond the Peel’s Keep It Real Thursday .
Whole Wheat Buttermilk Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Fresh Strawberry Sauce Recipe
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I have a bit of a weakness for apricots… and then toss some chocolate and nuts in there and I’m in heaven!
Oh those look amazing! I was wondering first why the apricots were so dark, but then I hadnt known the trick with the sulphur dioxide gas. Very interesting read. Thanks fro sharing and I wish u a wonderful weekend Jeanette =)
What a great idea. I’m thinking about some hazelnuts I had stashed away for making granola; I might like
them better with apricots.
These look great Jeanette and so healthy!
I make something similar, but it doesn’t look as pretty as your treats do. I melt some dark chocolate in the microwave, then add chopped up dried apricots and chopped nuts for a healthy treat. Mmm…Just got back from a long bike ride and could go for this right now!
This would be the perfect snack to perk me up a little in the afternoon! In fact, I kind of wish I had a few right now. 🙂
I actually like dried apricots more than the fresh ones. I always ask my sister to ship me some from Leh. to my mind those are the best apricots in the world.. that could be simply because i grew up eating those. and you are right, it is very easy to overeat them. Love the combination with chocolate. I have never tried that !
I’ve made this for many a party, and it’s always a hit. It’s possible I might have a slight addiction to dried apricots!
Oh Jeanette – these look SO good. Definitely going on my list of holiday treats!
Its been forever since i’ve made this – I love how easy and satisfying they are!
My gawsh those are pretty. I had no idea that apricots were such a power food. What a great way to eat them also:) I love the simplicity of it Jeanette. Thanks.
Jeanette,
Chocolate dipped apricots with nuts make beautiful, and delicious sweets. There great for the holidays when we want something sweet, but healthy.
Now these are just the kind of treats I love to make and eat, simple and nutritious while still feeling like dessert.
I saw these floating around on Pinterest and wished I could grab them off the screen! So simple, but incredibly gorgeous and sweet.
I especially like these sorts of sweet bites after a workout – wonderfully healthy and restorative. So easy too. I’ve always been impressed by the nutrient profile of apricot – including vegetable based iron (who’d have thunk it? ;-)).
So glad you all like these simple sweet treats – who would have known apricots were so good for you.
I love this kind of sweets, I make this every time my friends come in into my house and they love it. Its perfect 🙂