Candy Cane Almond Bark Food

CANDY CANE BARK

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon mat.
• Add the white chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon of the vegetable oil to a microwave safe bowl. Heat at 50% power for one minute then stir well. Continue to heat at 50% power for 20 second intervals, stirring after each heating until the chocolate is melted. Stir in the peppermint extract then spread evenly in a thin rectangle on the prepared parchment paper.
• In another clean microwave safe bowl, add the semi-sweet chocolate and the remaining 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil. Heat at 50% power for one minute then stir well. Continue to heat at 50% power for 20 second intervals, stirring after each heating, until completely melted.
• Pour the semi-sweet chocolate over the white chocolate and use an offset spatula to spread evenly to cover. Immediately sprinkle with the candy cane pieces.
• Freeze or refrigerate until completely hardened, about 20 min, then break in to pieces as large or as small as you'd like them.

CANDY CANE ALMOND BARK

Steps:

• 1. Do not unwrap candy canes. Place several in a zipper bag, remove all air possible. Take a thick handled butter knife handle (or a hammer)and rap on the candy canes to break them up. Remove the candy cane wrappers. Separate the larger pieces to a bowl and set aside for topping/garnishing the candies.
• 2. In double boiler (or a pan sitting on a smaller pan with boiling water), melt the almond bark (break the squares apart before putting in the pan). When the almond bark is melted and creamy, add the candy cane crumbs and pieces that were not reserved for the topping/garnish. Add as many candy canes as you want. Each time you break up the candy canes, set some aside in the bowl. When all the candy is broken up (at least a cup), stir it around in the almond bark.
• 3. Using a teaspoon, place a teaspoon at a time onto wax paper lined baking sheet. When a third of the pan has been done, place a couple larger pieces of broken candy cane on top (be sure the red part is facing out). Repeat until the tray is full.
• 4. Place tray in refrigerator or freezer for 5 - 10 minutes or until the almond bark is set. Remove from wax paper and put in zipper bags or air tight containes.
• 5. *** You can also make some with the chocolate bark... both are good!

THE BEST WHITE CHOCOLATE ALMOND BARK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Roast almonds on 1 baking sheet in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Microwave white chocolate melting wafers and butter in a microwave-safe bowl on medium-high for 1 minute 30 seconds; stir. Microwave until completely melted, 20 to 30 seconds more. Add almond extract and stir until smooth. Stir in toasted almonds.
• Spread chocolate mixture evenly onto the second baking sheet. Chill in the refrigerator until hardened, about 1 hour. Break into small pieces by hand.

CANDY BARK

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet or pan with foil.
• Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water, and stir with a rubber spatula. Just before the chocolate is completely melted, add the oil and stir to blend. Remove from the heat and stir vigorously until completely smooth. Set aside and let cool until just slightly warm, about 8 minutes
• Add all but a few pieces of the candy and quickly stir to combine. Spread the chocolate mixture on the prepared baking sheet so it's about 1/2 inch thick and the candy is coated. Scatter the remaining candy on top. Set aside at room temperature until firm, about 2 hours. Remove from the foil and break into pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE COOKIES

Steps:

• Add the butter and powdered sugar to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until the mixture is nice and smooth. Mix in the vanilla and egg. Add the flour, cocoa powder and salt and mix just until the dough comes together. Press a piece of plastic wrap onto the surface of the dough and refrigerate it for a couple of hours.
• While the dough is chilling away, unwrap the candies and place them in two plastic bags, separated by color. Crush the candies to pieces with a rolling pin. Throw the crushed mints into separate bowls and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Roll the dough into balls. Place the balls onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper or baking mats. Flatten them slightly with the bottom of a coffee mug or glass. Bake until just set, 7 to 9 minutes. Let the cookies cool completely.
• Meanwhile, melt the almond bark in a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl and stir until smooth. One at a time, dip the cooled cookies halfway into the melted almond bark. Sprinkle the top sides generously with crushed mints, holding the cookies over the bowls to catch the excess. You can mix red and green on the same cookie, or do some with just red and some with just green.
• Lay the cookies, sprinkled-side up, on parchment paper or a baking mat and allow them to set completely. Serve with a few whole mints on the side.

ALMOND BARK CANDIES

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, melt candy coating and peanut butter over low heat. Remove from the heat; stir in the remaining ingredients. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper.

CANDY CANE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extract. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. , Divide dough in half; add 6-7 drops of food coloring to one half. Shape tablespoonfuls of each color of dough into 4-in. ropes. Place ropes side by side; lightly press ends together and twist. Place on ungreased baking sheets; curve to form canes. , Bake at 375° for 9-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Combine crushed candy canes and sugar; immediately sprinkle over cookies. Cool for 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

PEPPERMINT CANDY CANE BARK

Steps:

• Melt white chocolate either in a double boiler or in a bowl over a pot of boiling water.
• Stir in crushed candy cane and peppermint flavoring into melted white chocolate.
• Line a 11x17" baking pan with wax paper.
• Pour and spread chocolate mixture onto wax paper.
• Chill until firm and break into pieces.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.

CHRISTMAS PEPPERMINT BARK CANDY

Steps:

• Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller.
• Break up the almond bark into pieces and melt in a double boiler.
• Combine candy cane chunks and peppermint oil to almond bark.
• Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with wax paper and spread out evenly.
• Place in refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm.
• Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces.

CANDY CANE BARK

Steps:

• Break candy canes into 2 or 3 pieces and place in a plastic bag and close top; smash with kitchen mallet to take out your frustrations and pulverize the candy.
• In a small bowl, melt chocolate in microwave oven with Medium-Low power, checking every 30 seconds or so; white chocolate burns easily even in the microwave so better safe than sorry.
• Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper.
• Stir candy cane crumbs into melted white chocolate and stir well to combine.
• Pour chocolate mixture onto wax paper, spreading thin with a spatula.
• Stash cookie sheet in fridge about an hour or until it hardens.
• Hold wax paper by one corner and start peeling it back, breaking off pieces of the bark; store pieces in airtight container in fridge.
• Keeps well.