Chocolate apricot balls

It only takes three ingredients and a few minutes to make these chocolate apricot balls, yet they look and taste incredible.

All you'll need to do is briefly soak dried apricots and almonds before blitzing them to a paste in your food processor.

Next, you'll use your hands to roll them into balls, dip them into melted dark chocolate and you're done!

They contain no added sugar, and if you opt for a dairy-free dark chocolate, they're vegan too!

Instructions

Put the apricots and almonds in a heat-resistant bowl.

Pour the boiled water into the bowl, stir and leave to soak for 5 minutes.

Drain. 

Put the apricots and nuts in a blender.

Blitz until they come together into a thick paste.

Take a tablespoon of the apricot mix and roll in into a ball. In total, you could get 12 balls. If you’d rather divide them by weight, they’ll weight about 27g (1 ounce) each. 

Melt the chocolate in a small heat-resistant bowl the microwave or using a bain-marie.

Rest an apricot ball on a fork or slotted spoon lower it into the chocolate. Roll it in the chocolate gently to coat.

Lift out of the chocolate, allow any excess to drip away.,

Place your coated ball onto a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. Repeat until you have coated all 12 balls.

Top each ball with a sliver of apricot.

Leave the chocolate to set.

Enjoy!

If you like, you can put an extra almond in the centre of your apricot balls, so that is discovered when you bite into them!

The apricot chocolate balls could also be dipped into sprinkles or crushed up nuts while the chocolate is still melted for extra crunch.

Why not experiment with milk or white chocolate too?

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect chocolate apricot balls

Are chocolate apricot balls easy to make?

There are no special skills required to make these chocolate apricot balls.

If you've never shaped a filling like this into balls and coated them in chocolate, don't worry! It's honestly very simple to do and the step-by-step images above should help.

Will I need any special equipment to make chocolate apricot balls?

The only special equipment you need for this recipe is a food processor.

Other than that, you'll just need weighing scales a mixing bowl, a fork and baking paper.

I don't have a food processor, can I use something else?

If you don't have a food processor, you could try using a small blender (the kind you make smoothies in) or even a stick blender.

Where can I buy dried apricots? What kind is best?

You can buy dried apricots in pretty much all supermarkets. They tend to be in the baking aisle with the other dried fruits, but you might also find them in the snack aisle. Generally though, snack bags are smaller so you'll get better value in the baking aisle.

For this recipe, I use standard "dried apricots", which come whole and stoned.

You might see "soft dried apricots" but, as delicious as they are, they tend to have more liquid in them, so won't be as easy to work with in this recipe.

You might also see "chopped apricots" but while they're great for cookies, they tend to be a bit more dehydrated that whole dried apricots, so I'd recommend against them for this recipe.

What are blanched almonds? Where can I buy them?

Almonds naturally have a very thin, papery brown skin on the which is edible but not always desired for every recipe.

Blanched almonds are almonds that have been submerged in boiling water for just a minute or so, then plunged into ice water. This loosens the skin, which is then easily removed, leaving a naked nut!

So, a blanched almond is skin-free, making it perfect for this recipe.

You can buy blanched almonds in pretty much all supermarkets. They tend to be in the baking aisle with the other nuts, but you might also find them in the snack aisle.

Generally, snack bags are smaller so you'll get better value in the baking aisle.

I wouldn't recommend using skin-on almonds, ground almonds or almond flour for this recipe.

Are chocolate apricot balls suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, there are no meat or fish products in these chocolate apricot balls.

Are chocolate apricot balls suitable for vegans?

If you use dairy-free dark chocolate, these chocolate apricot balls are indeed suitable for vegans.

Are chocolate apricot balls gluten-free?

If you use gluten-free dark chocolate and carefully check the labels on the other ingredients for any "may contain" warnings, these chocolate apricot balls can indeed be made gluten-free.

Are chocolate apricot balls keto-friendly?

No, this recipe isn't suitable for a keto diet because it contains lots of dried apricots. The keto diet generally recommends against eating dried fruit.

Are chocolate apricot balls healthy?

These chocolate apricot balls are a sensibly portioned sweet indulgence.

Each ball contains approximately 139kcal, 16g carbohydrate (11g sugar), 3g protein and 8g fat. Almonds are also naturally quite high in Vitamin D.

Nutritional information is approximate based on publicly available data and should not be taken as medical advice.

Are chocolate apricot balls safe to eat while pregnant?

There is nothing in this recipe that should present a risk to pregnant people if the ingredients are in good condition and have been stored correctly, and the recipe is cooked hygienically and safely.

A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. You can review the NHS advice here and you should consult with your medical professional regarding any concerns.

What goes well with chocolate apricot balls?

These chocolate apricot balls are amazing on their own, but their also great as part of a snack/party platter.

They're sweet and sticky inside with a slightly bitter, dark chocolate shell, so they pair well with crisp, salty mini pretzels.

Can I make this recipe without chocolate?

You could just serve the apricot balls on their own, but they're quite sticky, so things could get messy.

