Learn how to melt chocolate to dip dried mango slices with this simple recipe for a no-bake treat. Read on for a reminder to use allergen-safe chocolate brands for food allergies.
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Jump to RecipeDip Dried Mango Slices in Nut-Free Chocolate
Our family loves to snack on dried mangos. Dried mango slices dipped in chocolate makes an ordinary dried fruit into a treat.
My inspiration for this recipe is from a Trader Joe’s holiday gift box of chocolate dipped dried mango slices. During the holidays, they sell nicely packaged chocolate dipped dried mango slices in a metal gift box. There were no nuts in the ingredients but I can’t remember if there was potential nut cross-contact. It’s easy and safe to use nut-free chocolate for chocolate dipped recipes.
Conventional chocolate might have traces of milk or peanuts
In general, it’s better to make chocolate desserts for people with a peanut, tree nut, or milk allergy with chocolate from a dedicated allergen-free facility.
There was a study published in 2017 to understand how often chocolate contains milk or peanut in the product when there is an allergen advisory. If you have a dairy allergy, you will want to read the study more closely as there is potential exposure to milk.
“In 75% of the chocolate bar products with a milk advisory statement, milk concentrations were above the limit of quantitation (2.5 μg/g [ppm]), with the majority having concentrations >1,000 ppm. An additional 67% of chocolate bars with a “traces of milk” statement contained 3 to 6,700 ppm of milk. Fifteen percent of chocolates labeled dairy free or lactose free and 25% labeled vegan were positive for milk, all with concentrations >1,000 ppm. Even for chocolates with no reference to milk on the label, 33% of these products contained 60 to 3,400 ppm of milk.
This same study also tested chocolate for peanuts. A small number of products with an allergen advisory actually contain peanuts. However, peanut-free or allergen-free peanuts appear to be safe.
The survey of chocolate products for peanuts revealed that 8% of products with an advisory statement contained peanut, with the highest concentration of 550 ppm. All nine chocolates bearing the peanut-free or allergen-free statement were negative for peanut, but 17% of chocolates with no label statement for peanut were positive for peanut at concentrations of 9 to 170 ppm.
In March 2024, the FDA published an article studying whether dark chocolate contains milk. Out of 112 samples, 12 tested positive for milk, and 4 had amounts of milk that might cause an allergic reaction.
Chocolate related recalls are an ongoing issue and we need to be proactive to check the FDA’s webiste for recalls. I recommend making chocolate desserts from scratch, buying allergen free chocolate products, and/or consuming with caution.
Use Nut-Free or Allergy Safe Chocolate
If you are only allergic to peanuts and tree-nuts and not allergic to dairy, I love Guittard. People who are only allergic to peanuts might consider Ghirardelli as an option. Vermont Nut Free is also free from peanuts, tree nuts, and other allergens.
Sometimes I buy Trader Joe’s chocolate chips because they’re affordable and convenient to buy. They are usually made in facilities without peanuts or tree nuts but I still double check the labels for allergen advisories and call once a year to double check.
We aren’t allergic to dairy so I don’t know the nuances of various brands that might have a dairy-free claim. My go-to favorite nut-free, dairy-free chocolates are by Enjoy Life Foods and Pascha. Both brands are free from the top 9 allergens.
How to Melt Chocolate for Dipping
The most important tip for melting chocolate is to avoid moisture. If a drop of water gets into your chocolate, the melted chocolate might seize and become clumpy. Even though I know this and am careful, my melted chocolate seized up because the bowl in my double boiler was not tall enough and the steam condensed on the chocolate!
I set up a double boiler with a bowl sitting on top of a small pan of boiling water. Try different bowls to find the right fit. You will need a bowl that won’t wobble on your pan. A taller bowl will help keep the steam away from condensing in the chocolate. I now know to use a taller bowl instead of a wide, shallow bowl.
It’s also a good idea that when the water starts to boil, lower the heat to a low medium temperature with minimal steam escaping from the double boiler.
Melt Chocolate with Oil or Not?
Adding a little bit of fat from shortening or a neutral vegetable oil to the melted chocolate gives it a smoother and creamier consistency so that it’s easy to dip.
The dipped chocolate coating on the mango slices will be a little bit soft so refrigerate or freeze for 30-60 minutes before serving to allow more time for the chocolate to firm up.
Allergy Aware Chocolate Dipped Mango Slices
This recipe is free of peanuts and tree nuts as written. The recipe is simple with three ingredients, Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips, oil, and dried mango. It could be free of top 9 allergens if you can find dried mango that is also free of top allergens.
You can also use regular sized chocolate chips but allow more time for them to melt. Be patient as sometimes it takes a moment for the chocolate to melt and have a smooth consistency.
Chocolate Dipped Mango Slice Recipe
Learn how to melt chocolate to dip dried mango slices with this simple recipe for a no-bake treat. I recommend using an allergen-safe chocolate brand for food allergies. Enjoy Life's mini chocolate chips will melt quickly, allow more time to melt the chocolate if you use regular sized chocolate chips.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces dried mango (slices)
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons neutral oil (olive oil) or shortening
Instructions
- Bring a small pot filled halfway with water to a boil. Lower the temperature to simmer and place a clean dry bowl over the pot. Check that the top edge of the bowl is at least 3-4 inches above the pot and is stable.
- Add the chocolate chips and oil to the bowl, wait a few minutes for the chocolate chips to melt partially. Use a spoon or small spatula to stir to melt the chocolate until smooth.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and separate the mango slices (wear clean food prep gloves).
Hold one end of a mango slice and dip the other end into the melted chocolate, allow the excess to drip back into the bowl, and place the dipped pieces on the parchment paper lined baking tray to firm up.
- Dip the remaining mango pieces in the melted chocolate until you run out of mango or melted chocolate.
- Place the tray of chocolate dipped mango slices in the freezer for half an hour or in the refrigerator for an hour, until the chocolate solidifies again. Enjoy immediately or transfer to an airtight container and store in your refrigerator.
Related Recipes
Chocolate lovers will like my recipe for Nut-Free Brownies with Sunflower Butter Cups or my recipe for Triple Chocolate Banana Bread, Nut Free recipe.
If you are a fan of mangoes, I have a recipe for Easy Mango Bread for My Son’s Birthday.
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