Chocolate Coconut Clusters Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Toast the cashews on a baking sheet in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, until uniformly golden brown. Cool the nuts to room temperature. Toast the coconut on a baking sheet in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, until lightly golden around the edges. Cool the coconut to room temperature. Heat 1-inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. Place the semisweet chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Use a rubber spatula to stir the chocolate until completely melted and smooth, about 5 to 6 minutes. transfer the melted chocolate to a 4-quart bowl. Add the cashews and coconut. Use a rubber spatula to stir until the cashews and coconut are completely coated with chocolate.
• Immediately portion the mixture by heaping tablespoons (approximately 1 1/2 ounces) for each cluster, onto waxed paper. Allow the clusters to harden at room temperature for 1 hour, then refrigerate for 30 minutes, until firm enough to handle. Store the clusters in a tightly sealed plastic container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Steps:

• Line 4 miniature muffin pans with candy cups; set them aside. (Or you can skip the paper candy cups and just drop these by the spoonful onto wax paper lined cookie sheets.).
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the coconut and nuts on separate cookie sheets.
• Bake each until golden brown, about 9 minutes for the nuts and 10 for the coconut, stirring every few minutes to keep them from burning. Let them cool.
• Combine the toasted coconut and nuts in a medium-size bowl. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave according to the package directions.
• Add the melted chocolate to the coconut mixture; stir well. Drop the mixture by heaping teaspoonfuls into the candy cups (or directly onto lined cookie sheets). Chill until set, about 45 minutes.
• If desired, melt additional chocolate according to the package directions.
• Pour the contents into a zipper bag. Snip off a small corner of the bag, then drizzle the chocolate over the clusters.
• Chill until drizzle is set, about 15 minutes.
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.