Chocolate Covered Cranberry And Almond Bunches Food

CHOCOLATE ALMOND & CRANBERRY CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan bring 1 inch of water to the boil. Reduce to a simmer then place a heatproof glass or metal bowl over the top of the saucepan.
• Add the chocolate and coconut oil into the bowl, stirring constantly until it is all slowly melted.
• Add in the maple syrup and vanilla essence. Stir until all combined. Remove chocolate from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes. It should slightly thicken during this time.
• Stir the almonds and dried cranberries into the chocolate. Line a baking tray with parchment/baking paper. Spoon mounds onto the prepared baking tray. Sprinkle with sea salt as desired.
• Place the chocolate clusters in the refrigerator for 30 minutes until set.
• Store the clusters in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND CAKE WITH SUGARED CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Make the sugared cranberries: Bring 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 3/4 cup water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Put the cranberries in a large bowl and pour the sugar syrup over them; let sit 1 hour. Whisk the remaining 3/4 cup granulated sugar with the cardamom in a large bowl. Drain the cranberries, add to the spiced sugar and toss to coat. Spread the cranberries and sugar on a rimmed baking sheet. Let sit, rerolling the cranberries in the sugar occasionally until dry, 2 to 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Coat the parchment with cooking spray. Whisk the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, allspice and cardamom in a large bowl; set aside. Put the cocoa powder in a separate large bowl. Heat 1 cup water in a small saucepan until almost simmering; pour over the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Set aside until slightly cooled, about 10 minutes.
• Add the eggs to the cocoa mixture and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until just combined. Add the granulated sugar, buttermilk, vegetable oil and vanilla; beat until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low; gradually add the flour mixture, then increase the speed to medium and beat until smooth, about 1 minute. Divide the batter evenly between the cake pans; lightly tap on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 10 minutes in the pans, then invert the cakes onto the rack to cool completely. Remove the parchment. (The cake layers can be made 1 day ahead; let cool, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap.)
• Make the frosting: Beat the butter, confectioners' sugar and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until just combined. Add the vanilla and almond extracts; increase the mixer speed to high and beat, scraping down the side of the bowl, until creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the milk and almond liqueur; beat until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 more minutes.
• Halve 1/2 cup of the sugared cranberries. Place one cake layer on a plate or cake stand. Spread with 1 cup frosting, then sprinkle with the halved cranberries. Top with the second cake layer. Cover the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Top with the remaining sugared cranberries.

WHITE CHOCOLATE COVERED CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• 1. Wash and thoroughly dry the cranberries.
• 2. Melt and stir white chocolate in microwave or double boiler. Be careful not to get any water in the chocolate.
• 3. Drop berries into melted white chocolate and place individually on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Place cookie sheet in refrigerator for one hour or until set. Reheat chocolate if it becomes too thick. Remove from wax paper and store in an airtight container or zipper bag in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE, ALMOND, AND DRIED CRANBERRY BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Sift first 5 ingredients into large bowl. Whisk eggs and vanilla in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and melted butter into dry ingredients. Stir in cranberries and almonds.
• Turn dough out onto floured surface. Using floured hands, divide dough into 3 equal pieces. Shape each into 8x2x3/4-inch log. Place 2 logs on 1 baking sheet, spacing evenly, and 1 log on second sheet.
• Bake logs 12 minutes. Reverse position of baking sheets. Bake logs until firm and dry to touch, about 12 minutes longer. Remove from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
• Transfer logs to work surface. Using serrated knife, cut hot logs diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Place slices, cut side down, on same baking sheets. Bake biscotti until dry and slightly darker, about 10 minutes. Transfer to racks; cool.
• If desired, stir white chocolate in bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water until smooth. Remove from over water. Dip biscotti 1 at a time into chocolate, holding cookie at angle and coating 1 inch of each. Return to same baking sheets. Chill until chocolate is set, about 20 minutes. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Arrange between sheets of waxed paper in airtight containers; store at room temperature.)

CHOCOLATE COVERED CRANBERRY AND ALMOND BUNCHES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, toss together the almonds and the cherries. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
• Melt half the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over slightly simmering water, over the lowest possible heat, stirring frequently. Make sure the water is not touching the top pan. Remove the double boiler from the heat and stir in the rest of the chocolate. Remove the top pan with the chocolate in it, gently wipe the bottom of it and set it aside for a moment. Replace the simmering water in the bottom pan with warm tap water. Put the pan of melted chocolate on top of the warm water. This will keep the chocolate at the right temperature while you make the clusters.
• Stir the fruit-nut mixture into the chocolate. Spoon out heaping tablespoon-sized clusters of the chocolate mixture onto the baking sheet about 1-inch apart. Put them in the refrigerator to set for 15 minutes.

CRANBERRY ALMOND CHOCOLATE BARS WITH TANGERINE ZEST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Line a 13 by 9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil.
• Lay out almond slivers on baking sheet. Bake in oven until light brown, shaking the baking pan occasionally to mix them around, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Melt the chocolate morsels in a double boiler over low heat. Mix in the cranberries, almond slivers and tangerine zest.
• Pour into prepared pan. Smooth the chocolate mixture out into an even layer. Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate until hard, at least 1 hour. Use a knife to break up chocolate into jagged, varied sized bars.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Melt chocolate chips and shortening over low heat, stirring frequently until melted.
• Dip cranberries in chocolate with toothpick until coated.
• Place on wax paper.
• Refrigerate until firm.
• Enjoy!

CRANBERRY AND ALMOND BISCOTTI WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a bowl whisk together flour with baking powder and salt.
• Using an electric mixer beat the butter, sugar and eggs with extract until well blended (about 4 minutes).
• Add in the flour mixture, then the cranberries and almonds; mix well to combine.
• Divide the dough in half.
• With floured hands shape the dough in about 9 x 2-inch logs.
• Transfer the logs to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly.
• In a small bowl whisk the egg white until foamy, the brush the egg white on top and sides of each log.
• Bake the logs until golden brown, about 35 minutes (the logs will spread when baked).
• Cool completely in the baking pan (leave the oven heat on to 350 degrees).
• Transfer the logs to a work surface.
• Shake out any crumbs from the parchment paper, then place back on the baking sheet with clean-side facing upwards.
• Using a serrated knife, sliced the logs on diagonal about 1/2 - 3/4-inches.
• Arrange the sliced biscotti cut side down on the same baking sheet.
• Bake for 10 minutes; turn the biscotti over and bake for another 5 minutes, just until beginning to lightly brown.
• Transfer biscotti to a rack to cool.
• For the glaze: stir the white chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water until smooth.
• Remove from over the water.
• Using a fork, drizzle chocolate over biscotti.
• Let stand until chocolate sets (about 30 minutes).

CRANBERRY CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan or microwave, melt the chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Stir in the cranberries and cashews. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container.