This is a guest post from Christine at Random Hangers. If you’re interested in guest posting on Eat at Home, contact me.
Dark chocolate, dried cranberries and walnuts all contain antioxidants, which have been known to reduce blood pressure and bad cholesterol. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a tasty treat out there that contained all three? Read on!
Cranberry-Walnut Clusters
Ingredients
Yields about 36 clusters, depending on size
- 1 cup (8 oz.) dark chocolate chips
- 6 oz. walnut pieces
- 12 oz. cranberries (one larger bag or two smaller)
- 1-2 tablespoons peanut butter, crunchy or creamy (optional)
Melt chocolate, either in double boiler or in the microwave (30 seconds on high, stir, 30 seconds on high, stir, etc. until smooth).
If desired, add the peanut butter. The chocolate should still be warm enough that it will melt in pretty quickly when stirred.
Add the walnuts and the cranberries and combine well. There should be just enough chocolate to lightly coat everything (we’re trying for a healthy version, remember?).
Using two tablespoons, drop onto wax paper in clusters. Don’t worry about making them perfect; they can be a little hard to maneuver. If a stray chocolate-covered cranberry or walnut makes a run for it…eat it!
Pop the cookie sheet into the refrigerator for a few hours or until they harden. Place into an airtight container and enjoy, relatively guilt-free.*
*Sugar levels can be high, so don’t go too crazy…
Options
- This is close to the original, healthy recipe I found in a magazine. Feel free to add additional chocolate for a thicker coating. More antioxidants for you!
- Don’t like dried cranberries? Raisins work too.
- Cashews, peanuts or almonds can be substituted for the walnuts.
- If you don’t add peanut butter, bump up the amount of chocolate to ensure everything is properly coated.
- I used cherry-juice infused cranberries for this batch, which _to me_ gave it an odd, almost cough-syrup flavor. Hubby disagreed and said he would even be up for trying the blueberry ones in the future. The moral? Use at your own risk…
Christine recently began Random Hangers, a blog about this, that, and the sometimes-snarky things in between. It primarily covers things to do in Central Florida, but also has recipes like Ramen Vegetable Soup, chats about setting goals, and tv you might watch if only you knew about it. Feedback is always welcome!
You’re trying to market these as healthy?? You so my kind of girl! You rock! 🙂
😉
I love this recipe! I think it would be great for gift giving!
Thank you!
– Angie
I will be making these for sure this holiday season…thanks for sharing!
Healthy is all in the eyes of the beholder! They’re better for you than say, a Snickers bar!. 🙂 And love the gift-giving idea!
Mmm, antioxidants look delicious!
Do I hear “Teacher’s gifts?” Thanks for sharing!!
Try the pomegranate infused cranberries. They are amazing with dark chocolate. I am actually finding few things that don’t go with dark chocolate.
I’m going to have to look for pomegranate infused cranberries. Those sound great!