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Love Salted Chocolate Caramels? Try This Healthy Candy Alternative

October 17, 2011   30 Comments

No one is ever going to accuse Snack Girl of not loving a WEE bit of chocolate. But, my taste bud credentials have been called into question.

Chocolate Fig Snack Recipe

The Cookie Dough Dip recipe elicited this comment from Jodi:

I will be honest, I thought this was going to be one of those crazy vegan recipes posted by someone who has not had real food in so long they find totally unacceptable food to be 5 star worthy... but I was too intrigued to not try it.

I think it is AMAZING. My husband LOVES it. ETC.

Yes, Jodi, you are dealing with a FOODIE here. I am not vegan and while I try to eat less meat - one of my favorite foods is bacon. Everything I write about tastes DELICIOUS to me including strange cookie dough dip with chick peas.

Now, I want to you to introduce you to my new love - a dried fig, dipped in dark chocolate, with a little bit of coarse salt shaken on for a finishing touch.

You know those chocolates that feature salt and caramel? This fig concoction gives them a run for their money AND you are eating a fig instead of caramel.

A dried fig has good stuff like fiber, calcium, and potassium. Caramel can only say it has butter and sugar - it just can't compete!

I'm not even going to mention the difference in calories between a caramel covered in chocolate and a dried fig (250 vs 50).

You could eat FOUR of these scrumptious goodies for just one of the caramel chocolates.

To make these pop, you need DARK chocolate. I tried them with semi-sweet and it did not work because the fig itself is so sweet. Also, you should use coarse salt and just a little. You can find Kosher salt in the supermarket for this purpose.

Where do you find figs in the store? Well, I found them in the dried fruit section next to the raisins, dates, and prunes. I paid $5 for a small package - but I think it was worth it.

Do you like dried figs? How do you serve them?

chocolatecoveredfigb

Healthy Candy Recipe

1.8 from 25 reviews

(makes 5 servings)

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Ingredients

5 dried figs
1/2 ounce dark chocolate
coarse salt, for ex: kosher salt

Instructions

Lay a piece of wax paper or parchment paper on a plate. Heat dark chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave at 20 second intervals. Stir often and heat until JUST melted (chocolate burns easily in the microwave). Dip 1/2 fig in chocolate, put on plate, and dust with salt. Refrigerate for 1/2 hour and serve.

These will keep in your fridge for a long time! But, you will probably eat them before you find out how long :)

Nutrition Facts

For one fig = 62 calories, 1.0 g fat, 13.8 g carbohydrates, 0.8 g protein, 2.0 g fiber, 62 mg sodium, 2 Points+

Points values are calculated by Snack Girl and are provided for information only. See all Snack Girl Recipes

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30 Comments:

Did you use just this type of fig or did you try it with any other? I ask because I already have some dried turkish figs, but not the above kind.

I think any type of fig would work great! This is a calmyrna I think - but don't quote me on that. Great question.

I love dark chocolate with sea salt! These sound yummy, will be trying ASAP!

Excellent info. I have a package of figs from Sprouts and will definitely try this with some chocolate I already have that is gluten-free. I've tried the chocolate on a whim and it's not bad.

This is genius. I nibble a bit of dark chocolate with sea salt each day but this one sounds so much more satisfying. Can't wait to try it.

I love figs and eat them whenever I have a sweet tooth. I also eat dates stuffed with walnuts or almonds. I buy the figs at a middle eastern market for about $3 a package. I can just imagine how the dark chocolate and sea salt will enhance their flavor. I'm going to make some and take them to work for my afternoon pick-me-up. Thanks for the idea!

to Qoute Cookie Monster: THEY ARE A SOMETIME FOOD! I'm sorry, you know I love all the brilliant ideas you come up with to lessen my caloric intake, but really. Caramel is caramel and a small 1 inch by 1 inch of artisan Caramel does not a fig make. Yes both are delicious and sweet treats. But that's just what they are. Treats. A sometime food. Not everyday. Not every week, just sometimes. For me Caramels I eat maybe once a year at Valentines Day when my husband goes to the chocolatier down the street and picks out a cute little box of sugar bombs for me. Not every other week, not four of five times a year, but once. That's it. that would in fact be the definition of a sometime food. Your argument is invalid.

