Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Dark Chocolate Covered Cherries (Vegan, Gluten Free)


Don't worry. Your eyes are not playing a trick on you. This really is a new blog post. The first one in almost two weeks. The worst part is I tried to be super organized; I made and photographed a bunch of recipes ahead of time so all I had to do was edit and post (which surprisingly is many times what takes the longest). 


But then life happened, I picked up extra shifts at work (working 17 hours in a 24 hour block of time at one point) and then headed down to Austin for five days to hang out with this guy. Sorry no pictures to share this time. This trip was much more laid back, but still so much fun! We got to chill out in the studio while our friends The Baker Family recorded some music, had dinner with our friends Andy and Julie and their two fun little kids, made more black bean burgers, I even watched two zombie movies in honor of Sam's birthday. And you know what? I didn't hate them!


You know what else I really didn't hate?


These Dark Chocolate Covered Cherries. Smooth segue, right? But seriously, I'm glad I only made a dozen because I could have just kept eating an endless supply. They're just sooo good! Way better than that boxed chocolate covered cherry crap (say that 5 times fast!). And they're so simple to make, yet pretty enough to impress your friends with.


Dark Chocolate Covered Cherries
  • 12 Cherries (preferably organic)
  • 1/3 Cup Non-Dairy Dark Chocolate Chips
  • 1 Teaspoon Coconut Oil
Set some wax paper or silpat on a plate or cookie sheet next to the stove. Using a double broiler (or a heat safe bowl over a pot of water), heat the chocolate and coconut oil on low heat. Be sure to continually stir so that it doesn't burn. Once the chocolate is completely melted and smooth looking, dip and roll the cherries into the chocolate one at a time. Place onto wax paper and repeat with the rest of the cherries. Once all the cherries have been dipped in chocolate, move them to the refrigerator to set (about 30 minutes). Once the chocolate has hardened, serve and enjoy. Or just hoard them all. I'll leave that up to you.

Options:
-To make these cherries extra tasty, before the chocolate has hardened, gently roll them in shredded coconut, crushed almonds, cacao nibs or powder or whatever you fancy.
-You will have some chocolate left over. Feel free to use it to drizzle a little extra chocolate on the cherries once they've hardened to give plain ones a little more pizzazz or just spread it on wax paper and refrigerate to make a chocolate bar. There's never a reason to throw away perfectly good chocolate.



Which do you prefer? Chocolate covered cherries or strawberries?



6 comments:

  1. Oooooooooo good question!! That's a tough one!! I'ma have to go with chocolate covered cherries, though. While I do enjoy choco-strawberries, I enjoy the flavor of plain strawberries too much to give it the number one spot. Don't get me wrong, I like cherries, too, but only certain kinds, and only as a special treat. Cover it in chocolate, though, and I'll eat any cherries anytime and anywhere. (Like that? Literary tools can be fun!) :p

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    1. Hahaha A very well thought out answer. I like it.

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  2. When I was a kid, I LOVED those boxed chocolate cherries. But now I find them sickeningly sweet. These would be much, much better!

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    1. Really? I always thought I didn't like cherries cause I hated those boxed chocolates. Then a few years ago I tried a fresh cherry and couldn't believe what I'd been missing!

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  3. One should never have to choose between cherries and strawberries ARGH woman! but these look so so goooood! :)

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