New Year, new school. Wow, this week has been busy. The boys have settled miraculously into their new habitat and I can feel the relief flowing through my body.
My favorite comment this week was from Melissa, a reader who said, “It’s hard, but before you know it, they will adjust and be just fine. Kids are so resilient! It’s probably harder on mom. :-)” Well, yes, Melissa, I couldn’t have said it better myself and the smiley face was much appreciated. Seriously, you cheered me up when I needed it! As did so many of the other comments I received.
To celebrate making it through this week, I found it only appropriate to create a candy recipe, this being of course my favorite category of recipe and possibly my favorite food group. Yes, for some of us, candy is a food group.
Orange Chocolate Coconut Clusters
Ingredients
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 1 cup almonds, toasted then coarsely chopped
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, melt the chocolate over very low heat
- Stir in the orange extract
- Allow the nuts and coconut to cool, 10-15 minutes, then stir them into the melted chocolate
- Drop by heaping tablespoonful onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet
- Allow to cool
- If need be (as in it's too hot in your kitchen for these to set) transfer clusters to a plate and cool in freezer
- Serve
I think these clusters would be great with any type of nut. You could also try substituting some orange zest (in an amount of your choosing) in place of the orange extract. I think that would be delicious.
Since it is October I have started to think about Halloween treats. I am looking for something fun (no fruit rolls), organic and not too sweet. Do any of you have good store bought well wrapped (yes for trick or treating safety) ideas for Halloween candy? If you do, please drop me a line in the comment section below. I do have something in mind and will do a post on it, though want to collect others ideas before I get going.
Pratiba Bhat says
Wow I’m going to make these :) I was Googling for a recipe involving chocolate. :) Thanks so much :) I’m a newbie to the cooking world. So just started my food blog too :) Thanks again :) Take care : :)
Sarah says
These candy recipes (as well as all the others!) look amazing! Your blog has honestly been a ray of sunshine – as my family and I contemplated going gluten- and sugar-free for health reasons, I felt like our dietary future was dismal! We enjoy food very much, and I particularly have a big sweet tooth. But as I’ve looked through your blog, I felt like rejoicing – we can do it! And enjoy ourselves! And all while having food that’s even better for us! :) So thank you for guiding our family as we enter this new territory. It looks like it’s going to be a fine ride after all.
I have one question (so far) – can I substitute unsweetened baking chocolate for the “dark chocolate” in many of these recipes? And simply add more agave nectar? Or would that change it/mess it up? Would it also need more oil? Thanks so much!
magda says
I made the clusters, they were so delicious, I also made them with unsweetened carob chips, and they were perfect for my sweet tooth. Thank you!
elana says
Dear Anna,
Your English is great! Thanks for leaving me a comment; I really appreciate it!
xo Elana
Anna says
Sorry for my english, I’m italian. I’m coeliac and always visit your blog.This recipe is wondwrful.
Kiss Anna
elana says
Dear Paulette,
Thanks for stopping by. Please see my faq’s regarding your question.
Thanks,
Elana
Paulette says
I’m new to your site and enjoy it very much. I would like to try to make the orange chocolate coconut clusters but can’t have chocolate. Would carob work?
elana says
Alison – I like the idea of using these for holiday treats!
Lauren – Thanks.
Kelly – Thanks for leaving a comment! And also for the Amy’s gummy idea –great :-)
Sandra – That is so great that your asthma has cleared. Also, I like the idea of the KIND bars; thanks.
Anina – Great to hear from you; I hope you are doing well. Miss you.
Elana – Love the doppelganger thing! Thanks for the lollipop suggestion
Jen – Thanks for suggesting the College Farm brand lollis!
Christianne – That sounds AMAZING –hazelnuts and lemon zest, yum.
Andrea – Thanks for your comment, I think orange and raspberry are tied for me too when it comes to pairing with chocolate.
Lisa – Thanks for writing all the way from Australia. I must confess, I have no idea what Christmas cake is. If you give me some hints, I will try to come up with something for you.
Kristin – What a great comment; makes me hungry!
Heather – You are very welcome; thanks for your comment.
Louise Humphris says
Elana, I am from Australia also and love your website & books. Christmas cake here is simply fruit cake, and tradition is we cook it several weeks before Christmas and store it often putting a little brandy on it regularly to soak n, but that is only optional. Last year I made a cake with g/f flour, but this year we are grain free so either/or coconut flour & almond meal/flour should do the trick. Cheers
Laura says
Elana, One time at work at Christmas a priest on call for the medical center brought us one Irish Fruitcake, soaked like this, it had to be divided between 35 people, I am not joking.
We each got a very small piece and we all got a buzz on it. You laugh but I am serious. What a cake.
Elana says
Laura, that sounds like one good cake!
Heather @ Life, Gluten Free says
Wow, these look so amazing. I am salivating. I happen to love chocolate and coconut, especially together. Orange too :) These would be a nice holiday treat indeed. Thanks for sharing!
Kristin says
My roommate and I were inspired to go on a late night grocery store trip to get the coconut to make these. They’re currently still cooling, but licking the bowl was certainly tasty, so I have great hopes for the clusters as well!