White Chocolate Holiday Bark Food

WHITE CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Using a pencil, draw an 8-by-10-inch rectangle on a piece of parchment paper. Turn the parchment paper over so the pencil mark doesn't get onto the chocolate and place it on a sheet pan.
• Place the pistachios in one layer on another sheet pan and bake for 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Place three quarters of the white chocolate in a heat-proof glass bowl and put it in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. (Time it with your watch for accuracy.) Stir the chocolate with a rubber spatula, return it to the microwave for another 30 seconds, then stir again. Continue to heat and stir in 30-second intervals until the chocolate is just melted. Immediately stir in the remaining chocolate and allow it to sit at room temperature, stirring often, until it's completely smooth. (If you need to heat it a little more, place it in the microwave for another 15 seconds.)
• Pour the melted chocolate onto the parchment paper and spread it lightly to fill the drawn rectangle. Sprinkle the top evenly with the cooled pistachios, the cranberries, and apricots. Press the nuts and fruit lightly so they will set in the chocolate. Set aside for at least 2 hours until firm or refrigerate for 20 minutes. Cut or break the bark in 16 pieces and serve at room temperature.

WHITE CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Finely chop 1 pound white chocolate. Microwave all but 1 cup in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the reserved 1 cup chocolate until melted. Spread on a foil-lined baking sheet until 1/4 inch thick; sprinkle with dried cranberries and chopped candied orange peel. Let set, about 1 hour, then break into pieces.

WHITE CHOCOLATE HOLIDAY BARK

Steps:

• Rest the chocolate thermometer on a towel. Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Pour a couple inches of water into the bottom half of the double boiler and heat over medium-low to just below a simmer. Put the chocolate in the top half of the double boiler and set over the hot water. Slowly melt the chocolate, stirring with a heat-resistant rubber spatula. As the chocolate melts, check the temperature periodically to make sure it stays between 82 and 86 degrees F. If it starts to rise above this temperature, quickly transfer the chocolate to the bowl on reserve and stir briskly to reduce heat. Return bowl to double boiler to maintain heat between 82 and 86 degrees F.
• Remove bowl from over the hot water just before all the chocolate melts. Stir vigorously until the chocolate melts completely. Check temperature again. Stir in the oil until evenly blended. Chocolate is now tempered and ready to use. Keep within the 82 to 86 degree F range, returning bowl briefly to the double boiler if necessary.
• Quickly stir the fruit and nuts into the chocolate. Spread chocolate mixture out on the prepared baking sheet so it's about 1/2-inch thick and the fruit and nuts are coated. Set bark aside at room temperature to harden. Break into angled pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

BAKER'S CHOCOLATE HOLIDAY BARK

Steps:

• Microwave chocolates in separate medium microwaveable bowls as directed on packages. Stir half each of the nuts, cranberries and apricots into chocolate in each bowl.
• Drop spoonfuls of chocolate mixtures alternately onto waxed paper-covered baking sheet; swirl gently with knife.
• Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces.

CHOCOLATE HOLIDAY BARK

Steps:

• Line an 8x8-inch pan with tinfoil. Grease lightly.
• Set aside one square of the bittersweet chocolate. Chop rest into small pieces.
• Melt in double boiler or microwave until melted. Pour into prepared pan and smooth top. Chill for 30 minutes.
• Combine cereal and 1/2 cup dried fruit. It's better if you chop the fruit into small pieces.
• Chop and melt white chocolate. (Watch it closely; it melts at a lower temperature than bittersweet).
• Gently fold cereal fruit mix into white chocolate until it is completely coated.
• Spread over chilled bittersweet chocolate. Sprinkle with the remaining fruit; chill.
• Melt remaining block of bittersweet chocolate and drizzle over top.
• Once set, take the chocolate bark out of pan and cut into squares.

WHITE CHOCOLATE HOLIDAY BARK

Steps:

• Rest the chocolate thermometer on a towel. Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Pour a couple inches of water into the bottom half of the double boiler and heat over medium-low to just below a simmer.
• Put the chocolate in the top half of the double boiler and set over the hot water. Slowly melt the chocolate, stirring with a heat-resistant rubber spatula.
• As the chocolate melts, check the temperature periodically to make sure it stays between 82 and 86 degrees F. If it starts to rise above this temperature, quickly transfer the chocolate to the bowl on reserve and stir briskly to reduce heat. Return bowl to double boiler to maintain heat between 82 and 86 degrees F.
• Remove bowl from over the hot water just before all the chocolate melts.
• Stir vigorously until the chocolate melts completely. Check temperature again.
• Stir in the oil until evenly blended. Chocolate is now tempered and ready to use. Keep within the 82 to 86 degree F range, returning bowl briefly to the double boiler if necessary.
• Quickly stir the fruit and nuts into the chocolate. Spread chocolate mixture out on the prepared baking sheet so it's about 1/2-inch thick and the fruit and nuts are coated. Set bark aside at room temperature to harden. Break into angled pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.