I was contacted and asked if I knew a recipe that someone could make as a homemade sweet treat that didn’t involve baking. They are homeless and living in a bedsit. All they have for cooking is a kettle as nothing else is allowed. I suggested that she make these chocolate discs as they look nice on a plate and she had a friend coming over. She could melt the chocolate over a bowl of boiling water, or even put it into a bowl of water if it was in a plastic wrapper. I used to make these with chopped salted peanuts and raisons when we had little money, but today I was using up some of my nuts from my stash as they are getting near the end of their date (if you freeze nuts they last a lot longer). I also added some dried cranberries, sultanas, and some crystalised ginger.
You can basically sprinkle anything you want on top. Some dried apricot would add some nice colour. I have also scattered some red, green and white sprinkles on top in the past to make them Christmassy, or some crushed up mint candy cane. Personally, I think that the crystalised ginger makes them taste the best when mixed with the fruit and nut. You only need a tiny bit to make the difference to the taste.
Ingredients
200g of chocolate (any kind, or colour)
Anything that you have to sprinkle on top (eg. chopped nuts, dried fruit, crystalised ginger, sprinkles, chopped up mint candy cane). You don’t need a lot.
Method
- Chop up the nuts and fruit or what ever you are using
- Place some parchment paper or a silicone mat on the table.
- Melt the chocolate which ever way you choose. I did mine in the microwave, checking every 20 seconds to make sure that it did not burn.
- Pour a table spoon full of melted chocolate on to a silicone mat or parchment paper to form a circle.
- Sprinkle your nuts, fruit, or what ever you are using on top and leave them to set.
In the past I have I done these in bun cases but added the fruit and nuts to the chocolate in a bowl and added rice Krispies. It just makes the crispy buns a bit more luxurious, even if it is just peanuts and raisins.
These took me less than 10 minutes to make and I just have to wait for them to set now, which shouldn’t be long as we don’t have any heating on yet today. These are so simple to make, and can be made for under £2 if using the cheap chocolate, which I have done many times in the past. They are great to serve at Christmas, to have as a snack (I kid myself that they are healthy!), or to use in packed lunches or dessert. 
I packed some into a tin I had been given. They looked nice and so might find their way into my Christmas hampers this year as a present. I could make little boxes with some white cardboard that I have. What would you have suggested that they make with only a kettle?
Wow! These chocolate treats look fabulous :)
As a sweet treat I can only think of Rocky Road as a suggestion – melted chocolate mixed with crushed biscuits and Marshmallows.
Yes that would have been a good idea too. Thanks for your lovely feedback
These look fab! I’m going to make some for my vegan son using vegan friendly chocolate. Thank you for sharing 😊
Good idea. It must be hard finding sweets for him (though that could be a good thing).. Thanks for sharing
Such a brilliant idea . Definitely going to make some and the possibilities are endless
They are and they are so easy. Thanks for sharing
What a fabulous idea, thank you for sharing, I have to take a treat into foodbank next week so looks like these will go down well xx
Brilliant. Thanks for sharing
They look great, might have a go making them with my kids!
Yes, would be an easy thing to do with children. Thanks for sharing
What a brilliant gift idea who wouldn’t like some of these anytime of year. Thank you Toni xx
Thanks for your kind feedback
They look proper yummy (. Unc as the kids call my bro ) especially licking the dish bless him xx
I must admit that I did scrape the bowl out, too
These sound and look so effective and easy to make, thank you for sharing.
Would these need to be stored/kept in the fridge after gift giving (so the chocolate doesn’t get too warm/soft) sat around in a central heated house/environment?
Would these work okay/have you tried these with 85% dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate, or would these not taste as nice please?
Thank you
No worries. They store the same as a bar of chocolate would in a house as you have not added any thing to it, but have just melted it. I think if they were stored in the fridge for long they might get like a white film, like bar of chocolate does. Yes I have made them with dark chocolate before. They were gorgeous with the crystalised ginger. Obviously, they are only nice if some one likes dark chocolate. Mr S would hate them! Thanks for your feedback and questions
Thanks so much Toni , I struggle finding keto treats and I can make these fit into our eating style perfectly. Ideal for Christmas.
X
Brilliant. Keto is something that I need to read more about. Thanks for giving me a nudge
These look so lovely and a real treat despite cramping circumstances. Another option might have been a wartime recipe with oats: 250 g rolled oats, 150 g sugar, 40 g Cocoapowder, 150 g butter, 0,4 dl orange juice or Coffee or water, 75 g desiccated coconut (plus some to toss them in). Mix everything together, roll little balls the size of marbles & toss them in desiccated coconut – or cocoapowder – or icing sugar. They are surprisingly good.