Cherry Chocolate Bark Recipes

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!).

3 CHOCOLATE CHERRY BARK

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

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.

PISTACHIO AND TART CHERRY CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Place semisweet chocolate in microwave-safe 8-cup measuring cup or large bowl.
• Place white chocolate in microwave-safe 2-cup measuring cup or medium bowl.
• Heat semisweet chocolate in microwave, covered with waxed paper, on High 2 to 3 minutes or until almost melted, stirring once. Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.
• Heat white chocolate in microwave, covered with waxed paper, on High 1 to 2 minutes or until almost melted, stirring once. Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.
• Stir 1 cup pistachios and 1 cup cherries into semisweet chocolate.
• On large cookie sheet, spread chocolate mixture to about 1/4-inch thickness.
• Spoon dollops of white chocolate onto semisweet-chocolate mixture.
• With tip of knife, swirl chocolates together for marbled look.
• Sprinkle with remaining pistachios and cherries.
• Refrigerate bark 1 hour or until firm.
• Break bark into pieces.
• Store in tightly sealed container in refrigerator up to 1 month.
• Pack in decorative boxes lined with waxed tissue paper or colored cellophane for gift giving.

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.