Cherry Chocolate Bark Food

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.

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 CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with aluminum foil.
• Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each melting, until smooth, 1 to 3 minutes (depending on your microwave). Do not overheat or chocolate will scorch. Using a spatula, quickly spread the melted chocolate evenly in the prepared pan until the bottom of the pan is covered. Sprinkle the crushed candy evenly over the chocolate, and pat lightly with a clean spatula to help the candy settle into the chocolate.
• Melt the red confectioner's coating, if using, in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each melting, until smooth, 1 to 3 minutes (depending on your microwave). Spoon the melted coating into a resealable plastic bag; snip off a very small corner of the bag, and use to drizzle coating over the bark.
• Place the pan in the refrigerator or freezer until hardened, about 30 minutes. Remove from pan; peel off foil. Break into small pieces to serve.

CHOCOLATE BARK WITH MIXED NUTS AND DRIED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Melt chocolate over double boiler until smooth and velvety. Spread evenly onto a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
• Top with pistachios, almonds and cherries. Cool for about 40 minutes. Break into pieces and serve.

THREE CHOCOLATE BARK WITH SPICED PECANS AND DRIED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large saute pan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Add the brown sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves and is bubbly. Add the pecans. Season the pecans with salt, cayenne, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar starts to caramelize and coat the pecans evenly. Cook for about 4 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and spread the pecans over a parchment lined baking sheet. Place the pan in the oven and roast the pecans for about 6 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and cool completely. Break the pecans into small pieces.
• Fill 3 small saucepans halfway up the pan with water. Place the pans over medium heat and bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. In three separate mixing bowls, add each type of chocolate into the individual bowls. Place the bowls over the saucepans. After about 2 minutes over the heat, the chocolate will start to melt. Stir each chocolate until totally melted. Remove the chocolate from the heat and stir 1 tablespoon of butter into each bowl of chocolate. Pour each type of chocolate over the marble or a large parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the pecans and cherries over the chocolates. Using a metal spatula, spread the mixture out evenly back and forth to about 1/4-inch thick. Either place the marble in the refrigerator or allow to sit out until set, about a couple of hours. Break the bark into medium 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.

CHEWY CHOCOLATE-CHERRY BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, mix cracker crumbs and butter. Press into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. In a large bowl, mix the remaining ingredients until blended; carefully spread over crust., Bake 25-28 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°.
• Grease and flour 13x9-inch pan.
• In large bowl, combine cake mix, pie filling almond extract and eggs; stir until blended.
• Spread in greased and floured pan.
• Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• In small saucepan, combine sugar, milk and margarine.
• Bring to a boil; boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat; stir in chocolate chips until smooth.
• Pour and spread over warm bars.
• Cool completely and cut into bars.

PECAN CHERRY BARK

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and spices; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until sugar is completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Stir in pecans until coated. Spread onto foil to cool. , Line two 15x10x1-in. pans with parchment or waxed paper. In a microwave, melt dark chocolate candy coating and 1 tablespoon shortening, stirring until smooth. Divide between prepared pans, spreading to desired thickness. Refrigerate just until set, but not firm., In microwave, melt milk chocolate candy coating and 1 tablespoon shortening, stirring to blend; spread over dark chocolate layer. Refrigerate until set, but not firm., Repeat with white candy coating and remaining 1 tablespoon shortening; spread over top. Sprinkle with cherries and candied pecans, pressing to adhere. Refrigerate until firm. Break into pieces.

DARK CHOCOLATE & CHERRY BAR

Steps:

• Line a 20cm square baking tin with a strip of baking parchment - leave an overhang as this will help lift everything out of the tin later. Scatter the amaretti biscuits over the base of the tin and set aside.
• Tip the chocolate into a heatproof bowl and pour the cream into a saucepan. Bring the cream to the boil, then pour it over the chocolate and stir until completely melted. Pour the mixture over the biscuits, then tap the tin to even out. Cover with cling film and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hrs (or up to 2 days ahead).
• While the chocolate is setting, drain the cherries over a small saucepan and set them aside. Simmer the juice from the tin for about 5 mins or until syrupy. This can be done a day ahead and both can be kept in the fridge.
• To serve, use the parchment handles to lift everything out of the tin on to a board and, using a sharp knife dipped in hot water, cut into six neat bars. Using a pastry brush, paint a thick stripe of the kirsch syrup across each plate, then sit a chocolate bar across the stripe at an opposing angle. Top each bar with a line of cherries and serve with extra syrup on the side.