In preparing for a girlfriends birthday party this past weekend, I discovered some Candy Coating (aka Almond Bark) leftover from the Holidays lingering in the back of my baking cupboard so I decided to make some Party Bark!
Recipe #1: Cranberry Orange Bark
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| [Photo by Mel Adair] |
Melt 1/4 pound of white chocolate (vanilla almond bark) in a glass microwaveable dish on HIGH for 60 seconds. Stir for 30 seconds. Heat for 20 second increments until the almond bark is completely melted but NOT overheated.
Add 4 drops of orange extract and a dash of dried orange peel (optional). Stir.
Pour the orange almond bark onto the foil and spread into a nice layer 1/4 inch thick.
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of dried cranberries over the top of the hot almond bark. Use a fork to carefully stir the cranberries into the melted almond bark.
Let it cool then break it into small pieces and arrange into a candy dish or onto a small plate!
VARIATIONS:
*Add walnuts
*Instead of orange extract, use peppermint extract and substitute candy canes or dark chocolate chips for the cranberries
Recipe #2: Party Pretzels
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| [Photo by Mel Adair] |
Spray cookie sheet or 18' square of aluminum foil w/a small amount of Pam cooking spray. Use a paper towel to spread the Pam over the surface to give it a very light non-stick coating.
Spread out small pretzel twists ( an entire bag!) onto the prepared surface so that many pretzels are overlapping but not piled.
Melt 4 oz of dark chocolate in a glass microwaveable dish (I use a glass Pyrex measuring cup) for one minute on HIGH. I found dark chocolate bars in the baking section of Trader Joes and LOVED the smoothness and flavor.
Baker's brand of semi-sweet chocolate also works great. Stir for 30 seconds. Heat for 30 seconds then stir again until all the chocolate is melted but not overdone.
Using fork prongs, drizzle the hot chocolate over the pretzels then shake on some colorful cupcake sprinkles!
Repeat the melting process with milk chocolate or white chocolate. Chocolate baking squares do take longer to set / cool than almond bark. You can cool it in the fridge for a few minutes if you are in a hurry.
When it's all set, break it apart and serve!
VARIATIONS:
*Sprinkle pretzels with favorite chopped candy bar before drizzling with chocolate (Butterfinger, Snickers, peanut butter cups, etc)
*Sprinkle pretzels with favorite roasted nuts (almonds, etc)
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If you have a favorite almond bark recipe or variation, please share!
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