Chocolate Almond And Coconut Clusters Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread almonds on a baking sheet and toast, tossing occasionally, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Bring sugar and 2 tablespoons water to a boil in a saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Continue to cook, without stirring, until a thermometer registers 235 degrees, about 3 minutes.
• Add almonds; cook, stirring, until sugar begins to crystallize, about 1 minute. Stir in salt. Continue to cook, stirring, until a sandlike coating forms on nuts, about 1 minute more. Stir in coconut. Pour onto a parchment-lined baking sheet; let cool 30 minutes.
• Transfer nut mixture to a bowl. Add chocolate, stirring to coat. Return to sheet; separate into clusters with a fork. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 2 days. Before serving, toss with cocoa powder, tapping off excess.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Lightly grease the mini-muffin tins with vegetable oil spray. Place 1 teaspoon of slivered nuts in each of the muffin cups. Unwrap the caramel candies, cut each candy into quarters and place 4 quarters (1 candy) in each of the muffin cups on top of the nuts in a single layer. Bake in the oven until the caramel is just melted and beginning to spread, about 8 minutes. Be careful not to over melt the caramel or it will bubble, burn, and become too hard. Place the mini muffin tins in the refrigerator for 5 minutes to cool. Remove the nut clusters from the tins and set aside.
• Meanwhile, melt the bittersweet chocolate in a double boiler over low heat. Wisk 2 to 3 tablespoons of cream into the chocolate to slightly thin the chocolate for coating the clusters. Dip half of the nut clusters in the bittersweet chocolate and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Return the clusters to the refrigerator to harden, about 30 minutes.
• Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler over low heat. Wisk 2 to 3 tablespoons of cream into the chocolate to slightly thin the chocolate for coating the clusters. Dip remaining half of the nut clusters in the white chocolate and place on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet with the other chocolate-covered clusters. Return the clusters to the refrigerator to harden, about 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Melt chocolate as directed on package. Reserve 1/4 cup chocolate for later use.
• Spread remaining chocolate onto parchment-covered baking sheet. Sprinkle with coconut and nuts; press gently into chocolate with back of spoon. Drizzle with reserved chocolate.
• Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Break into small pieces.