Chocolate Dipped Dates Stuffed With Spiced Nuts

From November 2010 Bon Appetit magazine. These take a few steps, but the result is a "wow" for presentation. And it isn't all that hard to do.

• Ready In: 15 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 12 dates

Ingredients

• 36  salted  roasted almonds, divided
• 2  teaspoons  finely grated  orange peel, divided
• 1  teaspoon honey
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon allspice
• 12  medjool dates
• 3⁄4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Toss 24 almonds, 1 teaspoon orange peel, honey and spices in a small bowl.
2. Cut slit in each date and remove pit.
3. Press 2 spice-coated almonds into each slit and enclose nuts in date.
4. Line a small baking dish with foil (or greased wax paper) so the dates won't stick while they are setting up.
5. Melt chocolate in a small bowl (about 20 seconds in the microwave, stirring halfway through.).
6. Dip each date 3/4 of the way into melted chocolate. Shake off excess and place on foil.
7. Sprinkle remaining orange peel over chocolate.
8. Dip each plain almond halfway into chocolate and set on top of a date.
9. Chill until chocolate sets.