Double Chocolate Salted Peanut Bark Food

VALENTINE'S DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Bring a small pan with 1 inch of water to a boil over medium-low heat. Place the white chocolate in a small bowl and place over the simmering water. When it is almost halfway melted, remove the bowl from the heat to a towel. Continue to stir with a rubber spatula until completely melted. Set aside. Repeat with the bittersweet chocolate.
• Pour the bittersweet chocolate onto a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and spread to 1/4-inch thick. Use a rubber spatula to drizzle the white chocolate over the bittersweet in zigzags and decorative patterns. Run the tip of a skewer through the chocolate in different directions to make swirls. Sprinkle with the toppings as desired. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes, then break into pieces.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BARK

Steps:

• Line a 15x10x1-in. pan with parchment; set aside. , In a double boiler or metal bowl over hot water, melt chocolate until 2/3 are melted. Remove from heat; stir until smooth. Stir in 1/4 cup each Reese's pieces, peanut butter cups and peanuts. Spread into prepared pan; top with remaining ingredients, pressing lightly to adhere (pan will not be full). Refrigerate until firm, 15-20 minutes. Break or cut into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER BARK

Steps:

• Butter 15x10-inch jelly roll pan. Line with waxed paper or parchment. Melt 1 pound white chocolate with peanut butter in large bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until chocolate is melted and smooth.
• Meanwhile, melt bittersweet chocolate in medium bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally. Melt remaining 2 ounces white chocolate in small bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring constantly.
• Remove all bowls from over water. Pour peanut butter mixture onto prepared pan, spreading to cover surface completely. Using spoon, drizzle melted bittersweet chocolate in lines over peanut butter mixture. Draw tip of small sharp knife through chocolate-drizzled mixture to marbleize. Using spoon, drizzle melted white chocolate over. Draw tip of knife through chocolates to marbleize. Chill until firm, at least 2 hours or over-night. Cut into 2-inch triangles or other shapes. Cover and chill. (Can be made 2 weeks ahead. Keep chilled.) Serve cold.

ALEXANDER'S CHOCOLATE-COVERED PEANUTS

Steps:

• Place almond bark in a slow cooker. Stir occasionally on High until mostly melted, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to Low. Stir in chocolate chips until mixture is completely dark, about 30 seconds. Add peanuts.
• Drop a spoonful of the peanut clusters onto a parchment paper-lined countertop to test if they are thick and chunky. Mix in more peanuts and chocolate chips if the mixture is too loose and runny.
• Line 4 to 5 baking sheets with parchment paper. Lay spoonfuls of the peanut clusters on top using a melon baller. Allow to harden, about 1 hour.

DOUBLE DARK-CHOCOLATE WALNUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Cut 8-ounce (2 sticks) unsalted butter into pieces and allow to soften.
• In medium bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, salt and baking powder; set aside.
• On cutting board, chop 5 1/2 ounces dark chocolate into 1/2-inch chunks; set aside.
• Roughly chop 3/4 cup walnuts and set aside.
• In separate bowl using an electric mixer, cream together butter with both sugars. Add the eggs, one at a time, to creamed mixture. Beat in 1 t pure vanilla extract.
• Slowly add dry ingredients to creamed mixture, beating well with electric mixer after each addition.
• Stir in chocolate chunks and walnut pieces using wooden spoon.
• Drop 1 1/2-inch balls of dough onto greased cookie sheet.
• Bake 9 minutes on middle oven rack.
• Let cookies cool for several minutes on cookie sheet before transferring to a cooling rack (they will be too soft when first removed from oven).