WW Recipe of the Day: Quick & Easy Low Sugar Fruit & Nut Chocolate Clusters
If I had to pick my all-time favorite candy bar, the Chunky Bar would probably be it. The combination of dark velvety chocolate, chewy raisins and crunchy nuts can still make my mouth water.
(Image source: WikiMedia)
I haven't had one of these candy bars in years, but when I came across this recipe in America's Test Kitchen Naturally Sweet Cookbook (affiliate link) I couldn't wait to give it a try.
By comparison, Nestle's king size Chunky candy bar has a serving size of 1 with 340 calories and 19g fat with 17 WW Freestyle SmartPoints!
With raisins and nuts, I was able to create a low-sugar tasty treat that was extremely satisfying and super fast to make. Like a homemade Nestle Chunky Bar only lighter and healthier and perfectly portion-controlled.
I chose toppings that appealed to me, but this is one recipe where you can get creative and make it your way. Topping choices are limitless.
How Many Calories/WW Points In Each Fruit & Nut Chocolate Candy?
According to my calculations, each chocolate cluster with fruit and nuts has just 65 calories and:
3 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
3 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
3 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
2 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!
How to Make Chocolate Clusters
Step 1: Chop Dried Fruit and Nuts
Optionally, you can also lightly toast the nuts before chopping. Toasted nuts give a deeper flavor and color and will also help make the nuts crunchier.
To toast nuts, simply add them to a dry non-stick skillet over medium heat until rich golden brown—about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir frequently to ensure they toast evenly. The nuts will give off a toasty warm fragrance when done.
Step 2: Melt Chocolate Chips
Add 2 ounces of the chocolate chips to a microwave (affiliate link) proof bowl and heat at 50% power for 30 seconds. Remove bowl from the microwave (affiliate link) and stir.
Return to microwave (affiliate link) and heat for another 15 to 20 seconds at 50% power. Remove bowl and stir in remaining chocolate chips and continue to stir until melted.
If necessary, heat in microwave (affiliate link) at 5 second intervals and continue to stir until chocolate is completely melted.
Step 3: Drop Chocolate onto Parchment-Lined Sheet Pan and Sprinkle with Toppings
Drop 1 teaspoon of chocolate onto sheet pan lined with parchment and spread into a 2- to 3-inch wide circle with the back of a spoon.
Quickly repeat to make 12 chocolate circles.
Sprinkle fruit and nuts over the top of the chocolate circles and press lightly to ensure the toppings stick to the chocolate.
Cool until firm (about 45 minutes), or refrigerate for 20 minutes to enjoy sooner!
Chocolate Fruit & Nut Clusters Candy Recipe Variations
- Cranberry-Pistachio: Substitute all, or part, of the walnuts and almonds with pistachios
- Apricot-Almond: Substitute dried apricots for the cranberries and almonds for the walnuts
- Apple-Peanut: Substitute dried apples for the cranberries and peanuts for the nuts
The fruit and nut combinations literally are endless...
Vary the fruit toppings to your liking: dried mangos, dates, cherries, apricots, cranberries, raisins and prunes would all taste great.
Some of our favorite nuts include: walnuts, almonds, peanuts, cashews, hazelnuts and pistachios and you could even use pumpkin or pomegranate seeds.
You can also stir in 1-2 drops of doTERRA essential oils into the melted chocolate. Think Wild Orange, Peppermint, or even On Guard Protective Blend. Get creative and make the clusters your own.
Please note that your calories and WW SmartPoints may vary based on different fruit and nut combinations used.
If you've made these Fruit & Nut Chocolate Clusters, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked them.
Low Sugar Fruit & Nut Chocolate Clusters
Ingredients
- ¼ cup walnuts, toasted (optional) and chopped
- ¼ cup sliced almonds, toasted (optional) and chopped
- 1 tablespoon dried cranberries, chopped
- 1 tablespoon raisins, chopped
- 3 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli)
Instructions
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Add nuts to a non-stick skillet and dry roast for just a couple of minutes (optional).
- Chop nuts and fruit. Add to a single bowl, or keep items separate if your prefer.
- Add 2 ounces of chocolate chips to a glass bowl and microwave (affiliate link) at 50 percent power for 30 seconds. Remove bowl and stir chocolate.
- Microwave (affiliate link) at 50 percent power for another 15-20 seconds. Remove bowl and stir in remaining ounce of chocolate chips.
- Continue to stir until chocolate is completely melted. If necessary, return to microwave (affiliate link) for 5 second intervals.
- Drop 1 teaspoon of chocolate onto parchment paper and spread into a 2-3 inch circle with back of spoon. Quickly repeat with remaining chocolate to make a total of 12 chocolate disks.
- Sprinkle fruit and nuts over the top and press lightly so the toppings stick to the chocolate.
- Let cool until chocolate firms (approximately 45 minutes) or refrigerate for 20 minutes if you can't wait.
Recipe Notes
- Cranberry-Pistachio: Substitute all, or part, of the walnuts and almonds with pistachios
- Apricot-Almond: Substitute dried apricots for the cranberries and almonds for the walnuts
- Apple-Peanut: Substitute dried apples for the cranberries and peanuts for the nuts
Source: Naturally Sweet: Bake All Your Favorites with 30% to 50% Less Sugar (affiliate link) by America's Test Kitchen
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
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If you like these easy Fruit & Nut Clusters, you might also like:
- Dark Chocolate Dipped Apricots (Simple-Nourished-Living)
- Dark Chocolate Nut Cluster with Sea Salt (SkinnyTaste)
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (Simple-Nourished-Living)
- WW Dark Chocolate Marshmallow Bark (Simple-Nourished-Living)
- 35+ Desserts & Sweet Treats with 3 Freestyle SmartPoints or Less (Simple-Nourished-Living)
Brenda is a licensed esthetician and former small business owner after completing over 15 years of service with the United States military.
She is an essential oil enthusiast and avid home cooking for her husband and their two dogs.
Brenda and her family spend most of their time in the American Southwest, but they also love hitting the road for adventure.
One of her new passions is creating easy, healthy family-friendly freezer meals which can be prepared at home and frozen, and then cooked while traveling the country in their travel trailer.
She looks forward to sharing everything she learns with you here on Simple Nourished Living.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
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MaryEllen
I had to put each candy in a snack bag and close it quickly or eat more than one. They are that tasty.
Gary
Just the right size. Very satisfying.
SusieMA
These sound delicious ...wondering if I could mix everything together into one bowl & them drop by teaspoonful onto parchment? I like the idea of it all being coated with chocolate
debbie
once again you have given us a super easy and delicious treat - love you and your recipes- thank you!
Martha McKinnon
Thanks, Debbie! I very much appreciate your kind words 🙂
Donna
Satisfying quick snack