Cherry Almond Bark Food

CHERRY ALMOND BARK

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt coating, stir until smooth. Add cherries and almonds. Spread onto a foil-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm. Break into pieces.

CHERRY ALMOND CHOCOLATE CLUSTERS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, toss together the almonds and the cherries. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
• Melt half the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over slightly simmering water, over the lowest possible heat, stirring frequently. Make sure the water is not touching the top pan. Remove the double boiler from the heat and stir in the rest of the chocolate. Remove the top pan with the chocolate in it, gently wipe the bottom of it and set it aside for a moment. Replace the simmering water in the bottom pan with warm tap water. Put the pan of melted chocolate on top of the warm water. This will keep the chocolate at the right temperature while you make the clusters.
• Stir the fruit-nut mixture into the chocolate. Spoon out heaping tablespoon-sized clusters of the chocolate mixture onto the baking sheet about 1-inch apart. Put them in the refrigerator to set for 15 minutes. Store and serve at room temperature.

OLD FASHIONED CHERRY MASH CHOCOLATES

Steps:

• First, line the mini muffin pan with paper liners. Set aside.
• Then, line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Set aside.
• Next, in a small bowl, combine softened butter and powdered sugar. Using a hand mixer, beat until it starts to stick together. It will be clumpy.
• Add patted-dried, chopped maraschino cherries. Mix well. IF the mixture is still clumpy after adding the chopped cherries, add a half tsp of maraschino cherry juice and mix again. If needed, add another half teaspoon and so on. You do not want this to be the consistency of frosting. You want to keep it as thick as possible.
• Using a tablespoon-size cookie scoop or small spoon, scoop cherry mixture onto lined cookie sheet an inch apart. Place in freezer for at least one hour.
• Next, while cherry drops are freezing, follow the instructions on the package to melt Almond Bark in a microwave-safe bowl. Once melted, add crushed peanuts and peanut butter. Mix well.
• Then, drop a small amount of the Almond Bark mixture into the bottom of each liner, just enough to cover the bottom of the liner.
• Take cherry drops out of the freezer and break each one in half. (You only want the cherry centers to be about ½ Tbsp). Form the halved drops into a circular disk and place one on top of each Almond Bark mixture already in the pan.
• Afterward, top each cherry drop with a spoonful of the Almond Bark mixture.
• Allow to cool completely and set up before eating.
• Can be stored at room temperature for up to 10 days.

TOASTED ALMOND & CHERRY CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the almonds and cherries; set aside.
• Melt the semisweet chocolate over low heat in a 2 quart saucepan, stirring constantly. In a 1 quart saucepan, melt the white chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove both saucepans from the heat.
• Stir half of the almond mixture into the semisweet chocolate. On a large cookie sheet, spread semisweet chocolate mixture to about 1/4" thickness. Drop the white chocolate by tablespoons onto the semisweet chocolate mixture. With the tip of your knife, swirl chocolates together for a marbles look. Sprinkle with the remaining almond mixture.
• Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until firm. Break the bark into pieces. Store in the fridge for up to 1 month (believe me, it won't last that long!).

CHERRY-PRETZEL ALMOND BARK

Steps:

• In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt candy coating; stir until smooth. Stir in the almonds, pretzels and cherries. , Spread onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

DRIED CHERRY AND ALMOND COOKIES WITH VANILLA ICING

Steps:

• For the Cookies:
• In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, cinnamon, and salt until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, then beat in the egg. Add the flour and beat on the lowest speed until just blended. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the dried cherries and almonds.
• Transfer the dough to a sheet of plastic wrap and shape it into a log, about 12-inches long and 1 1/2-inches in diameter. Wrap the dough in the plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. (Dough can be made up to 3 days in advance).
• Arrange an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 heavy baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cut the log crosswise into 1/2-inch thick slices. Transfer the dough slices to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1-inch apart. Bake until the cookies are golden around the edges and puffed, about 15 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before icing, about 30 minutes.
• For the Icing:
• Put the powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in the vanilla extract and water, adding more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the mixture becomes a drizzling consistency. (Makes about 2/3 cups icing, enough to ice both variations.)
• Put the cooled cookies on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Using a spoon or a fork, drizzle the cookies with the icing, allowing any excess icing to drip onto the baking sheet. Allow the icing to set before serving, about 1 hour.
• Cook's Note: To toast the almonds, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 6 to 8 minutes until lightly toasted. Cool completely before using.
• Cook's Note Alternative:
• Replace the dried cherries with 1/2 cup coarsely chopped dried apricots and add 2 tablespoons of toasted pine nuts. Also, use 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and omit the almond extract.

ALMOND-CHERRY CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, toast 3/4 cup whole skin-on almonds until fragrant and light gold, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely; transfer to a bowl. Fill a medium saucepan with 1 inch water; bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Set a large heatproof bowl atop saucepan, making sure water doesn't touch bottom of bowl. Place 10 ounces dark chocolate (60 percent to 70 percent cocoa) in bowl; cook, stirring, until smooth. Remove bowl from saucepan; add another 2 ounces dark chocolate and stir until smooth. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, toasted almonds and 1/3 cup dried tart cherries, coarsely chopped. Pour onto baking sheet; spread into an even layer about 1/4 inch thick. Refrigerate until firm, 1 hour. Break into 24 pieces.

CHEWY CHERRY ALMOND BARK

Steps:

• In a small saucepan on low to medium heat, melt the chocolate with 1 tablespoon of the milk. Continue to add milk to the chocolate, 1 tablespoon at a time, until fully melted. The chocolate should have a smooth consistency.
• Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
• Pour onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or into a parchment lined 8x8 inch pan. Smooth the melted mixture to a desired thickness and smoothness.
• Let cool in your refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes or until solid.
• Break into pieces and serve!

ALMOND-CHERRY CHOCOLATE BARK RECIPE - (4.8/5)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, toast 3/4 cup whole skin-on almonds until fragrant and light gold, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely; transfer to a bowl. Fill a medium saucepan with 1 inch water; bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Set a large heatproof bowl atop saucepan, making sure water doesn't touch bottom of bowl. Place 10 ounces dark chocolate (60 percent to 70 percent cocoa) in bowl; cook, stirring, until smooth. Remove bowl from saucepan; add another 2 ounces dark chocolate and stir until smooth. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, toasted almonds and 1/3 cup dried tart cherries, coarsely chopped. Pour onto baking sheet; spread into an even layer about 1/4 inch thick. Refrigerate until firm, 1 hour. Break into 24 pieces.