Chocolate Covered Grapes               

 tags (edit): @Favorite @Vogel Easy @Xmas2006 @4 Star @Tried Desserts  

 

Instead of hand-dipping fruits, as one does with strawberries, you can make a hundred of these in just a few minutes. It is always very amusing when you put a plateful on the table after a meal. Invariably people say, "No thanks, I'm full already", no doubt thinking that you are presenting a dense chocolate bonbon. Then, when they bite in and get a juicy, tart squirt of flavor, they always reach for another.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon Unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon Powdered sugar
1 pound Seedless grapes (green is best, or red) firm, stems removed
4 ounces Semisweet chocolate (60%) melted, at body temperature (see NOTE)
 

Instructions
 SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: Sheet pan, strainer.

Combine the cocoa powder and powdered sugar; set aside. Wash the grapes in running water. Dry the grapes well and place them in a bowl large enough to toss them easily.

Add the melted chocolate to the grapes slowly -- about 1 tablespoon at a time -- stirring well with a spatula, carefully scraping the sides of the bowl and folding through the center of the grapes to coat all of them evenly. Dump the chocolate covered grapes onto the sheet pan and gently spread them around with a spatula (just separate the biggest clumps – they’ll get spread around more in the next step).

Using a small strainer, sprinkle the cocoa powder mixture over the surface. Gently shake the sheet pan (as if you were panning for gold) to move the grapes as you sprinkle, continuing to add the cocoa until the grapes are well coated and separated (you may not need all of the cocoa powder mixture). You may need to separate clumps of grapes with the spatula.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the chocolate is set, or for up to 1 day.

A variation on this recipe is also hosted on BigOven.com as recipe number 162282.

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Yields: 3 Cups    posted as 162282
     HAPPY IN THE KITCHEN, page 286

 notes:  The melted chocolate should not be too hot when you work with it. To check the temperature, dab a small amount of it on your lower lip. When it is "lip temperature" (or body temperature), it is ready to use.

You may also substitute milk chocolate for the semisweet.

Cuisine:   Uncategorized

Main Ingredient:   Grapes