strawberry

Almond-butter & chocolate Strawberry Snack Bites

Simple.

Straightforward.

Tasty.

Delicious.

Satisfying.

Heathy.

Everything a snack should be. Sweet, savory, salty and healthy. These Almond-Butter & Chocolate Strawberry Snack Bites are delightful as a snack, wonderful as a dessert and even better for breakfast.

Almond-butter & chocolate Strawberry Bites

~ Strawberries
~ Almond butter or nut butter of choice
~ Dark chocolate
~ Flaky sea salt

Cover a sheet pan with parchment paper. Sprinkle the paper with flaky sea salt.

Melt the chocolate in a shallow bowl over hot water or pop in the microwave (only in 10 second intervals, stirring well after each interval.)

Rinse the strawberries. Use a pairing knife to cut out the stem and make a ‘well’ in the berries; I make this well a little bigger than normal to accommodate more nut butter.

Using a small spoon, smoosh a spoonful of almond butter into the well of a strawberry. Quickly dip the smooshed-end of the berry into the chocolate and set on the salted parchment paper. Allow chocolate to firm at room temperature or set in the refrigerator for quicker hardening.

Store the chocolate almond butter strawberry snack bites in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3 days to keep the best berry texture.

Note: Thicker nut butter is easier to work with because if the nut butter you’re using is runny it will want to run out of your berry when you tip it over to dip into the chocolate or as you are transferring it from the chocolate to the parchment paper. Instead, try using a spoon to pour a small circle of chocolate directly onto the parchment paper and after filling the berry with the nut butter, quickly turn it over onto the chocolate circle. Do allow the chocolate almond butter strawberry snack bites to firm before moving.

Easy Berry Sauce or Jam

Use any berries to create a perfect berry sauce that can also be used as a loose jam or jelly. Sure, most jam and jelly recipes will call for pectin or other stabilizer but you don’t really need it.

This doesn’t need to be limited to berries, I’ve also used pears, peaches and apples with great luck too!

This is great over roasted duck, over ice cream, on avocado toast or in my Gluten Free Lemon Berry Cake!

Berry Sauce or Jam

1 pint berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or blackberries)
1/3 cup sugar, maple syrup or honey (I use monkfruit sweetener)
1/4 cup water
Pinch of salt
1 tbls lemon juice

Place all the ingredients except the lemon juice in a pan and bring to a simmer. Simmer on low for about 15 minutes until all the berries are broken down and the sauce begins to thicken. This will thicken more in the fridge.

If the pan gets too dry it’s often due to the heat being on too high – – simply stir in another 1/4 cup of water.

Stir in the lemon juice. Remove from heat and use warm or chilled. Store in the refrigerator.

NOTES: If you prefer a sweeter sauce, add more sweetener.

Strawberry Basil Summer Smash Cocktail

This Strawberry Basil Summer Smash Cocktail is a very loose recipe. Don’t overthink it. Smash some berries in a glass with a little coconut sugar, or honey and top with basil vodka, club soda and a smidge of St Germain Elderflower.

For extra credit, simmer the berries and sweetener with a bit of water to build a better base.

QUICK AND EASY WAY:

handful of cleaned strawberries

1 tbls white coconut sugar, monfruit sugar or honey

1 shot basil vodka

1/4 shot of St Germain Elderflower Liqueur

~1/2 cup club soda

In one glass, smash the berries and sweeter using a muddler. Top off with remaining ingredients and stir.

EXTRA CREDIT:

1 pint sliced strawberries

1/4 cup white coconut sugar, monkfruit sugar or honey

Place the berries and sweetener over medium low heat in a small pan. Add water just to cover the berries and simmer for about 7 minutes or until the berries are softened and the sweetener is dissolved. Mash the berries and let cool.

Follow directions above, using 1/4 cup of simmered berries in place of the berries and sweetener.