It's summer! My favorite season! I'm always looking for something cool and refreshing. If I can somehow come up with a solution that fits the bill, which also has some kind of healthy aspect to it, I'm winning. And if it satisfies my seemingly perpetual chocolate craving, I've claimed a culinary trophy for sure.
If you've subscribed to TheLadyinRedBlog newsletters in the past, you've seen 'One Quick Bite'. One of the past features was frozen chocolate covered bananas. There have been other chefs and culinary dabblers who have publicized their own takes on that treat by layering peanut butter between banana slices and covering them with chocolate, too. This got me thinking - what frozen fruit pairs well with chocolate that would have an elegant presentation, be perfect to pop in your mouth, and be absolutely delicious.
Chocolate covered cherries have been around for eons, but have you had a frozen one? I bet you haven't - and it's about time. The cold, silky chocolate melts on your tongue upon contact, and the frozen cherry juice begins to melt while you enjoy the cooling sensation and bursting fresh cherry flavor in the same bite.
These are divine for dessert or a quick snack, and you can even garnish a chocolate martini or Kahlua and Creme cocktail with this unique accompaniment. Frozen chocolate covered cherries are the perfect pop-in-your-mouth decadent indulgence for summertime pleasure.
frozen_chocolate_covered_cherries.docx |
Ingredients:
12 fresh cherries with stems on (organic if possible because there is a flavor difference! Trust me!)
1/2 of a 3.2 oz. bar of dark or milk chocolate (or approximately 1.5 oz. chocolate)
Instructions:
1. Rinse your cherries. Leave the stems intact. With a cherry (or olive) pitter, remove the pits from the cherries - just the pits. (If you leave the cherry pits inside of the cherries they will be quite difficult to bite into when frozen. Cherry pitters are very inexpensive and are great to have on hand, especially when prepping cherries for kids. If you don't have a cherry pitter, you can push a chop stick into the cherry and through to the other side to remove the pit, or even use a paper clip to do it.
2. Melt 1.5 oz. of chocolate in a glass or microwave safe bowl. Basically, microwave it for 30 seconds, then stir. If it's not fully melted, give it another 15 seconds, and stir. Repeat until chocolate is melted.
3. Line a small tray with waxed paper. It should be small enough to comfortably place in your freezer. This is where you will place your chocolate-dipped cherries.
2. Melt 1.5 oz. of chocolate in a glass or microwave safe bowl. Basically, microwave it for 30 seconds, then stir. If it's not fully melted, give it another 15 seconds, and stir. Repeat until chocolate is melted.
3. Line a small tray with waxed paper. It should be small enough to comfortably place in your freezer. This is where you will place your chocolate-dipped cherries.
4. Grab a cherry by the stem and swirl it with a rolling motion into the melted chocolate until it's entirely coated. Don't worry about the hole in the cherry where the pit was removed. It will be filled up with melted chocolate. :) (See video below for a demonstration.)
5. Place the chocolate covered cherry on the waxed paper allowing enough room for 11 more. Repeat step 4 for each of the remaining cherries.
6. Place the tray of chocolate covered cherries in the freezer for 45 minutes to an hour - two hours if you must. You don't want to freeze them much longer because they will get freezer burn. These are ideal for making right before drinks are served, or before dinner. And that's it! Pop a cherry in your mouth and enjoy!
Special Notes:
Garnish with mint leaves is optional.