Chocolate Cranberry Treats Recipes

WHITE CHOCOLATE AND CRANBERRY CRISPY RICE SQUARES

Steps:

• Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large microwaveable bowl, microwave the butter and marshmallows for 2 minutes. Stir and microwave an additional minute. Stir in 4 cups of the cereal. Add 1 cup of the white chocolate chips, the cranberries and remaining 2 cups cereal. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• Spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray and use your fingers to spread the mixture evenly into the dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup white chocolate chips and use your fingers to push the chips into the cereal mixture. Garnish with the gold glitter sprinkles.
• Let cool, cut into squares and store in an airtight container.

CRANBERRY-CHOCOLATE TART

Steps:

• For cranberry topping:
• Pour 1/4 cup cranberry juice into small bowl; sprinkle gelatin over. Let stand until softened, 15 minutes. Combine 1/4 cup cranberry juice, cranberries, and next 5 ingredients in medium saucepan; bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until cranberries are tender but still plump, 5 minutes. Strain into bowl; set cranberries aside. Add gelatin mixture to hot juice in bowl; stir until gelatin dissolves. Stir cranberries back into juice. Chill until cranberry mixture is cold and slightly thickened, at least 8 hours or overnight. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• Stir chopped crystallized ginger into cranberry mixture.
• For crust:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Combine chocolate wafer cookie crumbs, sugar, and salt in medium bowl; add 5 tablespoons melted butter and stir until crumbs feel moist when pressed together with fingertips, adding remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter if mixture is dry. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Bake chocolate crust until beginning to set and slightly crisp, pressing with spoon if crust puffs during baking, about 14 minutes. Transfer tart pan to rack and cool crust completely before filling.
• For mascarpone filling:
• Using electric mixer, beat all ingredients except ginger in medium bowl just until thick enough to spread (do not overbeat or mixture may curdle). Spread filling in cooled crust. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Spoon cranberry mixture evenly over mascarpone filling. Chill at least 2 hours and up to 6 hours. Garnish with crystallized ginger strips, if desired. Cut tart into wedges and serve cold.
• *An Italian cream cheese; sold at many supermarkets and at Italian markets.

CHOCOLATE-CRANBERRY TREATS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Set aside.
• Whisk the honey, vanilla, butter and egg together in a 5-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in the rice cereal, cranberries and almonds until combined. Let the mixture cool for 45 minutes.
• Place the grated chocolate in a small bowl.
• Firmly press the rice mixture together into 36 balls, each about 1-inch in diameter, using slightly damp hands. Roll the cookies in the chocolate until coated and place on the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate for 1 hour until firm.

CRANBERRY CHOCOLATE TART

Steps:

• Topping;.
• Pour 1/4 cup cranberry juice into small bowl;sprinkle gelatin over.
• Let stand until softened,about 15 minutes. Combine 1/4 cup cranberry juice, cranberries and the next 5 ingredients in a medium saucepan;bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• Reduce heat to medium; simmer until cranberries are tender but still plump,about 5 minutes.
• Strain into bowl;set cranberries aside.
• Add gelatin mixture to hot juice in bowl; stir until gelatin dissolves.
• Stir cranberries back into juice.
• Chill until cranberry mixture is cold and slightly thickened, at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Can be made 2 days ahead,cover and chill.
• Stir chopped crystallized ginger into cranberry mixture.
• Crust:.
• Preheat 350°F; position rack in center of oven.
• Combine chocolate wafer cookies crumbs,sugar and salt in medium bowl;add 5 tablespoons melted butter and stir until crumbs feel moist when pressed together with fingertips.
• If dry add 1 more tablespoon of melted butter.
• Press crumbs onto bottom and sides of 9 inch tart pan with removable bottom.
• Bake until crust begins to set and slightly crisp, about 14 minutes.
• Press with spoon if crust puffs.
• Cool crust completely before filling.
• Mascarpone Filling:.
• Beat all ingredients except ginger in medium bowl just until thick enough to spread.
• DO NOT OVERBEAT OR MIX WILL CURDLE!
• This can be made 1 day ahead,cover and chill.
• Spoon cranberry mixture evenly over mascarpone filling.
• Chill at least 2 hours and up to 6 hours.
• Garnish with crystallized ginger strips if desired.
• Serve cold.
• Enjoy:).

CHOCOLATE, CRANBERRY & OAT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Combine cranberries and orange juice in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 30 sec. Let stand 10 minute.
• Meanwhile, combine flour, oats, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• Beat margarine and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing well after each addition. Stir in cranberry mixture, chocolate and pecans.
• Spread dough into 13x9-inch baking pan sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake 25 to 30 minute or until lightly browned. Cool completely on wire rack before cutting into bars.

WHITE CHOCOLATE-CRANBERRY CRISPY RICE TREATS

Steps:

• Place white chocolate chips, butter, and marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, then stir. Repeat in 30-second intervals until smooth. Mix in vanilla.
• Combine cereal and cranberries in a large bowl. Pour melted chocolate mixture over top and quickly mix to coat dry ingredients.
• Drop mixture onto waxed paper and roll into balls, using about 2 tablespoons mixture per treat. Let stand until firm, about 30 minutes. Store in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE-CRANBERRY TORTE

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Bring first 3 ingredients to boil in saucepan over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium; cook until cranberries burst, about 5 minutes. Transfer to processor; puree. Strain puree into bowl; discard seeds. Mix in Chambord. Cover; chill at least 2 hours or overnight (sauce will thicken).
• For torte:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter and flour 9-inch-diameter springform pan. Line bottom with parchment paper. Stir 3/4 cup cranberries and Chambord in small saucepan over medium heat until liqueur simmers, about 1 minute. Cool to room temperature. Drain cranberries; reserve liqueur and cranberries separately.
• Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat, stirring until beginning to bubble at edges. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; let stand 1 minute. Whisk until chocolate is melted and smooth. Whisk in sugar, then eggs 1 at a time (batter will look grainy). Whisk in reserved liqueur. Add flour and salt; whisk gently until blended. Stir in reserved cranberries; transfer to prepared pan.
• Bake torte until top is puffed and cracked and tester inserted into center comes out with moist (not wet) batter attached, about 1 hour. Cool completely in pan on rack. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; store at room temperature.)
• For glaze:
• Bring cream to simmer in medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Whisk in Chambord. Let stand until glaze is thick but still pourable, whisking occasionally, about 2 hours.
• Line rimmed baking sheet with foil; place cake rack in center. Cut around torte to loosen; remove pan sides. Place 8-inch-diameter cardboard round or 8-inch tart pan bottom on top of torte. Holding cardboard and springform pan bottom, turn torte over and place on rack. Remove pan bottom; peel off paper. Pour 1 1/2 cups glaze over torte. Using icing spatula, smooth glaze over top and sides (re-apply any glaze from foil if necessary). Freeze torte until glaze is set, about 10 minutes. Pour remaining 1 cup glaze over torte and smooth evenly. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup dried cranberries around top edge. Freeze until glaze is firm, about 15 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer to platter. Cover with cake dome and chill. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)
• Arrange fresh mint leaves between cranberries at top edge of torte. Cut into wedges and serve with sauce.