Cowboy Bark Recipes

COWBOY COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Mix all-purpose flour, chocolate chips, pecans, coconut, whole wheat flour, oats, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.
• Mix butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until combined in a separate bowl; add eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture and stir until combined. Press dough into an ungreased 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 13 minutes. Be careful not to overbake. Cool for 10 minutes before cutting into 1x2-inch bars.

SHORTCUT PEPPERMINT BARK

Steps:

• Bring a shallow pan of water to a simmer. Add the white chocolate to a heatproof bowl and set over the simmering water to melt. Stir in the peppermint extract.
• Dip the cookies one by one in the melted chocolate to cover completely, then transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the crushed candy over the tops. Allow the cookies to set and dry before serving.

COWBOY BARK: TRADER JOE'S COPYCAT RECIPE

Steps:

• Line a baking tray with parchment paper; set aside. Before beginning to melt the chocolate, have all the ingredients chopped, prepped, and ready to go so that they're ready to be added while the chocolate is hot and melty. I use my Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor to grind the nuts in seconds rather than hand-chopping, but I hand-chop the cookies.
• Coarsely chop the chocolate or break into chunks to encourage smooth melting.
• Place chocolate in a large microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high power to melt, about 2 to 3 minutes, stopping every 15 seconds to check and stir until mixture can be stirred smooth. Be careful not to scorch it; or use a double boiler.
• Pour melted chocolate onto parchment and with a spatula or offset knife, smooth into a large rectangle, about 10×15-inches, and about 1/8-inch thick; just eyeball.
• Evenly sprinkle with pretzels, Oreos, toffee bits, peanuts, almonds, and sea salt to taste.
• Allow chocolate to set up for at least 1 hour at room temp, or in the freezer for about 30 minutes.
• After chocolate has set, break into pieces or chop with a knife. Bark will keep airtight at room temp for many weeks and in the fridge or freezer for many months.

COWBOY BARK

Steps:

• Line a baking pan with parchment paper.
• Roughly chop the Oreos. You want fairly big chunks.
• Coarsely chop the almonds and peanuts. I used a small food processor.
• Measure out the pretzels. You want everything chopped and measured before you melt the chocolate.
• Coarsely chop the chocolate or break into small chunks.
• Put chocolate into a microwave safe bowl, place in microwave oven, and heat on high to melt, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stop every 15 seconds to check and stir until mixture can be stirred smooth. Be careful not to scorch it. You can also use a double-boiler instead of the microwave.
• Pour chocolate onto parchment, and smooth into a large rectangle with a spatula, around 10x15-inches and 1/8-inch thick.
• Immediately sprinkle evenly with pretzels and Oreos, then toffee, peanuts, almonds, and sea salt to taste and press in lightly.
• Let it set for 1 hour at room temperarure or 30 minutes in the freezer.
• Break into pieces.
• It will keep for weeks in an airtight container.