Chocolate dipped fruit and clusters

So easy it feels sinful but it makes a great presentation, and the combinations are almost endless.  When I go to a meal at someones home or to a pot luck, if I suggest bringing this as my contribution, I am never turned down. 

Step 1: What to dip?

Almost anything you like with chocolate can be dipped or mixed to make clusters. 

• For fresh fruit I have dipped strawberries, grapes, clementine sections, and pineapple all with good outcomes.
• For dried fruit I have dipped apricots, pineapple, papaya, peaches, pears, and candied ginger
• For clusters I have mixed mini marshmallows with mashed up peppermint or cinnamon pieces, and toffee would work too. 
• For more Adult tastes I have mixed chopped apricots, raisins, cranberries, or currents with almonds, pecans, walnuts, or macadamias.

A few Tips:

• Fresh fruit will wilt relatively quickly so I dip these as close to the time of serving as possible, preferably the same day, though I have occasionally done them the night before.
• Also choose the most perfect fruit you can, as the sweetness and full flavor of good fruit compliments the chocolate so nicely
• Choose good chocolate.  I always use dark with the highest cocoa content I can, again because the flavor I think is best, and once you have made this presentation, you want the flavor to live up to the expectations.

go wild!

Comments

[dracidephgm]

Thank you all for your support. I debated about posting this instructable since the process is so simple but many people I have run into when I make these have been afraid to work with chocolate and think it is hard to get a good result so in the end I decided to publish my routine. Enjoy!

[susanchen2011]

That is good. I will share it with others.

[Penolopy Bulnick]

That is a lot of chocolate covered goodness!

[audreyobscura]

this looks spectacular! thank you for posting this...