You Can Even Make This With Kids
Everyone loves a bit of chocolate for Valentine's Day. Here's an easy and fun idea for you. Chocolate bark is super easy to
make, you just melt your chocolate and add whatever takes your fancy to make
the 'bark'.
Does your family like dark chocolate, milk chocolate or white or a
combination? No matter what your tastes
you can whip up a batch in less than an hour.
If it's a gift for your sweetheart, that gives you plenty of time to
find a box or pretty bag and wrap it up too!
Here's the recipe:
Chop Your Chocolate:
Take 1 pound of good quality chocolate.
This is for your loved ones, so splurge on something wonderful like
Lindt Excellence 50% Cacao or Valronha Grands Crus.
If you want to use white
chocolate be sure to choose one that lists cocoa butter in the ingredients
list. If the product does not contain
cocoa butter it won't melt properly and could burn. I like Ghirardelli's white chocolate.
Chop up your chocolate into small pieces. This will make it easier to
melt. Make sure all your utensils are
clean and dry. Water, even a drop or two, can cause chocolate to seize.
Prepare Your Tray:
Line rimmed cookie sheet with waxed paper. Parchment paper will work too.
Prepare Your Bark:
You will add your bark ingredients to the melted chocolate as it cools. How
much will you need? I'd start with 1 1/2
to 2 cups of bark ingredients.
Traditionally chocolatiers use whole toasted almonds, but the options
are endless. To get your imagination
working here are a few ideas:
Nuts: chopped toasted hazelnuts, pistaschios, walnuts, pine nuts, cashews,
honey roasted peanuts, macadamia nuts, fresh shelled peanuts
Dried Fruit: cranberries, cherries, pineapple, apricots, figs, apples,
blueberries, kiwi, mango, raisins, currants
Seeds: pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, hemp, chia
Peel: candied orange peel, candied
grapefruit peel, candied lemon peel, candied lime peel
Candy: toffee pieces, ice cream sprinkles, chopped licorice, candied
ginger, miniature marshmallow, peanut
butter chips, crushed cookies, jelly beans, crushed peppermint
Melt your chocolate:
My preferred method is to put the
chocolate pieces into a small glass bowl and melt in the microwave on medium
heat. Start with small bursts of 15 to
20 seconds. In between bursts stir the chocolate. When it is almost completely
melted take it out of the microwave and stir it until it is smooth and
completely melted.
If you don't have a microwave (yes, there are lots of folks who don't own
them) you can melt your chocolate in a double boiler, or in a heat-proof bowl
over a pot of simmering water. Be extra careful you don't get any water on your
chopped chocolate. Place it over the simmering water and stir it from time to
time as it melts. When it is almost completely melted take it off the heat and
continue to stir until it is smooth and lump free.
Pour the melted chocolate onto the prepared pan. Tap the pan on the counter to level the
melted chocolate. If necessary tilt the pan from side to side to spread and
level the chocolate.
While the chocolate is still warm sprinkle your choice of toppings over the
surface. Set your pan aside and allow it
to cool completely. Once the chocolate is completely set break it into pieces
and wrap it up. This IS a gift for your
sweetheart isn't it?
Start to finish: 20 minutes
Cooling time: 1 to 2 hours
Servings: 8 to 12
Give it a try, easy, fun and delicious!
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