Healthier Chocolate Clusters (or Bark)

Years ago, I saw and tried a recipe on the Food Network Channel. I have no idea the show or the people hosting it. But they made chocolate clusters. I loved them. They were my healthy fat treat. The gist of the recipe is to melt chocolate chips in the microwave (20 seconds at a time and stirring until completely melted), add dried fruit, nuts and seeds to the melted chocolate and chill in the 'fridge. That's it. I made different batches mostly using different mixes of pumpkin seeds, almonds, pecan pieces, peanuts, dried cherries, dried strawberries, dried cranberries, and crasins. As I am a HUGE fan of dark chocolate ( I can go about 72% cacao before it gets too bitter... and prefer it with stuff added, like almonds or cherries), I would use that instead or milk chocolate. I also have used semi-sweet chocolate. Though I am not a huge fan of Nestle as a corporation (see why here), I must admit that their chocolate chips taste amazing. And that's a painful admission. I've tried the generic versions and off brands; unfortunately, they just aren't as good. If I can find Hershey's special dark chips or Ghirardelli, I will use those over Nestle.

Since one of my favorite "orange container"* items on my program (seeds/dressings) is unsweetened coconut, I went back to this forgotten and favorite recipe, this time using melted dark chocolate chips and mixing in unsweetened coconut flakes. I also put pecan pieces in the mix and spread it as a bark in a brownie pan (as I share with the family). It is the same recipe as before: melt about 1/4 c of dark chocolate chips (candy bars, whatever you're using) in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave oven (20 second increments, stirring) until completely melted. If making for more people, use the entire bag. Once melted, dump in as much unsweetened coconut as you like and stir. If you want to add nuts, fruit or seeds, you can. Mix those in as well. When finished, spoon out hunks on a plate in clusters or on wax paper/ parchment on a cookie sheet (or spread into a brownie pan or plastic container for bark) and place in the 'fridge. Once chilled and solid, enjoy.

The Food Network made them a bit different. After melting the chocolate, they dripped the chocolate in spoonfuls on parchment (plate, pan for bark, etc.). They added nuts, seeds, fruit on TOP, then chilled in the 'fridge. Either way, they rock!

Calories, sugars, carbs will be determined by what you put in your clusters or bark. You are in control. You can make these will very little chocolate and put all sorts of yummy thins on your program and have a yummy treat!

If you have suggestions or alternatives to this recipe, feel free to comment below. I would love to hear from you.

Sunday, I will be reporting on my 21 Day Fix Extreme results. Cycle two will start August 12.

Bon Appetite, my most excellent peeps!

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*Orange container refers to the containers that are a product of by Beach Body 21 Day Fix to help users learn about portion control. Each color container represents a food group. Green: veg, Purple: fruit, Red: protein, Yellow: carbs, Blue: healthy fats, Orange: seeds and dressings. There are also allotted nut butters/oils for each day. Where a person is on the calorie break down (as figured in the the program booklet) will determine the number of color containers for each food group each day. A book that explains the containers comes with the food containers; the booklet includes food lists and recipe ideas.

** This is not a healtY recipe, it is a healhtIER recipe, when looking at calories, sugars, carbs and proteins, compared to a candy bar alternative.