Chocolate Covered Apricots
Chocolate covered apricots are easy to make, great for parties or to give as a gift. These dark chocolate dipped apricots are sweet, chewy, crunchy and chocolatey. The perfect snack or dessert any time of the year.
If you love this recipe, you should try chocolate covered strawberries.
Why you will love this recipe
- Easy to make – this recipe for dark chocolate covered apricots is so easy – just melt the chocolate, dip the apricots and add chopped nuts. The beauty of this recipe is that although it’s simple, it’s also a show stopper and looks incredible on any dessert platter or charcuterie board.
- Simple ingredients – this recipe has just 3-4 simple ingredients – chocolate, dried apricots, pistachios and flaky sea salt (optional). So simple and all the ingredients pair together so well making the perfect combination of sweet, salty, chewy and crunchy all at the same time.
- Versatile – use these as a simple dessert, on charcuterie boards, as gifts or as a simple snack you can store in the fridge for anytime! Change up the toppings to change the flavors, use coconut flakes, mini chocolate chips or different nuts/seeds.
Ingredients
- Dried apricots – I really like to use Turkish apricots for this recipe, they are smooth, round and have a light orange color that is really vibrant and beautiful. Use whatever dried apricots you have on hand though.
- Dark chocolate chips – I prefer dark chocolate in this recipe, as it helps to mellow out the sweetness from the dried apricots. The darker the chocolate, the more bitter though so I like to stay around 72-85% dark chocolate.
- Tahini (or almond butter) – tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. Adding a little tahini helps to ensure that the chocolate coating doesn’t crack when it dries, as it adds a little extra fat. You could also use coconut oil.
- Pistachios – be sure to buy shelled pistachios to make this easy to assemble. You can use roasted, salted pistachios or unsalted, it’s your choice.
- Flaky sea salt (optional) – I really love a good sprinkle of flaky sea salt. It adds a little extra crunch and also the perfect touch of saltiness to this sweet dessert. If you are using salted pistachios, you may decide not to add the flaky sea salt.
How to make chocolate covered apricots
Melt the chocolate in the microwave. Add the chocolate chips and tahini to a microwave safe bowl and cook for 1 minute on high. After a minute, remove from the microwave and stir until all the chocolate is melted (it may take a minute or two for all the chocolate to melt). If there are still some chocolate chips that won’t melt, place it back in the microwave for 15-30 seconds.
Chop the pistachios and add them to a small bowl.
Add parchment paper or wax paper to a baking sheet.
Dip the dried apricots in the melted chocolate then place on the baking sheet to set up. Before the chocolate sets completely, sprinkle the chocolate covered apricots with pistachios and flaky salt.
Allow the apricots to set on the counter or in the fridge (I prefer to use the fridge for this, especially if it’s warm out).
Top tips
- Make sure when you are buying dried apricots they have not added any sugar or other sweeteners, as this will make the apricots way too sweet.
- For the best texture, use plump apricots. You will notice that some of the apricots in the bag are much more plump and juicy than others.
- Use whatever chocolate you have on hand. I love using dark chocolate, I find it compliments the sweetness of the apricots well, helping to balance out the intense sweetness.
- Store the dark chocolate dipped apricots in the fridge for the best texture. As the apricots sit out at room temperature, the chocolate can get a little soft.
- If you want these chocolate covered apricots to be vegan or dairy free, but sure to use a dairy free chocolate chip. There are many great options on the market now, but it’s important to read the ingredient list since most chocolate is made with milk.
Other topping ideas
- Shredded coconut flakes
- Cacao nibs (this would be a great way to add crunch without using nuts)
- Mini chocolate chips (make these extra chocolatey)
- Crushed freeze dried raspberries or strawberries
Ways to serve chocolate apricots
- As a simple dessert or part of a dessert board/tray
- On charcuterie boards
- As a simple snack
- Give them as gifts! These would be great for holiday gift giving as the look so fancy but are really easy to make.
Common questions
What are the best dried apricots to use?
When shopping for dried apricots, you may notice there are some bags labeled “Turkish apricots” while others are just apricots or California apricots.
Turkish apricots are bright yellow/orange in color and have a very uniform look (they are pretty smooth around the edges). They are dried whole without the pit, giving them that round, smooth texture. Turkish apricots tend to be a bit sweeter in flavor and are typically what is found in many grocery stores.
