Chocolate Dipped Apricots Food

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.
• Place the crushed walnuts into a small bowl, and shredded coconut into a second bowl. And have the bottle of colorful sprinkles nearby.
• First, start with melting dark chocolate. Melt dark chocolate first in a small bowl either in microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, or on stove top in a double boiler.
• Holding the apricot by the tip, dip most of the fruit into the melted chocolate. Remove it from the chocolate and drag it along the lip of the bowl, removing excess chocolate.
• Sprinkle one side of the apricot with crushed walnuts, or with coconut or colored sprinkles.
• Place the candy on parchment paper, and repeat for the remaining apricots.
• Place in the refrigerator to set for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Best served at room temperature.
• yields: 2 to 4 dozen

CHOCOLATE COVERED APRICOTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, melt chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
• Add shortening; stir until blended.
• Dip apricots half-way in the chocolate, shake off excess, cool on waxed paper. Let chocolate set, then refrigerate.

CHOCOLATY APRICOTS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Put the chocolate chips in a heatproof glass bowl and place it over a pan of simmering water. Heat the chocolate, stirring, until completely melted and smooth.
• Dip each apricot one-half to three-quarters of the way into the chocolate, letting the excess drip back into the bowl. Place on the prepared baking sheet to set.

CHOCOLATE DIPPED APRICOT BALLS

Steps:

• In a food processor chop fine the apricots and hazelnuts and mix in enough of the liqueur to hold the mixture together. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls, roll the balls lightly in the sugar, and let them stand at room temperature, uncovered, for 24 hours.
• In the top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water, melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally, until it is smooth and remove it from the heat. Coat half of each ball with the chocolate, letting the excess drip off and wiping the underside of the ball gently against the side of the double boiler. Chill the balls on a baking sheet lined with a piece of parchment paper until the chocolate has hardened.
• The confections keep, chilled, in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper. Melt and temper the chocolate (see pages 25-30).
• Hold an apricot half securely between your thumb and forefinger, and dip it halfway into the chocolate. Remove the apricot from the chocolate, gently shake off the excess chocolate, and place the apricot half on the paper. Repeat with the remaining apricot halves. Let the chocolate set up at room temperature, or chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Between layers of waxed paper, in a tightly covered container wrapped in several layers of aluminum foil, the apricot halves will keep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator. They are best eaten at room temperature.
• VARIATIONS
• Substitute dried peaches or dried pears for the apricots. Dip these halfway into the chocolate on the diagonal for an interesting design.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED FRUIT

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Spear fruit with toothpicks; dip into chocolate. Allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper or stick toothpicks into a block of Styrofoam to set.

EASY CHOCOLATE-DIPPED APRICOTS (APRICOT CHANUKAH GELT)

Steps:

• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Heat chocolate over a double-boiler. Allow the water in the boiler to get hot but not fully boil. Use a plastic spatula to scrape chocolate away from the sides. Remove from heat as soon as the chocolate is melted. If you prefer to use a microwave, melt the chocolate in a glass bowl in short intervals, stirring well with spatula.
• Immediately add all the apricots to the pot melted chocolate, and stir gently until they are all coated fully. Carefully lift each piece out of the pot with a fork, allowing some of the excess chocolate to drip off. For a more sophisticated look, you can also try holding each apricot by one end with your fingers and dipping only half of it into the chocolate.
• Place carefully on parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until the chocolate has become firm (20-30 minutes). Optionally, you can wrap individually in foil wrappers to give as gifts. Store in the refrigerator - If refrigerated, they can last up to a week (though they are best if eaten within 3 days).