Pistachio Cranberry Candied Orange Bark Recipes

CRANBERRY-PISTACHIO BARK

Steps:

• Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray; line with waxed paper. In large microwavable bowl, microwave candy coating on Medium (50%) 1 minute; stir. Microwave 1 minute longer, stirring after 30 seconds, or until smooth.
• Stir in cranberries, nuts and orange peel. Spread on cookie sheet. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Break into 2-inch pieces. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

PISTACHIO CRANBERRY BARK

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave chocolate chips until melted; stir until smooth. Stir in 3/4 cup pistachios and half of the cranberries; spread onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with melted candy coating. Cut through layers with a knife to swirl., Sprinkle with the remaining pistachios and cranberries. Refrigerate until firm., Cut or break into pieces. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

HOLIDAY CRANBERRY-ORANGE PISTACHIO BARS

Steps:

• Bright red cranberries and toasted green pistachios stud these tart-and-tangy bar cookies and make them a colorful addition to any cookie platter. They hold well in both the refrigerator and the freezer so they're an excellent make-ahead option.
• To prepare crust: Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 350degreesF. Coat an 8-inch-square baking pan with cooking spray.
• Beat butter, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and brown sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Stir in whole-wheat flour, 1/3 cup all-purpose flour and salt until well combined (the mixture will still be crumbly). Evenly press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until just barely golden around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes.
• To prepare topping: Combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add egg, egg white, orange zest and juice; stir until blended and smooth.
• Sprinkle cranberries over the baked crust. Pour the orange mixture over the cranberries and sprinkle with pistachios.
• Bake until golden and set, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack; if possible, chill before cutting into squares.
• Recipe Tips & Notes:
• 1. Note: Whole-wheat pastry flour is milled from soft wheat. It contains less gluten than regular whole-wheat flour and helps ensure a tender result in delicate baked goods while providing the nutritional benefits of whole grains.
• 2. Tips: To make quick work of chopping cranberries, place whole berries in a food processor and pulse a few times until the berries are coarsely chopped.
• 3. To toast chopped pistachios, cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes. .
• Recipe Nutrition:
• Per serving: 126 calories; 4 g fat (2 g saturated fat, 1 g mono unsaturated fat); 19 mg cholesterol; 22 g carbohydrates; 2 g protein; 1 g fiber; 44 mg sodium; 58 mg potassium
• 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings
• Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1 other carbohydrate, 1/2 fat
• To Make Ahead: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month

CANDIED ORANGE

Steps:

• Cut tops and bottoms off of the orange and score the orange into quarters, cutting down only into the peel and not into the fruit. Peel the skin and pith of the orange in large pieces, use the orange for another recipe. Cut the peel into strips about 1/4-inch wide. Put the orange peel in a large saucepan with cold water to cover, bring to a boil over high heat. Then pour off the water. Repeat 1 or 2 more times depending up how assertive you want the orange peels to be. (Test kitchen liked the texture of a 3 time blanch best, it also mellowed the bitterness. But it is a matter of preference.) Remove the orange peels from the pan.
• Whisk the sugar with 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 8 to 9 minutes (If you took the sugar's temperature with a candy thermometer it would be at the soft thread stage, 230 to 234 degrees F.) Add the peels and simmer gently, reducing heat to retain a simmer. Cook until the peels get translucent, about 45 minutes. Resist the urge to stir the peels or you may introduce sugar crystals into the syrup. If necessary, swirl the pan to move the peels around. Drain the peels, (save the syrup for ice tea.) Roll the peels in sugar and dry on a rack, for 4 to 5 hours. Return to the sugar to store.
• Cook's Note: One way to use orange peels is to stuff a dried date with a piece of orange peel and almond, then dip the entire thing into dark chocolate.