Homemade Chocolate Bark (great gift idea!)

Homemade Chocolate Bark

Looking for a simple holiday treat you could serve at a party or give as a gift without spending a ton of time or money? Look no further. Homemade chocolate bark is the perfect solution, other than the name, which leaves something to be desired.

Here’s the basic idea: melt chocolate and stick dried fruit and nuts on it. See? I told you it was simple. To melt the chocolate you don’t need a single piece of special equipment. No double boilers or candy thermometers. If you own a microwave, you are in business. On Tuesday, I made three different combinations of chocolate bark during the last 20 minutes of my kids’ naptime, without breaking a sweat, needing lots of ingredients, or getting stacks of dishes dirty.

These recipes (It’s really one recipe with two variations.) can just be a starting point. Mix and match the type of chocolate, fruit, and nuts to suit your own tastes. I even made a batch of white chocolate bark with crushed candy canes on top. I just unwrapped the candy canes, dropped them in a sturdy plastic bag, went out to the garage, and whacked the bag with a hammer several times. I walked back in with a bag of crushed candy canes (and a lot less tension in my neck and shoulders…). You could get fancy by adding peppermint extract, crystallized ginger, or drizzled chocolate. Seriously, whatever floats your boat.

My only caution would be to use good quality chocolate. In her recipe, Ina also warns against using chocolate chips. A rebel at heart, I bought a bunch of bags of Guittard brand (my favorite!) white and dark chocolate chips from WinCo for $1.78 per bag this week. They worked great! No offense, Ina. I could definitely see how cheap chocolate bars or chips would produce less than stellar results, though.

Also, I purchase most of my dried fruit and nuts from Trader Joe’s (find out what to buy at Trader Joe’s here); they have an incredible selection that is reasonably priced. And because TJ’s offers the perfect shopping experience, in my humble opinion: friendly employees, good products, free coffee, kid-sized carts, and a shy octopus. What more could you want?

French Chocolate Bark

Adapted from Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics: Fabulous Flavor from Simple Ingredients

Ingredients

1 c. whole salted cashews
8 oz. semisweet chocolate (chips or finely chopped)
8 oz. bittersweet chocolate (chips or finely chopped)
1/2 c. dried cherries, roughly chopped
1/2 c. dried apricots, roughly chopped
1/4 c. golden raisins

1. Preaheat the oven to 350. Spread the cashews in one layer on a baking sheet and bake for 6 minutes. Set aside to cool. Meanwhile, using a pencil, draw a 9×10″ rectangle (don’t cut it out) on a large sheet of parchment paper. Turn the parchment paper over and place it on a second baking sheet. Set aside.
2. Put the semisweet and half of the bittersweet chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds; remove and stir with a rubber spatula. Keep heating for 30 seconds at a time and stirring until the chocolate is just barely melted. Stir in the remaining bittersweet chocolate and allow it to sit until it’s completely melted. Stir vigorously until the chocolate is smooth and glossy. Let cool slightly (30 seconds).
3. Pour the melted chocolate onto the prepared parchment paper and spread it lightly to fill the outlined rectangle. Sprinkle the top evenly with the toasted nuts and chopped fruit. Press down lightly with the palm of your hand to set the toppings into the chocolate.
4. Set aside for about 2 hours until cool and firm. Cut the bark into small pieces and serve at room temperature.

White Chocolate Bark
adapted from Barefoot Contessa, How Easy Is That?: Fabulous Recipes & Easy Tips

1/2 c. whole salted pistachios
16 oz. white chocolate (chips or finely chopped)
1/4 c. dried cranberries
1/4 c. medium-diced dried apricots

1. Preaheat the oven to 350. Spread the pistachios in one layer on a baking sheet and bake for 6 minutes. Set aside to cool. Meanwhile, using a pencil, draw a 9×10″ rectangle (don’t cut it out) on a large sheet of parchment paper. Turn the parchment paper over and place it on a second baking sheet. Set aside.
2. Put 3/4 of the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds; remove and stir with a rubber spatula. Keep heating for 30 seconds at a time and stirring until the chocolate is just barely melted. Stir in the remaining white chocolate and allow it to sit until it’s completely melted. Stir vigorously until the chocolate is smooth and glossy. Let cool slightly (30 seconds).
3. Pour the melted chocolate onto the prepared parchment paper and spread it lightly to fill the outlined rectangle. Sprinkle the top evenly with the toasted nuts and chopped fruit. Press down lightly with the palm of your hand to set the toppings into the chocolate.
4. Set aside for about 2 hours until cool and firm. Cut the bark into small pieces and serve at room temperature.

Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics: Fabulous Flavor from Simple Ingredients would be an excellent cookbook to add to your collection. Amazon has a wide selection of Barefoot Contessa cookbooks in stock and ready to ship!

 

Find more frugal homemaking posts here and a list of amazing recipes here.

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