Chocolate Tree Bark Recipes

CHOCOLATE TREE BARK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Arrange crackers onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Stir butter and sugar together in a bowl until the sugar dissolves; drizzle over the crackers.
• Bake crackers in preheated oven until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Spread chocolate chips over the crackers to cover completely immediately after removing the baking sheet from the oven, allowing the residual heat to melt the chocolate. Sprinkle nuts over the chocolate layer before it re-solidifies.
• Cool the bark to room temperature. Once the chocolate is again firm, break the sheet into pieces to resemble tree bark.

CHUNKY CHOCOLATE FRUIT-AND-NUT BARK

Steps:

• Set a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water. Roughly chop chocolate and place in the bowl to melt, stirring frequently, keeping the heat very low. Chop toasted nuts; using scissors, cut dried fruit into small pieces. Finely chop candied ginger and/or orange peel. Place fruit and nuts into a large mixing bowl.
• Once chocolate is melted and smooth, take it off the heat and stir fruit and nuts into the chocolate. Gently stir to combine so the fruit and nuts are all combined with the chocolate. Line a pan with parchment paper that's been sprayed with a little oil. Sprinkle cocoa powder over parchment and then add the chocolate mixture. Spread it out in an even layer. Dust with more cocoa powder and place another piece of parchment paper on top. Let it cool down and set in the refrigerator, 1 hour.
• When chocolate is set, run a knife around the edge to remove from the pan. Break or cut into pieces to make chunky chocolates.

SALTINE TOFFEE BARK

Steps:

• Line a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with heavy-duty foil. Arrange saltines in a single layer on foil; set aside., In a large heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in sugar. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Pour evenly over crackers., Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until bubbly. Immediately sprinkle with chocolate chips. Allow chips to soften for a few minutes, then spread over top. Sprinkle with toffee bits. Cool., Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until set. Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE BIRCH BARK

Steps:

• Melt milk chocolate in a heat-proof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, or in a microwave. Just before all is melted, remove from heat; stir with a spatula until completely melted. Repeat with white chocolate.
• Cut a 12-by-9-inch sheet of parchment; place on a baking sheet. Transfer 2 tablespoons milk chocolate to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip (such as Ateco #3; you can also use a tiny paintbrush). Pipe or brush small dots and dashes and "knots" sparsely across surface of parchment. Refrigerate 5 minutes.
• Pour white chocolate over pat- tern, spreading to edges of parchment. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Spread milk chocolate over white chocolate with a spatula. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Break into pieces; refrigerate until ready to serve.

GOOEY CARAMEL TURTLE BARK

Steps:

• Line a 15x10x1" cookie sheet with wax paper.
• Pour chocolate chips into a medium-sized bowl and microwave for 45 seconds, stir, then return to the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir until completely melted and smooth (you may need to throw it back into the microwave for another 30 seconds- it really just depends on the strength of your microwave). Pour melted chocolate onto prepared sheet.
• Using a flat spatula, spread chocolate out on wax paper until it's about 1/4" thick.
• Place unwrapped caramels and milk in a medium-sized bowl. Microwave for about 30 seconds, then remove and stir. Microwave again for 30 seconds, then stir until caramel is smooth and creamy (you may need to throw it back into the microwave for another 30 seconds so it can be super creamy).
• Drizzle melted caramel over chocolate, then top with chopped pecans. If desired, drizzle with additional melted chocolate.
• Place bark in the fridge for 30-45 minutes so that it can set up.
• When it has hardened, remove from fridge and use a sharp knife to chop into large pieces (or you can use your hands to break it into small pieces).