Looking for a fast and easy treat this holiday season? One you can make with a handful of ingredients in about 10 minutes? Something you could make box and gift too? These White Chocolate, Pecan and Berry Bites fit the bill. There is no cooking (just a little microwave action) and they taste amazing. They are filled with fruit and nuts and are perfect when you want a little something sweet.
How to make White Chocolate, Pecan and Berry Bites
Making this candy couldn’t be easier. Simply place your white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. You can use either white chocolate bars that you chop or a 12 Oz. bag of white chocolate chips. In this recipe, either works.
Place the bowl in the microwave and on medium-high, heat the chocolate in 20-second intervals. Stir in between each round with a spatula. It should take a total of 90 – 120 seconds to get the white chocolate melted and smooth.
Add a pinch of kosher salt to the chocolate and stir to combine. Next, add in your chopped pecans and mixed dried berries. I pick up bags of mixed dried berries at Aldi but you certainly could use any berry you choose. See my substitution ideas below.
Using a big metal spoon, mix in the nuts and berries and sprinkle with the salt. Fully combine everything so you are ready to scoop it into nice bite size pieces. I cover a baking sheet with either tin foil or parchment paper so I’m ready to scoop. It keeps my baking sheet clean and helps with clean up.
Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop the mixture into small balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Do this until all the mix is used. Sprinkle the tops with flaky salt. I use Maldon, a favorite. While this is optional, I think it makes for a wonderful contrast to the very sweet white chocolate. Once you’ve topped all of the bites with the flaky salt, place the baking sheet in the fridge to set up. I like to keep them in the refrigerator for at least an hour or up to overnight.
You can then plate them and serve or box them up and gift them to friends and neighbors. If I’m gifting them, I’ve found that mini cupcake holder boxes are the perfect size for these bites. I just pop each bite into a mini-cupcake liner and then into the plastic mini cupcake containers, put on a lid and a bow and I’m ready to gift a batch to neighbors and friends. Such an easy gift to make and wrap.
If I’m serving these, I’ll pop them on a festive platter or tray and put them right on the table or buffet. They go fast so double or triple the recipe. Since they are so easy to make, that shouldn’t be an issue at all. I went with a fun plaid charger this holiday season…looked great at my open house.
Ingredient substitutions for this recipe
You have a million ways to change up this recipe. Some substitution ideas include swapping ingredients in these categories:
NUTS
Try any of these nut options instead of the pecans.
. Almonds
. Cashews
. Macadamia nuts
. Pistachios
MIXED DRIED BERRIES
Instead of mixed berries try:
. Dried Cranberries
. Dried Cherries
. Dried Apricots, chopped
. Raisins
VANILLA EXTRACT
Shake up the flavor with a different extract
. Almond extract
. Pistachio extract
. Maple extract
How to enhance your white chocolate, pecan and berry bites
If you want to take your candy to the “next level”, you can melt more white chocolate and dip the chilled balls into the white chocolate creating a coating and then top with some chopped pecans and the flaky salt (NOTE: if you are going to do this, don’t put flaky salt on the scooped balls until AFTER you dip them in chocolate.)
To do this slightly fancy upgrade, I used a 10 oz. bag of Ghirardelli White Chocolate melting wafers and melted them in the microwave. Yes, you can use white chocolate chips or a white chocolate bar chopped up, but the melting wafers makes this so easy and that is what they are made for. Once I dip the cold bites in the chocolate, I place them back on the baking sheet and top with some chopped pecans and that sprinkle of flaky salt. I put them back in the fridge to chill and set. This is a nice upgrade in presentation…not needed, but definitely appreciated by those enjoying these. They look pretty and make the presentation nice. But no one has ever run away from these in their rustic, un-dipped state, so you decide.
A final note: The candy gets real hard when in the refrigerator so let them sit out about 30 minutes before enjoying!! They’ll still be slightly chilled but will be soft enough to bite into and enjoy.
Did you like this recipe? Leave a rating and comment below. How did you make this your own? What did you change in the recipe…I’d love to hear from you. If you liked this easy candy recipe, be sure you try some of these too.
Homemade Dark Chocolate Macadamia Nuts
Swirling Chocolate Peppermint Bark
White Chocolate, Pecan and Berry Bites
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 12 Oz. White chocolate
- 1 Cup Pecans, chopped
- 1 Cup Dried mixed berries (or cranberries, cherries, raisins)
- Pinch Kosher salt
- Flaky Salt (Maldon is a favorite) to finish (optional)
- 10 Oz. White Chocolate melting wafers (optional)
- 2 Tbsp. Pecans, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Add your chopped white chocolate or chips to a microwave safe bowl. Heat on medium-high heat in the microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring in between each round. Heat and stir until completely melted and smooth. (About 90 seconds – 2 minutes total).
- Add the pinch of salt and stir. Then add the dried fruit and pecans to the chocolate and fold to combine. The mixture is really thick and ready to be scooped.
- Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with foil (for easy cleanup). Once you have all the bites formed, you can sprinkle with a little flaky salt OR if you are dipping in more white chocolate, wait until that step to add the flaky salt. Put in the refrigerator for one hour or overnight until completely chilled and set.
- If you decide to dip these bites in white chocolate (optional), melt the chocolate in the microwave and let cool slightly. Dip the bites in the white chocolate and let the excess drip off. Place on the baking sheet and top with a couple of chopped pecans and the flaky salt. Put bake in the fridge to set up. About 20 minutes.
- Place on a platter and serve. These are best served slightly chilled but NOT right from the refrigerator. You want them to thaw slightly so they are easy to bite into. Enjoy!
