Easy Chocolate Dipped Apricots Apricot Chanukah Gelt Recipes

EASY CHOCOLATE-APRICOT BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan generously with cooking spray.
• Mix oil, water, and eggs together in a bowl. Stir in brownie mix until just moistened. Spread 2/3 of the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
• While brownies are baking, warm apricot jam in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Remove brownies from the oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over top. Spread warm jam over the entire surface. Drop spoonfuls of the remaining brownie batter over the surface of the jam.
• Return to the oven and continue to bake until edges are dry but brownies still look slightly underdone, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

EASY CHOCOLATE-DIPPED APRICOTS (APRICOT CHANUKAH GELT)

Steps:

• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Heat chocolate over a double-boiler. Allow the water in the boiler to get hot but not fully boil. Use a plastic spatula to scrape chocolate away from the sides. Remove from heat as soon as the chocolate is melted. If you prefer to use a microwave, melt the chocolate in a glass bowl in short intervals, stirring well with spatula.
• Immediately add all the apricots to the pot melted chocolate, and stir gently until they are all coated fully. Carefully lift each piece out of the pot with a fork, allowing some of the excess chocolate to drip off. For a more sophisticated look, you can also try holding each apricot by one end with your fingers and dipping only half of it into the chocolate.
• Place carefully on parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until the chocolate has become firm (20-30 minutes). Optionally, you can wrap individually in foil wrappers to give as gifts. Store in the refrigerator - If refrigerated, they can last up to a week (though they are best if eaten within 3 days).

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED NOUGAT WITH DRIED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Spray a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with vegetable cooking spray. Line the bottom and sides of the pan with waxed paper, allowing the paper to overhang by 2-inches on each side. Lightly spray the waxed paper inside the pan.
• In a 2-quart saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and honey over low heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a simmer, and cook until the syrup turns amber and registers 315 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• While the syrup is cooking, in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until they hold soft peaks, about 2 minutes.
• With the mixer running on low speed, slowly pour the syrup into the egg whites. Increase the speed to high and beat until the mixture is very thick, about 7 minutes. Beat in the vanilla extract. Fold in 1/2 of the apricots. Using a spatula sprayed with cooking spray, scrape the mixture into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the remaining apricots on top. Fold the overhanging pieces of waxed paper onto the surface of the mixture. Refrigerate until firm, about 4 hours.
• Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Remove the waxed paper from the nougat and discard. Using a knife sprayed with cooking spray, cut the nougat in half lengthwise. Cut each half into 8 pieces. Dip 1 end of the nougat into the melted chocolate and place on the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.

DIPPED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Microwave 2 ounces finely chopped dark chocolate at medium power until melted. Dip dried apricots halfway in the chocolate, then press an almond on each. Place on a parchment paper-lined plate, then freeze until set, about 2 minutes.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper. Melt and temper the chocolate (see pages 25-30).
• Hold an apricot half securely between your thumb and forefinger, and dip it halfway into the chocolate. Remove the apricot from the chocolate, gently shake off the excess chocolate, and place the apricot half on the paper. Repeat with the remaining apricot halves. Let the chocolate set up at room temperature, or chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Between layers of waxed paper, in a tightly covered container wrapped in several layers of aluminum foil, the apricot halves will keep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator. They are best eaten at room temperature.
• VARIATIONS
• Substitute dried peaches or dried pears for the apricots. Dip these halfway into the chocolate on the diagonal for an interesting design.

APRICOT GELT

Steps:

• Using a heavy mallet, flatten apricots to 1/4 inch thick; set aside. Microwave chocolate in a glass bowl in 15-second intervals, stirring vigorously with a rubber spatula and scraping down sides in between, until just melted (chocolate should be no warmer than 86 degrees).
• Dip each apricot in chocolate, coating evenly. Transfer to wire racks set over parchment paper; let stand until set.
• Transfer apricots to baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate until firm, at least 25 minutes. Wrap in foil wrappers.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED FRUIT

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with foil. For the chocolate coating: In a small heatproof bowl set over hot (not simmering) water, melt the semisweet chocolate with 1 teaspoons of oil. In another small heatproof bowl set over hot (not simmering) water, melt the white chocolate with the remaining 1 teaspoons oil. Leave both bowls over the hot water.
• Pick up one piece of fruit at a time and dip it into the melted dark or white chocolate, coating about half of each piece of fruit. If desired, drizzle the dipped portion with a contrasting color of chocolate and sprinkle with some chopped nuts. Place the fruit on the foil-lined baking sheet. Work quickly to coat the remaining fruit.
• Refrigerate for 5 minutes or until the chocolate is set. Keep in a cool place until ready to serve. (Fresh fruit should not be held for more than 4 hours before serving).