Handmade Chocolate Covered Goji Berries

Make these chocolate covered goji berries are a delicious superfood. Rich dark chocolate layered on top of sweet nutrient dense goji berries.

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We are right in the middle of all the Christmas festivities here around our homestead. We just got the Christmas tree up and decorated with gingerbread man and dried orange slices. The cruciferous vegetables in the garden are frosty most mornings, and the only fruit on the trees that have fruit are the goji berries and persimmons. Everything else is bare and quiet, representative of a winter homestead.

Grey planted our goji berry plant about 5 year ago now, so it is producing well most years. Goji berries have a unique taste, so finding things to do with them at first was a challenge. Most often then not, we dry them to use in recipes, but sometimes I like them fresh as well. Covering then in chocolate is a delicious way to enjoy them and I find are super kid friendly! The extra sweetness of the chocolate balances the slightly bitter aftertaste associated with goji berries.

What do goji berries taste like?

We grow fresh goji berries which taste a bit different than dried. When goji berries are fresh the have a fresh sweetness at first, with a somewhat bitter aftertaste. This isn’t really most people’s favorite! However, once the goji berries are dried or freeze dried, they become sweet and that bitter aftertaste is minimized. Adding them to some tried and true recipes to utilize their health benefits. If you are unsure of how to use them, consider using them in a way you would use raisins.

• Oatmeal
• Cookies
• Trail Mix
• Snacks
• Smoothies

Chocolate covered goji berries are delicious all on their own. They would even be good thrown in a bowl of dutch oven popcorn!

How to dehydrate goji berries

Before making chocolate covered goji berries, make sure you start with dehydrated goji berries. Most supermarkets will sell them this way. If you are growing them like us, you will need to dehydrate them before covering them in chocolate. We do like to freeze dry them as well to make goji berry powder, but of this recipe dehydrating is best.

To dehydrate goji berries simply lay them on a piece of parchment paper cut to the size of the dehydrator tray. Set the dehydrator to 158F, and let dry for at least 24 hours. Make sure all of the moisture is removed from the berries before proceeding with the recipe.

Tools you’ll need to make chocolate covered goji berries

• Dehydrator
• Double broiler
• Parchment paper
• Baking sheet
• Treat bags or freezer bags for storing (we use these popsicle bags!)

Ingredients you’ll need to make chocolate covered goji berries

• 1 cup dehydrated goji berries
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• sea salt

How to make chocolate covered goji berries

1. In a double boiler (meaning a pan filled about 1/3 of the way with water underneath the pan you will be using) melt the chocolate.
2. Once chocolate is melted, remove from heat and add goji berries and stir until berries are coated.
3. Remove berries from chocolate with a spoon and lay on parchment paper.
4. Sprinkle with sea salt to your liking.
5. Put the tray in the refrigerator to harden for 1-2 hours.
6. Once the chocolate is hard, place the chocolate covered berries in your storage container or treat bags.

Chocolate Covered Goji berries tips

• Use a double broiler to melt the chocolate-Since chocolate is the star of the show, you want to make sure it tastes it’s best. Using a double broiler will give you more control over the melting process so that the chocolate doesn’t burn. Create a double boiler by bringing a medium pot filled with about an inch of water to a simmer.
• Make sure the goji berries are completely dry-If you are dehydrating your own goji berries, make sure they are finished dehydrating and cooled before coating them in chocolate.
• Make sure to start with a completely dry pan before adding the chocolate. This will help you avoid seized chocolate.

What is seized chocolate?

When melting chocolate in a double broiler, the chocolate should come out smooth and glossy as it melts. Sometimes as chocolate melts it becomes a thick mass that is impossible to do anything with. This is called sized chocolate. This happens when the chocolate comes into contact with moister through from a wet pan or spoon or it gets overcooked.

This is really frustrating because it can make the chocolate impossible to work with. When this happens, I have a solution for you that will salvage the chocolate for this recipe!

How to reverse seized chocolate

In order to fix the problem of seized chocolate, all you need is a little water. It seems counterintuitive to add more water to what caused the problem in the first place but it really works. Add one teaspoon at a time of boiling water to the chocolate while whisking. Stop adding water once the chocolate is smooth and workable. Adding too much will result in a watered down chocolate.

Give chocolate covered goji berries as a gift!

I love to gift home grown and handmade foods. Chocolate covered goji berries are a special gourmet food, since they are not widely available. These would make a delicious and unique gift to give someone. I made this free printable for you if you would like to package these goji berries up and give them as a gift.

If you want to tie a tag on the gift, then print on standard cardstock, punch a hole, and tie on with twine. If you want to make a sticky label, use this matte label paper.

Grab your free gift tag printable HERE!

You may also be interested in:

How to Make Dutch Oven Popcorn

Boysenberry Coffee Cake

How to Grow Goji Berries, and Why You Should

Old Fashioned Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Basic Granola, Plus Variations

Yield: 24 Clusters

Chocolate Covered Goji Berries

Print

Make these chocolate covered goji berries are a delicious superfood. Rich dark chocolate layered on top of sweet nutrient dense goji berries.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dehydrated goji berries
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• sea salt

Instructions

1. In a double boiler (meaning a pan filled about 1/3 of the way with water underneath the pan you will be using) melt the chocolate.
2. Once chocolate is melted, remove from heat and add goji berries and stir until berries are coated.
3. Remove berries from chocolate with a spoon and lay on parchment paper.
4. Sprinkle with sea salt to your liking.
5. Put the tray in the refrigerator to harden for 1-2 hours.
6. Once the chocolate is hard, place the chocolate covered berries in your storage container or treat bags.

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