California apricots are not as common. Before being dried, the apricots are cut in half to remove the pit. Because of this, they have jagged edges and you can easily see where the pit was. They are a bit darker in color than the bright orange/yellow Turkish apricots. They have a little more tart flavor when compared to Turkish apricots but are still very delicious.
Both are great options for dipping in dark chocolate, but when given the choice, I would go with Turkish apricots.
Can you cover the apricots in chocolate
Of course! I like leaving some of the apricot exposed so you can see the beautiful color from the apricots. It also makes it easy to grab the chocolate covered apricot without getting chocolate on your hands.
If you decide you want to coat the entire apricot with chocolate, use a fork to toss the apricot in melted chocolate (you will need at least double the chocolate recommended in the recipe). Transfer to a wax paper or parchment paper lined baking sheet to harden.
Do you have to store them in the fridge?
The chocolate will set on the apricots with or without storing in the fridge. However if you have a hot house or are storing them in a warm room, the chocolate can get a little soft on the apricots.
If you keep the house cool, they do not need to be stored in the fridge. The chocolate will set quickly with or without the fridge.
I personally prefer the texture of the chocolate straight from the fridge though. The chocolate gets hard and it gives another layer of texture to the apricots.
Can you make these chocolate dipped apricots without nuts?
If you cannot tolerate nuts or prefer to not use nuts on them, you can certainly make them without nuts. You can use pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds in place of pistachios or use something different like cacao nibs, mini chocolate chips or coconut flakes instead of nuts.
Storing dark chocolate dipped apricots
- Countertop: Store at room temperature in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks. Wait to seal the container until the chocolate has completely set. Note that the chocolate can melt easily if the room gets warm, so I recommend storing in the fridge.
- Fridge: I recommend storing these in the fridge for the best texture. Store these in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Note that the pistachios will not be quite as crunchy as the moisture from the fridge will make them a little less crunchy.
- Freezer: If you want to store these long term, store them in the freezer then take them out about 20 minute before you plan on enjoying them for the best texture.
Substitutions
- Dried apricots – you could also make this with pitted dates.
- Chocolate chips – you can also use bars of chocolate instead of chocolate chips.
- Tahini – you can also use almond butter, cashew butter, sunbutter or coconut oil in place of the tahini.
- Pistachios – use chopped almonds, cashew, walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut flakes, cacao nibs or mini chocolate chips in place of pistachios.
If you love this recipe, you should try
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates
- Tahini Fudge
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Hummus
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispy Treats
Chocolate Covered Apricots
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried apriocts
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp tahini - or almond butter or coconut oil
- 2 tbsp pistachios - salted or unsalted
- flaky salt - optional
Instructions
- Add chocolate chips and tahini to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high 1 minute then stir well (1-2 minutes) until the chocolate is completely melted. If you find that the chocolate chips won't melt completely in this time, place them back in the microwave for an additional 15-20 seconds.
- Chop the pistachios.
- Place parchment paper or wax paper on top of a baking sheet.
- Dip the apricots in the melted chocolate, covering about 1/2 way. Lay them down on the lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the chocolate dipped apricots with chopped pistachios and a sprinkle of flaky salt while the chocolate is still tacky. Note you may need to pause half way through to sprinkle with the nuts so the chocolate doesn't harden, this will depend on how hot/cold your kitchen is.
- Allow the chocolate to harden completely on the counter or in the fridge before serving.
Notes
- Make sure when you are buying dried apricots they have not added any sugar or other sweeteners, as this will make the apricots way too sweet.
- For the best texture, use plump apricots. You will notice that some of the apricots in the bag are much more plump and juicy than others.
- Use whatever chocolate you have on hand. I love using dark chocolate, I find it compliments the sweetness of the apricots well, helping to balance out the intense sweetness.
- Store the dark chocolate dipped apricots in the fridge for the best texture. As the apricots sit out at room temperature, the chocolate can get a little soft.
- If you want these chocolate covered apricots to be vegan or dairy free, but sure to use a dairy free chocolate chip. There are many great options on the market now, but it’s important to read the ingredient list since most chocolate is made with milk.
