Thursday 16 September 2010

dried fruit confectionery

If you think confectionery is something you can enjoy only occasionally then I am the bearer of good news. This lovely treat is packed with healthy ingredients so you can enjoy it every day without the feeling of guilt. I found the recipe in a Danish magazine called Bolig in 2008 and it became an instant favourite. I have not changed anything except that I use organic ingredients. Organic apricots, the brown ugly ones, are unsulphured but the orange, good-looking ones are not, so I recommend using organic. These are real treats with coffee and they are ideal for the snack box.

DRIED FRUIT CONFECTIONERY

INGREDIENTS

  • 100 g dried organic apricots
  • 100 g pitted dates
  • 100 g desiccated coconut (I use coarse rather than fine)
  • ½ teaspoon organic vanilla sugar or vanilla extract
  • 25 g cocoa powder, organic/fair-trade
  • 2-3 tablespoons coconut oil (I use 2 tbsp - if solid, place the jar in a bowl of hot water before use)
  • desiccated coconut or cocoa powder for coating

METHOD

  1. Soak the apricots and dates in water for 30 minutes
  2. Drain the fruits and place in a food processor along with the desiccated coconut and blend for about 30 seconds
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well in the food processor
  4. Take a small portion of the mixture, mould it into small balls and roll them in desiccated coconut or cocoa powder
  5. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container and serve straight from the fridge

VARIATIONS

  • I have made these with 50 g almonds and 50 g desiccated coconut. I soaked the almonds with the fruits and then I added 2 walnuts in the food processor. The confectionery tasted really good. Some of it I rolled in desiccated coconut and some I did not coat.
  • Sometimes I skip rolling the confectionery in desiccated coconut/cocoa powder. Instead I melt organic chocolate (in a bowl over low heat) and dip the confectionery into the chocolate, either completely or partially. I let it sit on parchment paper before refrigerating.

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