Chocolate Birch Bark Recipes

CHOCOLATE BIRCH BARK

Steps:

• Melt milk chocolate in a heat-proof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, or in a microwave. Just before all is melted, remove from heat; stir with a spatula until completely melted. Repeat with white chocolate.
• Cut a 12-by-9-inch sheet of parchment; place on a baking sheet. Transfer 2 tablespoons milk chocolate to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip (such as Ateco #3; you can also use a tiny paintbrush). Pipe or brush small dots and dashes and "knots" sparsely across surface of parchment. Refrigerate 5 minutes.
• Pour white chocolate over pat- tern, spreading to edges of parchment. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Spread milk chocolate over white chocolate with a spatula. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Break into pieces; refrigerate until ready to serve.

BIRCH PRETZEL LOGS

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt candy coating; stir until smooth. Pour into an ungreased 8-in. square pan or a tall glass. Roll or dip pretzels in coating, leaving 1 in. of space on the end you are holding; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets; let stand until set. , In a microwave, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Pour into a small resealable plastic bag. Carefully cut a very small hole in the bottom corner of the bag. Pipe stripe markings across the pretzel rods to resemble birch trees. Allow to set. Store in an airtight container.

WHITE CHOCOLATE BIRCH BARK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread almonds in an even layer on a baking sheet. Bake until fragrant and golden brown, about 8 minutes. Let stand until cool, then coarsely chop; set aside. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Temper white chocolate. Pour tempered white chocolate onto prepared baking sheet. Spread into a thin, even layer, covering the parchment. Slowly roll a wood-graining tool over entire surface of white chocolate, parallel to the long side of the baking sheet. Let stand until set.
• Temper semisweet chocolate. Stir almonds into tempered semisweet chocolate. Pour semisweet chocolate over white chocolate. Spread in an even layer, completely covering white chocolate. Let stand until set. Peel off parchment paper. Break into pieces. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line an 11x17-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread saltine crackers on baking sheet in a single layer, salted sides up.
• Combine butter and brown sugar in a saucepan; melt together over medium heat, stirring well until mixture turns a caramel color, about 5 minutes. Pour caramel mixture over crackers and spread evenly.
• Bake in the preheated oven until just bubbly, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool briefly.
• Melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring after each melting, 1 to 3 minutes. Pour chocolate over crackers and spread evenly.
• Transfer baking sheet to the refrigerator and chill until bark hardens, about 1 hour. Break bark up into pieces.

DARK CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Melt the two chocolates in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water.
• Meanwhile, line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Using a ruler and a pencil, draw a 9-by-10-inch rectangle on the paper. Turn the paper face-down on the baking sheet.
• Pour the melted chocolate over the paper and spread to form a rectangle, using the outline. Sprinkle the cashews, apricots and cranberries over the chocolate. Set aside for 2 hours until firm. Cut the bark in 1-by-3-inch pieces and serve at room temperature.