Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond Bites (Fitness Trainer Approved)

Makes about 25 bites

The new year… a time we make yearly goals and try to stick with them.  One goal that is my favorite to use every year is I want to lose weight and improve my overall fitness.  So that means clean up my nutrition, get to the gym more often and cut out those sweets.

Do I really have to cut out the sweets?  I have a sweet tooth and that might be hard. 

I was talking with my trainer at the gym and she said I don’t necessarily have to cut out the sweets, just eat them in moderation.  She said if I was going to eat anything, dark chocolate would be the best.

Well that works for me… I don’t discriminate when it comes to chocolate. 

I came home from the gym and decided to make my own healthier treat that I could eat in moderation and not veer off my path to better fitness and weight loss so early in the year.  I decided to make Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond Bites.  All three ingredients have antioxidant properties plus other good nutritional value and no extra sugar except what is in each ingredient.  Plus, they are very easy to make.

I hope this can satisfy your sweet cravings like it did mine.  Let’s get melting…

Ingredients:

·      12 oz dark chocolate chips

·      1 cup roasted and unsalted almonds

·      1 cup dried cherries

·      1.5 tablespoons vegetable shortening

Other Supplies:

·      Parchment paper/wax paper

·      1 tablespoon scoop or spoon

·      Microwave safe bowl

 

Directions:

1.    Melt the chocolate chips and shortening together in the microwave.  Melt the chocolate for one minute and then mix.  If your chocolate needs more melting time, melt in 20 second bursts and mix after each melting time.  Be cautious not to over melt because you can burn the chocolate and it will get clumpy.  Also, the chips may not look melted when you first take the out of the microwave, but as you mix and melt they will become more viscous.  As you mix, it is ok to have a few small clumps of unmelted chocolate in your melted chocolate.  You can leave it as is or strain your chocolate.

 

2.    Once the chocolate is melted, mix the cherries and almonds with the melted chocolate until everything so covered.

 

 

3.    Use the 1 tablespoon scoop to scoop the mixture and place on the parchment/wax paper.  If you want larger bites just use a larger scoop.

 

4.    Let the bites cool and harden.

 

You have now created an easy, fast, fitness trainer approved snack.  Enjoy!