If you really want to avoid chocolate, you could try rolling then in desiccated coconut.

I haven’t got almonds can I use another nut?

Yes, you could use cashews, if you prefer. You can use all almonds, all cashews or a combination of the two.

Can nuts go bad?

Stored correctly in an unopened pack or sealed container, most nuts will last a long time, but they can definitely go bad eventually.

How long a nut lasts depends on the variety. Pine nuts tend to take on a slightly off / mouldy flavour within a few weeks of opening, in my experience, whereas almonds can last for many months if properly stored.

Always check the expiration date on the label and follow any specific storage instructions. Remember that Use By dates should never be exceeded, but food past its Best Before date is generally still safe to eat as long as it has been stored properly and there are no signs that it has gone bad.

Nuts can go mouldy, so if you can see any change in colour, any dustiness on the surface of the nuts or any mould, you should throw the nuts away.

Nuts are high in fat, so when they go bad they also tend to taste rancid. Nuts that taste in any way 'odd' should be discarded.

I haven’t got dried apricots can I use a different dried fruit?

I haven't tested this recipe with other dried fruit, but I imagine it would work well. I would go for something figs or dates, rather than raisins.

How can I tell if my dried apricots have gone bad?

If your dried apricots are stored correctly - either in their unopened packet or in a sealed container, placed somewhere cool and dark, they should keep for around 6 months.

However, like any food stuff, dried apricots can go bad. If they have changed colour, texture or show any other visual signs of decay such as a having a dusty surface, releasing liquid or displaying mouldy parts, discard the packet.

You should also discard the packet if the apricots smell, taste or feel anything other than they should.

Always check the expiration date on the label too and follow any specific storage instructions. Remember that Use By dates should never be exceeded, but food past its Best Before date is generally still safe to eat as long as it has been stored properly and there are no signs that it has gone bad.

How should I store chocolate apricot balls?

Personally, I don't put store-bought chocolates in the fridge as it can cause the chocolate to sweat, where condensation gathers on the surface, or bloom, where fat crystals in the chocolate form a dull, white sheen on its surface.

However, for food safety reasons, you should put your homemade chocolate apricot balls in a sealed container and store in the fridge.

How long do chocolate apricot balls keep?

Properly stored, these chocolate apricot balls should keep for up to a week.

Can I leave chocolate apricot balls out on the counter?

These chocolate apricot balls do hold up well when left out on the counter.

However, for food safety reasons, you should put your homemade chocolate apricot balls in a sealed container and store in the fridge.

Can I make chocolate apricot balls ahead?

If you like, you could make the apricot balls and then store them in the refrigerator overnight before coating them in chocolate the next day.

It's best to allow the apricot balls to come back up to close to room temp before dipping in chocolate. This is because a very cold apricot ball could shock the warm melted chocolate, causing the texture to change.

Can I freeze chocolate apricot balls?

It's best to enjoy these chocolates fresh, but if you want to freeze them, I'd recommend doing so by wrapping them in single layers and then placing the wrapped chocolates in a sealed container to keep as much moisture out as possible.

When defrosting, place them in the refrigerator to allow the temperature to come back up slowly.

If you take them straight from freezer to counter, this can shock the chocolate, giving it an unpleasant texture.

Can I make chocolate apricot balls in a different quantity?

You can indeed change this recipe to make more or fewer chocolate apricot balls.

To do so, simply scroll down to the recipe card found at the bottom of this page and click or hover over the servings number. A slider will appear that you can use to adjust the serving number, which will also automatically adjust all the ingredient quantities you need.

Can I make chocolate apricot balls in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

This recipe won't really work in a stand mixer - you need some kind of blender, stick blender or food processor with a blade to chop up the nuts and apricots.

Can I cook these chocolate apricot balls?

No, this recipe will not respond well to cooking.

Why did my chocolate sweat / go dull?

Chocolate can take on a dull appearance or gather water droplets on the surface when it is stored in the fridge. Be sure to store your completed chocolate apricot balls in a sealed container to protect them from excess moisture.

Why did my apricot filling fall apart?

If your mixture is really crumbly, try adding more boiling water to the bowl, just 1 tsp at a time, mixing well. Make sure you follow the ingredient quantities closely and read the above advice on what type of dried apricot to use.

If your mix is very wet and squidgy and won't hold together, there's probably too much water in your mix. Unfortunately, it's not really possibly to take the water out once you've added too much, but you could try placing the mixture in a covered bowl in the refrigerator overnight, where it should firm up.

How can I add/change the flavours in this dish?

You could add a touch of orange zest to the melted chocolate for a variation on the flavour. You could also try rolling the balls in desiccated coconut.

What is the origin of these chocolate apricot balls?

These exact chocolate apricot balls are my own invention but credit must be given to the Austrian Sachertorte.

A Sachertorte is a chocolate sponge cake with apricot jam and dark chocolate icing. It's an incredible flavour combination and the inspiration for this recipe.

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