Dark Chocolate-Dipped Mandarins

3 ingredients. Dark Chocolate. Mandarins. Pistachios. The slightly bitter dark chocolate paired with the sweet mandarins and extra little crunch from the pistachios equals the perfect sweet snack. Add this as another simple, yet impressive snack/dessert to make!

Have you ever tried that chocolate shaped orange that you smash? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, scroll through and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Years ago I had one and recently was taken back to that flavor. Chocolate with hints of orange. I was making these Florentine lace cookies and it called for a teaspoon of orange zest. When I sampled the cookies there was just that faint taste of orange but it really stood out. It made me remember how much I like orange and chocolate together.

I know what you’re thinking, oranges and chocolate? YES! I didn’t think I’d like it either, but believe me when I tell you they taste great together. It got me thinking, why not take a mandarin orange and dip them in chocolate? It’s easy enough to do and mandarins are in season now! That little bit of sweet you’re looking for! I added pistachios for a little crunch, but a sprinkle of sea salt would be nice too!

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate Dipped Mandarins

Dessert or snack? You be the judge. I wouldn’t technically classify this as a dessert, but because it has chocolate my dietitian self also wouldn’t want you thinking it was my recommended way to eat a mandarin! 🙂 All foods fit and food should be fun!

1. Mandarins: I used Satsumas. Normally quite expensive, I found these on super sale! Well, they ended up not being the best, hence the sale. Clementines, Cara Cara oranges, or any citrus would work. Satsumas are a tad bigger than a clementine, so the amounts listed in the recipe may be more than is needed if you use clementines – just peel a few more if there’s extra.
2. Dark Chocolate: I used a 60% dark chocolate, so not too bitter, but just right amount. If your mandarins are super sweet, a slightly more bitter chocolate would pair really nice.
3. Coconut Oil. Technically a 4th ingredient, but add a teaspoon to the dark chocolate to help it get firm on the orange. It forms a shellac outer shell better. If you leave it off, it will still work.
4. Crushed Pistachios: I sprinkled the pistachios over the dark chocolate and felt fancy. If you don’t want to add these a nice sprinkle of fancy sea salt would also be a nice contrast.

How To Make Dark Chocolate Dipped Mandarins

The only hard part of this recipe is you have to temper the chocolate. It’s easy to do but a necessary step. Read on, it’s super simple. It’s the same technique I used to make my Peppermint Bark!

1. Melting the chocolate: Fill the bottom of a medium-sized pot a third of the way with water and bring to simmer over medium heat.  Reduce heat to low, then place a large heatproof bowl on top.  Add dark chocolate and coconut oil. Stir occasionally until chocolate has melted. 
2. Peel the mandarins: Meanwhile, peel the mandarins. They’re easy to peel, but just make sure to get all the extra pith off so there are not strings hanging.
3. Crush the pistachios: Pistachios were on sale the other day so I did buy them already shelled. Shell them if you need to and then crush them. I put them in a plastic bag and pound them with a measuring cup vs finely chopping them. Whatever method is easier, do that!
4. Dip the mandarins: The beauty of this recipe is that the mandarins are only half-dipped. If you’ve ever coated things in chocolate it’s a bit of a mess. This is super simple because you’re only dipping them halfway!
5. Sprinkle the pistachios: As the chocolate is setting, sprinkle the crushed pistachios on the chocolate. And if you opted for just sea salt, now’s the time to add it!
6. Let them set: Because we tempered the chocolate it will set quite quickly (& doesn’t normally require refrigeration). However, here in Miami we do have quite a bit of humidity. I place them in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to make sure they’re set. Eat and enjoy!

OTHER SWEET SNACKS:

• Almond Butter Energy Bites
• Maple-Glazed Pecans
• Homemade Trail Mix
• Chocolate Mendiants

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