Beautiful Chocolate Bark-part 3 Gifts from the Kitchen
What toppings do you like on your chocolate??
I am not sure there is anyone on earth that loves chocolate more than me. I’ve shared many times in cooking classes, that I eat chocolate every single day without fail! There is just something about that dark chocolate goodness that fills my heart with joy!
That’s why I’m so excited to share this gift from the kitchen idea with you today. My Beautiful Chocolate Bark is so simple to make and can be personalized with hundreds of topping combinations!
To begin, just melt chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between. Use the LEAST amount of heat possible to melt the chocolate because the cocoa liquor can slip out of emulsion if it get too hot.
For this recipe and practically all recipes that require melted chocolate I use Ghirardelli’s 60% cocoa. It melts easily and smoothly and is very easy to work with. Once melted, just spread the chocolate on a parchment lined baking sheet and spinking on the toppings of your choice. Just be sure the toppings you choose are dry, no fresh fruit here! Beautiful Chocolate Bark calls for dried apricots and pistachios, an unbeatable combination! How would crushed peppermints be this time of year?
One word of caution, since we are not tempering the chocolate, keep it refrigerated until serving or gifting the chocolate, because at room temperature it becomes limp.
Note in this photo, the bark also has dried cherries
Beautiful Chocolate Bark
1 16 ounce package of Ghirardelli 60 % coco chocolate chips
1 cup dried apricots coarsely chopped
1 cup pistachios coarsely chopped.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment or waxed paper. Melt chocolate in microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals. Spread melted chocolate on parchment paper creating a thin sheet of chocolate. Sprinkle on apricots and pistachios. Slightly press fruit and nuts into melted chocolate. Chill in refrigerator until set. Break into pieces.
I hope you’ll try my Beautiful Chocolate Bark-Gifts from the Kitchen and please tell me what toppings you selected! XO Lorie
I’ll be teaching a class featuring all things Chocolate in February. If you have a passion for chocolate, I hope you’ll join us!
An Evening of Pure Chocolate
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, our minds naturally drift to Chocolate. But did you ever think about making beautiful chocolate morsels right in your home kitchen? Lorie will lead you on a journey that includes a tidbit of the history of chocolate before diving into this silky, sweet, confection favored by all. We will start the fun by sipping a French 76 Cocktail while we wind our way through this amazing evening of chocolate. We will make and eat 2 savory dishes that have chocolate as a key ingredient including mouthwatering Shredded Chicken Tacos served with crave able Chocolate Cherry Salad. Then we will shift to pretty chocolate treats to make and share with all your loves. First, up will be a gorgeous Chocolate Raspberry Tart sure to wow any Valentine and my German Chocolate Cupcakes will leave you speechless. Not to be outdone by creamy Dark Chocolate Pot de Crème with Cream and Toffee Chunks. We will prepare elegant French Chocolate Bark with tons of pretty goodness piled on top. Grand Marnier Chocolate Madeleines will irresistible. And each guest will have a sample box to take pretty uneaten treats home to relish and share. Join me for an evening of chocolate.
