Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, so why not share a spicy-sweet chocolate-y treat with those you love best? Anybody can waltz into a store and buy Valentine candy, so your homemade Texas Clusters will be a truly unique gift, and since you’re making them yourself, they’ll be a genuine gift from the heart!

Our Texas Clusters will also leave you with a warm glow inside for more reasons than just love.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Apple Cherry Habanero Rib Candy
1 teaspoon powdered cloves
1 teaspoon powdered cinnamon
Small pinch of black pepper
2/3 cups cashew pieces
1/8 cup finely diced apple (peeled)
1/8 cup dried cherries
12 ounces of dark melting chocolate (I use Wilton’s)
kosher or sea salt

What to do:

In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients except the chocolate and the salt. Use your hands; make sure everything is mixed extremely well.

Melt the chocolate; you can do this in the microwave or in a double-boiler on top of your stove. Stir constantly; don’t let it scorch.

Spread a large piece of waxed paper or parchment paper in a big cookie sheet; it’s best if the pan has small “sides,” otherwise your melted chocolate will go astray!

On the paper, spread the mixture in your bowl. Sprinkle the salt over this mixture; you only need a very little. Pour the chocolate over this nutty mixture, covering it all evenly. Sprinkle a few extra nuts over the top.

Put the pan in your refrigerator for an hour. Then take it out and break it into pieces, as you would for peanut brittle.

Step back. Don’t count on any leftovers.

Once you’ve become comfortable making it, experiment with the other Rib Candy flavors, and/or add more or different spices. I’ve used nutmet instead of cinnamon, and it was pretty good, too.

Be sure your loved ones have something to drink. The spices are subtle, but they’re certainly there.

Chocolate and fruit and nuts and spices. What else could anyone wish for, on Valentine’s Day? Texas Clusters will become one of your family’s favorite treats!