Dark Chocolate Almond and Hazelnut Clusters

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Dark Chocolate Almond and Hazelnut Clusters

Dark Chocolate Almond and Hazelnut Clusters are healthy guilt free treat! Toasted crunchy nuts smothered in dark chocolate- what’s not to like!

These wholesome, 3 ingredient clusters are perfect for on-the-go snacks or for packing in a lunch bag. These clusters are super easy to make, low in sugar, no bake and simply irresistible!

Among all the chocolates, dark chocolate is considered the healthier one. Dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect health. Made from the seed of the cacao tree, it is one of the best sources of antioxidants one can find. It is a rich source of antioxidants, minerals and flavonoids. The nutritional properties help to prevent the growth of diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. The antioxidant content helps to decrease inflammation and protects the cells from damage. To enjoy dark chocolate benefits, one must try to have dark chocolate containing 70% cacao.

Other recipes you might like are Eggless Walnut Brownie, Eggless Chocolate Bundt Cake, Eggless Marble Cake and Eggless Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cake.

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted almonds
1 cup unsalted hazelnuts
1 cup dark chocolate

Directions

Step-1

Toast the almonds and hazelnuts in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for 3 minutes, shaking often, until lightly browned or until they are toasty. Your nose is the best indicator for when the nuts are done toasting. When you can smell that wonderful, delicious, toasty scent, they are done.

Step-2

Melt the chocolate in microwave- Break chocolate in a microwave bowl. Use low heat settings of the microwave. Microwave the chocolate for 30 seconds (or 20 if it is at high temperature) and then take the bowl out and give it a stir. Place the bowl back again in the microwave and repeat the process for 30 seconds, stopping, stirring, and returning to the microwave until the chocolate has melted. If there are one or two lumps that still have not melted, then keep stirring it outside the microwave to melt the last few pieces in the residual heat of the bowl.

Step-3

Add the toasted nuts to the melted chocolate and mix to coat the nuts with the chocolate.
Line a baking tray with parchment paper, then use a tablespoon to scoop mounds of the mixture onto it (Feel free to make them as large or as small as you want). Put in the fridge and leave to set for at least 1-2 hours.
Transfer to an airtight container and eat within 3 days.

Tips & Variations

I have melted the dark chocolate in the microwave. However, if you want you can melt it using the double boiler.
You can melt the chocolate in a bain-marie. In a bain-marie- Break chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Sit it over a pan of barely simmering water (a bain-marie) and allow the chocolate to melt, stirring occasionally.
You can add other nuts like cashew nuts, raisins, walnuts, pecans or seeds like toasted flax seeds, sunflower seeds or berries like dried cranberries.
To toast the nuts in the microwave- Place the nuts in a single layer in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, then stir. Continue to cook 1 minute at a time; after each minute, stir the nuts and check for doneness. Depending on the type of nuts you are using, the process can take as little as 3 minutes or up to 8 minutes. Larger nuts (ex. walnuts, pecans, almonds) may take up to 10 minutes to toast. Smaller nuts (ex. peanuts, pine nuts, macadamia nuts) will roast faster.
To toast the nuts in the oven- To use the oven, spread the nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil, and place them in an oven preheated to 180C/Fan160/Gas4. It will take 5-10 minutes for your nuts to toast; keep an eye on them and stir as needed. Once they’re toasted, remove them from the baking sheet to a bowl to cool.
If you want, you can sprinkle sea salt on top of the clusters before putting it in the fridge for another flavour.