Chocolate Drizzled Apricot Bites

These little apricot bites are the sort of thing you make on a slow afternoon when you want something sweet but not a whole cake. They come together in one food processor bowl, and you only need a few minutes of hands-on time before they are rolling around in the fridge.

Dried apricots are one of those fruits that has been around for a very long time. Drying concentrates the sugars and the flavour, which is why a small handful of them tastes so bright and chewy. They also keep well in the pantry, so this is a recipe you can make from pantry staples without a special trip to the shops. If your apricots are very hard, soak them in hot water for ten minutes and drain them well before blitzing. That softens them enough to break down smoothly.

The Weet-Bix in here does a quiet but useful job. It adds body and a bit of oaty, toasty flavour, so the mixture holds together without needing butter or oil. Crumbled wholemeal biscuits or plain rolled oats would work in a pinch, though the texture will be a little different.

A tip from my own kitchen: wet your hands before rolling. The mixture is sticky, and a damp palm keeps it from clinging to your fingers. If the balls feel too soft to hold their shape, pop the tray in the fridge for fifteen minutes and try again. For the chocolate, melt it gently in short bursts so it stays glossy. Drizzling with a fork looks lovely, and you can use less than you think.

These keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for several days. Bring them out for ten minutes before eating if you like them softer. They also freeze nicely, layered between sheets of baking paper, so it is worth making a double batch and tucking half away for later.

For serving, I like them with a cup of strong black tea or a glass of cold milk after a light lunch. They sit nicely next to a bowl of fresh berries or a plate of sliced pear if you want something fresh alongside the sweetness. If you are feeding a crowd, set them out on a small plate with a few other bites so people can pick and choose. Some of my favourite pairings on this site are Ginger and Apricot Snowballs for a festive plate, and the No-Bake Chocolate Cereal Balls if you want a second treat that uses the same kind of method.