Spiced Dried Fruit Chocolates

For the filling

• • 1cup of each apricots, prunes and figs
• • 3/4 cup dates, pitted
• • 5-6 pieces crystallized ginger
• • 1 cup toasted walnuts or any other nuts of your choice
• • 2 tablespoons maple or organic blue agave syrup or raw honey (preferable orange blossom)
• • 1/2 cup cocoa powder, sifted
• • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• • 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• • Zest of 1 orange
• • Zest of 1 small lemon
• • 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
• • 2 tablespoons dark rum such as Mount Gay

For Chocolate coating

• • 14 to 16oz bitter-sweet or semisweet chocolate, tempered

1. Prepare an 8x8 pan, line it with aluminum foil and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Run the fruit and nuts through an old-fashioned grinder, or pulse in a food processor, until ground into a rough paste. Stir in cocoa powder, cinnamon, salt, maple or agave syrup or honey, zest of orange and lemon, orange juice and rum.
3. Scrape the fruit filling into the prepared pan and smooth it into an even layer. Refrigerate until firm enough to cut and dip, about 3-4 hours or overnight. It will still be pliable and slightly soft, even when fully set.
4. When the filling is firm enough, remove it from the pan and cut it into small 1-inch squares, or roll in 3/4-inch balls.
5. To make the tempered chocolate, chop the chocolate and place 3/4 of it in a small glass bowl in the microwave for 20 seconds exactly. Stir the chocolate and continue to microwave for 20 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until the chocolate is smooth and shiny. Add the remaining 1/4 of the chocolate and stir until smooth.
6. With 2 small spoons or fork pick up each square or ball and cover it with tempered chocolate. They can look a little messy. Place the candy on parchment paper. Continue to coat each of the balls or squares until they're all coated with chocolate. Allow to sit for a few minutes until the chocolate hardens. Serve at room temperature.