No matter what others post, I think this is a great idea!! It is less calories than the caramel. I can't wait to try it.

Leslie, what argument? That figs are tasty? She didn't say, "Never eat caramel ever again," she said, "These are delicious." I applaud anyone who is willing to help those of us with less laudable will power than yours.

It sounds to me like a way of dressing up chocolate covered raisins. It makes me wonder what other dried fruits would be good dipped in dark chocolate!

These confections sound DELECTABLE! Fit for a Roman emperor and perfect for sharing with the emperor of your heart, like maybe for Valentine's. My mouth just watered all over my keyboard.

These sound good, but you know what I love? Dried apricots. Not the orange kind that have sulfur, but the brown ones that don't. They are like candy. Don't expect the same tart flavor as the sulfured apricots because they taste quite different, but boy are they yummy. I know this has nothing to do with figs or caramel, but I wanted to share anyway. :)

Courtney, I bet these choco-fruit "candies" would also be delish made with dates or dried persimmons.

These are amazing!!! Thank you so much!!

I really don't like caramel but I have tried the dark chocolate with salt bars (and have you tried the dark chocolate with bacon in it? YUM)

I think I'll try this with prunes--I don't like the texture of figs because of those little seeds.

Thanks!

Wow. So, so simple and so perfect. Made just a few for a test run and WOW! Love them!

On second batch planning to add a tiny bit of coffee to the chocolate which really tends to bring out the chocolate flavor and perhaps a little twist.

(small tip, with kitchen scissors, be sure to snip off the stem on the figs if any remain)

I haven't had figs in a really long time. This sounds fantastic. Looks like it would be great for a gathering as well. I can't wait to try making them. Yum!

Wow, just tried these and I'm really impressed! Quite yummy!

For dark chocolate do you mean unsweetened chocolate? Or what do you use?

@Ginger - I mean at least 70% Cocoa (or more). On better chocolates you will see a percentage of cocoa - 80% would be great too. Thanks for the question!

love these. husband is gluten-egg-dairy-peanut-soy free so these are a great dessert option...might serve alongside a yummy port for winter...

Just made these with figs and date, did not use salt , forgot but they are GREAT! my kids evven liked them

LOOKS delicious, too bad I don't like figs, but I'm allergic to them anyway. great share, though. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog.

these are insanely good. I used turkish figs and dark pagoda chocolate. Taking them to my work Christmas party.

If I made these as a gift how long would they last?

Thank you!

@Roon - If you kept them in the refrigerator they should last at least 10 days. I hope this is helpful.

I'm so sorry but this is off topic, people think i'm crazy but it is a family tradition. If you don't like blt's you can have peanut butter and bacon. It is very good yes I know its not healthy but I eat sometimes. Another peanut butter recipe that I know is peanut butter and banana it looks bad if you leave it out because the banana turns brown but it still taste good. You should try the recipes sometime.

@Shanna:

Just tried some "dark" (unsulfured) dried apricots today and THEY ARE DIVINE! Rich, mellow, sweet and insanely tasty! It was all I could do not to mow through the whole bag in one sitting!

WOW! I just came across this recipe and I am using 100% Cocoa Ghiradelli chocolate and they are wonderful. If anyone has a Whole foods near them. You can find dried figs in bulk for a reasonable price.

Just discovered your site and am looking forward to a happy relationship. I am a Weight Watcher and love the fact that you have the points. Hopefully they are the new points plus plan! Question about the dipped dried figs-you said to dip 1/2 fig in the chocolate but the list of ing. says 5 figs. Is 1 serving a whole fig or 2 half figs? I'm thinking this would make a fantastic Christmas treat! Thanks

These were so yummy I actually made more just so I could share them with my neighbors! Lovely simple invention, Lisa!

Warmly,

Lynda

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