Chocolate Cherry Almond Clusters

I have never really like almonds.

Ok.  I shouldn’t say that.  Its not that I don’t like almonds, they just always seem to be in the way.  Ground up and coating my fish?  No thanks.  A whole, big, chunky almond in my trail mix?  Too big of a bite.  And for some reason, they just never seem to be as crunchy as other nuts.  Really, the only exception to this is when my sister introduced me to these, which incidentally, are strangely addictive and I highly recommend them.

But I digress.  Chocolate, cherries, and almonds are obviously not an original combination.  But I have never actually taken the time to combine them simply in a little snack.  And I have NO IDEA WHY!  Almonds are crazy good for you with all the fiber, healthy fats, and Vit E to benefit your skin and lower cholesterol.  Of course, cherries and dark chocolate are both filled with a wealth of nutrients and antioxidants.  That triple health combo makes these a powerhouse of good things for your body, but satisfying as well.  Just three little foods!  No muss.  No fuss.  Nothing extra, and using good, quality ingredients.  I am a little embarrassed to say just how many of these I have had over the last few weeks, so….I won’t tell you how many I have had.  But I may or may not be eating one right now and typing with one hand.

The only warning I have for you about these, other than the fact that you may hate me for turning you on to this incredibly munch-able snack, is that they will melt in your mouth, but also in your hand!  The point here is to use good ingredients so that you end up with something fairly good for you, not filled with chemicals and extra sugars.  Because a good quality, dark chocolate won’t have stabilizers in them like a commercial chocolate chip does, they will melt into a mess rather easily.  But as for downsides, thats all I got.  They are awesome.  And they make staying healthy taste oh so good.

DON’T FORGET TO ENTER THE COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY!  THE CUTOFF TO ENTER HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 8:00 AM JULY 1ST!  COMMENT HERE, OR LIKE, FOLLOW, AND SUBSCRIBE TO ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!
One Year Ago: Yogurt Salads
Two Years Ago: Guacamole & Red Velvet Cupcakes

Chocolate Cherry Almond Clusters
The key here is to use good quality ingredients, with as few additives as possible.  These are awesome right out of the freezer.

8 oz good dark or bittersweet chocolate, at least 60% cacao, finely chopped
1 1/2 c roughly chopped unsalted almonds
1 1/2 c roughly chopped dried sour cherries

In a medium glass bowl, melt the chocolate at 30 second intervals, stirring in between, and stopping before it is smooth. At the end, the heat of the bowl and a vigorous stir will work out the last of the lumps without overheating your chocolate.  Always err on the side of less heat when it comes to chocolate.  Stir in the almonds and cherries until well mixed.  Line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper and scoop and portion out the mixture in large tablespoons.  I consistently get exactly 20 clusters out of a batch!  Chill until set in the fridge and store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.