Chocolate Bites and Bars

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Setting up a little station makes the creations easier and more organized.

You will need:

1 lb. dark chocolate, tempered.  I’m using Callebaut intense bittersweet callets
variety of raw nuts
flaked unsweetened coconut
roasted cacao nibs
freeze dried strawberries and raspberries
dried rose petals
dried lavender
bee pollen, optional

I get asked the question if chocolate chips can be used?  My answer is preferably not.  Because chocolate chips are made to hold their shape during baking.  Melting chocolate chips will leave you with a thick melted blob.  You must add coconut oil, oil or shortening to thin the chocolate chips down enough to dip or mold.  The flavor just isn’t worth the effort in my opinion.

Don’t let chocolate scare you.  Just be patient and always temper your chocolate before you dip or mold.  Even with strawberries or pretzels.  For a beautiful sheen and snap, temper the chocolate.  If you just don’t want to mess with tempering, start by using a molding chocolate and then work your way up to a fabulous couverture.

Make sure the mold you are using is at the 68 degree room temperature for cooling.  If the mold is too cold, it will harden too quickly. This can cause cracking and white bloom.

If the temperature is cool outside, I just open a door and try to cool my kitchen to a little less than 68 degrees.

I just happened to have a few polycarbonate chocolate molds, so I made some large bars as well.

DO NOT…I repeat…DO NOT place the molds in the refrigerator.  The chocolate will harden too quickly and can cause cracking, white bloom or crumbly chocolate.  I have watched a few Youtube videos on making chocolate bars and all the them place the chocolate in the refrigerator for 5 minutes to harden.  Don’t do it.  Be patient and let the cool room temperature harden the chocolate for you.

Now the chocolate has released itself from the mold.  Gently tip the mold over and the chocolate will drop right out.

This was so much fun.  I loved making the different flavor combinations.  My favorite combo was strawberry, rose, pistachio and a hint of bee pollen.

Chocolate Bites and Bars

5 from 1 vote

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Chocolate Bites and Bars

Create your own chocolate bites and bars with healthy ingredients. Candy bars can be health food. Using a dark couverture chocolate along with organic nuts, freeze-dried berries, coconut, cacao nibs, bee pollen, rose petals, lavender, or a sprinkle of bee pollen. They are so fun to create and are completely addicting.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword chocolate bars

Prep Time 30 minutes

chill time 10 minutes

Calories 436 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 lb. dark chocolate tempered
• variety of raw nuts or seeds
• flaked unsweetened coconut
• roasted cacao nibs
• freeze-dried strawberries and raspberries
• dried rose petals
• dried lavender
• bee pollen
• molds or wax paper

Instructions

1. Tempering chocolate 101
2. Place chocolate glass or metal bowl in an oven heated to 100 degrees F.  Not one degree hotter.  Cover with aluminum foil and let the chocolate melt overnight or several hours 

3. When ready to use the chocolate, place bowl over barely simmering water and bring the temperature to 113 degrees

4. Remove the bowl from the water and add a small amount of shaved or chopped chocolate to the warm chocolate and stir the chocolate until the temperature has lowered to 84 degrees 

5. Place the bowl back over the hot water and bring the temperature up to 86 degrees and stir for about 5 minutes holding it at that temperature.

6. Now you can pour the chocolate into the molds.  I know this seems like such a hassle, but worth it in the end.  Arrange with your favorite nuts, fruits, seeds, etc.

7. Cooling the chocolate is equally as important.  Chocolate cools and hardens best at an ambient room temperature of 68 degrees.  Cool weather is better for making candy.

8. Store in a cool place.  Once the chocolate is tempered, relax and enjoy making your own variations and flavors.  I can’t think of any further instructions to give you.  If you have questions, just shoot me the question in the “contact me” drop down and I’ll respond as soon as I can.

Recipe Notes

Nutrition calculations are estimated.  Depending on the topping and the amount.  All nuts would have more calories and fat.  Freeze-dried fruit would be considerably less.

Nutrition Facts

Chocolate Bites and Bars

Amount Per Serving (6 - 3 oz bars)

Calories 436 Calories from Fat 228

% Daily Value*

Fat 25.3g39%

Saturated Fat 16.5g83%

Trans Fat 0g

Polyunsaturated Fat 0g

Monounsaturated Fat 0g

Cholesterol 17mg6%

Sodium 60mg3%

Potassium 0mg0%

Carbohydrates 46g15%

Fiber 3.1g12%

Sugar 39.1g43%

Protein 6.6g13%

Vitamin A 0IU0%

Vitamin C 0mg0%

Calcium 0mg0%

Iron 0mg0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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