Last year it was the pomegranate I was all over about trying, this year it is the goji berry (or ju ju berry as I heard a friend call it once). This oval shaped, red berry is dehydrated before shipping. You can eat them out of the package, or rehydrate them to use in baking goods ie: pancakes.

I’ve had some friends talk about how tasty chocolate covered goji berries were so I figured I would give it a go myself because I can’t find this stuff around town and did not want to order online. My daughter and I did this quick project together in no time flat!

The berry that cried wolf

Goji berries (also known as wolfberry – origin somewhat unknown, mostly name confusion) are bright red with a slight orangeish tinge. Inside are tiny little yellow seeds and the berry has a texture that reminds me of a dry raisin. Goji berries are almost never sold in their fresh form unless in areas where they are produced or grown (China mostly, but plants are sold in the UK). It seems to be the goji berry is slowly making its way into the mainstream, much like pomegranate has the last few years.

Goji berries come in wide variety of items that seem to be growing every day. The juice aisle at your grocery store, yogurt and just today I saw it in some granola at Starbucks. In addition to berries, the juice is a great pick me up! I can drink a shot and immediately feel my brain wakening up.

I bought my berries at the local health food store after waiting several weeks for a new order to arrive, but you can just as easily order online for roughly the same price. (I paid $12.00/lb.)

I hope to make some more goji recipes down the line, but for now let’s keep it simple! (So easy the kids can help!)

Goji Berry Chocolate Cups Step by Step

Gather your ingredients:

  • Chocolate (Wilton chocolate melts, chocolate chips, Ghiradelli squares etc.)
  • Dried Goji Berries
  • Plastic mold (Although I’m sure you could just make dollops of chocolate on some parchment paper!)

Place chocolate in a microwave safe container and begin melting. Start with 45 seconds, stir, then 30 second intervals – stirring in between until the chocolate is smooth.

I actually don’t really recommend this bottle because later it turned out to be VERY hot and with all the extra air in the bottle caused chocolate to explode everywhere. Plus you need to massage the bottle to mix the chocolate.

Put some chocolate in the bottom of the mold. Swirl to get into all the nooks and crannies, and place a few goji berries on top of the chocolate.

Add a little bit more chocolate on top of the goji berries and press the chocolate slightly into the berries. Swirl and flatten the tops. Place in the fridge for about 10 minutes to let the chocolate set.

The molds I selected had a concave bottom so I could easily pop the chocolates out into a container for storage. They keep quite well in the fridge if your climate is warm like mine! Enjoy!

Goji Berry Chocolate Cups

Yield: Varies

  • Chocolate (chips, melting wafers, squares etc.)
  • Dried goji berries
  • Plastic mold or parchment paper

Directions:

  1. In a microwave safe container, melt some chocolate in the microwave. Begin by cooking for 45 seconds, stir, then in roughly 30 second intervals stirring in between being careful NOT to overcook or scorch the chocolate. The chocolate should be nice and smooth.
  2. Add a couple of teaspoons of chocolate to the chocolate mold of your choice. Swirl the chocolate around the bottom of the mold to make it all pretty and remove the air bubbles.
  3. Add a couple of berries on top of the chocolate.
  4. Cover the berries with a bit more chocolate, gentle pushing the chocolate into the nooks and crannies. Optional: top with a few goji berries.
  5. Place mold in refrigerator for about 10 minutes.
  6. Remove chocolate from mold by using your thumb to ‘pop’ them out from the underside.
  7. Keep in an airtight container in the fridge, if they last that long!
thesugarpixieRecipescandy,chocolate,easy,goji,homemade,kids,quickLast year it was the pomegranate I was all over about trying, this year it is the goji berry (or ju ju berry as I heard a friend call it once). This oval shaped, red berry is dehydrated before shipping. You can eat them out of the package, or...Misadventures and fun in the kitchen and beyond