Chocolate Mendiants with Candied Fruit and Nuts
These French-inspired confections are easy to make, eye-catching and delicious—not to mention they are perfect for sharing (hello holiday gifts!).
Recipe by Asha Loupy
Ingredients
For the mendiants
- 6 ounces semi or bittersweet or white chocolate, roughly chopped
Suggested garnishes
- Candied orange and lemon peel strips, halved
- Candied Whole Orange Slices, quartered
- Candied Morello Cherries, whole or halved
- Crystallized Ginger, sliced or diced
- Nuts, such as Sicilian Pistachios, IGP Italian Hazelnuts or pecans
Instructions
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a small saucepan, heat one inch of water to a simmer over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium low and place a metal or heatproof glass bowl on top of the pan, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water (if it does, carefully pour some of the water out).
Add 4 ounces of the chopped chocolate to the bowl and stir constantly with a rubber spatula until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Turn off the heat and remove the bowl from the pan. Add the remaining 2 ounces of chocolate to the melted chocolate and stir until all the chocolate is melted, smooth and shiny.
Transfer the melted chocolate to a piping bag. To make the mendiants, pipe the chocolate into one-inch rounds, couple at a time, on the reserved parchment-lined baking sheet (alternatively, you can also spoon the melted chocolate into one-inch rounds) Garnish with your desired combination of candied fruit and nuts—try orange and pistachio, pecans and candied ginger, candied cherries and hazelnuts . . . the possibilities are endless!
Repeat with the remaining chocolate and chosen garnishes. Let the mendiants cool at room temperature until fully set, about 2-4 hours. Store the mendiants in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to a month.