Chocolate Cherry Clusters Food

CHOCOLATE-CHERRY CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, break cornflakes into small pieces with your fingers. Add cherries and toss together.
• Place 2/3 cup chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Stir occasionally until chocolate melts, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add remaining chocolate, stirring until melted. (Alternatively, microwave the chocolate in a bowl in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until melted.) Pour over cornflake mixture and, with a rubber spatula, gently fold just until cereal and cherries are completely coated.
• Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto 2 parchment-lined baking sheets and let set in a cool, dry place, 1 hour.

CHERRY ALMOND CHOCOLATE CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, toss together the almonds and the cherries. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
• Melt half the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over slightly simmering water, over the lowest possible heat, stirring frequently. Make sure the water is not touching the top pan. Remove the double boiler from the heat and stir in the rest of the chocolate. Remove the top pan with the chocolate in it, gently wipe the bottom of it and set it aside for a moment. Replace the simmering water in the bottom pan with warm tap water. Put the pan of melted chocolate on top of the warm water. This will keep the chocolate at the right temperature while you make the clusters.
• Stir the fruit-nut mixture into the chocolate. Spoon out heaping tablespoon-sized clusters of the chocolate mixture onto the baking sheet about 1-inch apart. Put them in the refrigerator to set for 15 minutes. Store and serve at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES II

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together confectioner's sugar, margarine, milk and almond extract.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead the mixture into a large ball. Roll into 1 inch balls. Flatten the balls into 2 inch circles. Leaving the stems sticking out, wrap the cherries in the circles by lightly rolling in hands. Place the wrapped cherries on wax paper and chill in the refrigerator at least 4 hours.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt chocolate chips and shortening. Holding by the stem, dip the chilled cherries into the chocolate chip mixture. Chill until serving.

CHOCOLATE CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine oats, coconut, chopped nuts, cocoa, and vanilla. In a saucepan combine butter, milk and sugar and bring to a boil for two minutes. Pour this hot liquid over mixture in large bowl and mix thoroughly. Drop by spoonful onto waxed paper. Let cool before wrapping.

DRIED SOUR CHERRY NUT CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Line a sheet tray with parchment or wax paper.
• Temper the chocolate:
• Melt about 2/3 of the chocolate in the microwave on low power, checking and stirring occasionally to be sure it does not burn. It will take about 1 1/2 minutes. Alternatively, place
• 2/3 of the chopped chocolate in a bowl set over a pot of simmering water until it melts. Be sure no water touches the chocolate at any point. Stir in the remaining chopped chocolate and continue to stir until completely melted. Touch the skin just below your lower lip with a dab of chocolate: it should feel cool to the touch. If not, stir in a large chunk of chocolate to cool it down further, and then remove it.
• Stir in 2/3 cup of almonds and 2/3 cup of dried cherries.
• Using 2 teaspoons, drop clusters of the chocolate mixture onto the prepared sheet tray. Put an almond and one or two dried cherries on top of each cluster. You may not use all of the remaining 1/3 cup of each. Place the tray in the refrigerator until the chocolates are set, at least 15 minutes. Release them from the paper by slipping a small flexible knife under each.
• Store in a cool dry place.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In medium bowl, microwave chocolate chips on high 1 minute.
• Stir.
• Microwave on high 1 more minute, until nearly melted.
• Stir until smooth.
• Quickly stir in cereal, cherries, and walnuts until well coated.
• Using a tablespoon, drop clusters on a wax paper lined baking sheet.
• Refrigerate 1 hour, until no longer sticky.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY CANDIES

Steps:

• Beat peanut butter, butter and confectioners' sugar until crumbly. Stir in walnuts, coconut, cherries and cherry juice. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour. Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of filling into balls. Freeze 10 minutes. , In a microwave or heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip balls in chocolate, allowing excess to drip off; place on waxed paper. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm. Freeze option: Freeze candy in freezer containers, separating layers with waxed paper. To use, serve frozen or thaw in refrigerator before serving.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY DROPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Blend in the egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, mix in the chopped cherries and walnuts. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

CHERRY CHOCOLATE CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Line baking sheet or large flat platter with parchment or waxed paper.
• Place chocolate cookies in zip closed plastic bag and use rolling pin to crush them into small crumbs (or chopper). Set aside.
• In large microwave-bowl combine butter, corn syrup and chocolate chips. Microwave for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stopping every 20 to 30 seconds to stir, until melted and smooth. Stir in cranberries and dates, then mix in crushed cookies.
• Use a spoon or melon baller to scoop out 1 tablespoon balls of the mixture. Set them directly onto prepared baking sheet or into mini foil baking cups. Top each ball with half of candied cherry.
• Cover and store in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE MATZOH CLUSTERS

Steps:

• melt chocolate chips in the microwave for 1 minute, stir.
• in greased mixing bowl add nuts, matzoh and chocolate, stir to mix well (if you want to add dried fruit and coconut do it now).
• place wax paper onto baking sheets.
• drop by spoonfuls, refrigerate several hours.

CHERRY ALMOND CHOCOLATE CLUSTER

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, toss together the almonds and cherries.
• Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
• Melt half the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over about an inch of barely simmering water, over the lowest possible heat, stirring frequently.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the rest of the chocolate.
• Remove the top pan with the chocolate in it, gently drying the bottom, and set it aside.
• Replace the simmering water in the bottom pan with warm water from the sink. Put the pan of melted chocolate on top of the warm water. This will keep the chocolate at the proper temperature while you make the clusters.
• Stir the fruit and nut mixture into the chocolate.
• Spoon out heaping tablespoon size clusters of the chocolate mixture onto the baking sheet about 1 inch apart.
• Put them in the refrigerator to set for at least 15 minutes.
• Store and serve at room temperature.
• Enjoy!