Minty Chocolate Bark {12 Days of Christmas Treats}

This is the easiest candy to make, I promise!  All you need is some chocolate candy melts and crushed candy or flavored chocolate chips.

I get more requests for this treat than any other I make all year.  Which is funny because all it requires is a microwave!  This year I made peppermint bark and Andes mint bark.  I love minty chocolate.  York peppermint patties and Junior mints are some of my favorite candies.  It's also the only way I'll eat dark chocolate.

The Andes mint bark can be made by buying a box of the after dinner mints and unwrapping each individual chocolate and crushing it or you can save yourself a lot of time and just go to the baking aisle to see if your store carries Andes baking chips.  They also make Andes peppermint crunch chips but I couldn't find them this year.  Bummer.  They're yummy too!

I like to layer two different colored candy melts when I make my bark.  It looks prettier.  To layer the chocolate just pour your first layer and let that harden up either on the counter or put it in the fridge to hasten the process. 

Then melt your second chocolate and pour over the 1st layer. Have whatever flavored topping you want to use ready to place on top of your last layer.  If it hardens up too much your toppings won't stick!

After everything has hardened up, remove your chocolate from the pan and use a sharp knife to  chop up the bark in pieces.

To make peppermint bark all you need is some leftover candy cane for your chocolate topping.  Crushing the candy canes can be a fun task for little hands.  If you live in apartment, wait until everyone is awake before attacking the candy with a rolling pin.  Unless you like grumpy roommates and neighbors.

Chocolate Candy Bark

Peppermint Bark:

1 12 oz bag of white chocolate candy melts

1 12 oz bag of dark chocolate candy melts

2/3 cup crushed peppermint candy cane

2 tbs vegetable shortening

or 

 

Chocolate Mint Bark:

1 12 oz bag of green candy melts

1 12 oz bag of dark chocolate mint candy melts

2/3 cup crushed Andes mint candies or Andes mint baking chips

2 TBS vegetable shortening

Melt candy melts in microwave safe bowl or measuring cup in microwave set to 50% power 1-2 minutes.  Stir every 30 seconds.  Do not overcook!  

Pour melted candy melts into a parchment lined 9x13 cake pan.  Let each layer harden before pouring next layer on top.

Top final layer with desired candy topping.  Let candy harden.  Break into pieces.  Enjoy!

Helpful tips:

Line your pan with some parhment paper leaving overhanging edges to make it easy to remove the choclate from the pan.  

If it's hard to remove from the pan, put it in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes.  The chocolate will shrink from the pan edges making it easier to remove.

I find that adding a tablespoon of shortening to per a bag of chocolate candy melts (I use Wilton) makes it easier to pour it in an even layer

Thump the pan on the counter to even out chocolate if it's all lumpy bumpy

Mock Toffee {12 Days of Christmas Treats}

My favorite part of Christmas is getting to hang out with family and look at old family photos.  It's amazing to see a picture and have no memory what so ever of that event but to know it had to have happened because this picture exists.

This is a Christmas I don't remember.  My Mom and Dad look so young!  I do know it was taken in Germany.  My family was stationed at an airbase called Bittberg for 3 years and it is where my little brother was born.  I don't have very many memories of Germany but I'll occasionally I'll get a whiff of new car smell and recall the new VW Bus I got to ride in.  It had a sink!

I really don't remember sitting on Santa's lap.  Ever.  I do know that Mom probably had me sleep on those pink hair roller things to get that much curl in my hair because my hair was super straight until about middle school when I decided to perm it.

Best Christmas ever!  I even remember the smell of the paints and my Dad just threw away one of the Little Tykes chairs to my play table while cleaning out the basement.  I was sad to see it go.  This is also the year I stopped believing in Santa Claus.  I followed my Dad out to the car and I saw that kitchen play set when he opened the trunk.  He didn't know I was there or that the toy was in the trunk still!  Oops!  My next door neighbor friend got the same kitchen set.  We loved playing house.

I'll share some more Christmas memories in my next post but before you move on I want to share this mock toffee recipe.  It has no special memories attached to it but it is yummy!

This is a lot easier to make than traditional toffee because you don't need a candy thermometer.  I keep meaning to buy one but I really don't have the desire to make candies often.  Unless it's fudge.  I love me some fudge!

This can be made with saltine crackers but I just use graham crackers.  I'm betting the saltine crackers would lend a salted caramel taste though!

The butter and sugar get boiled up good in a little pot.  I just make sure that all the sugar is dissolved.  DO NOT OVERCOOK!  Burned caramel is yucky.

Pour the sugar and butter mixture over your crackers of choice. It really looks unappetizing.

Then stick it in the oven for a little bit.  It will still looks unappetizing.  I promise, it gets better!

As soon as it gets out of the oven sprinkle on some chocolate chips.  The heat of the candy will melt the chips allowing you to spread it out evenly over the crackers.

If you want, sprinkle on some toasted nuts.  I used almonds.

After everything hardens up, store in an airtight container.  It will last a pretty long time but I'm not sure how long because it disappears pretty quickly around here.

Mock Toffee

adapted from Smitten Kitchen

10 Graham Cracker Squares

1/2 cup butter, cubed

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Line a cookie sheet with foil, spray with Pam or coat with butter

Place crackers side by side to cover cookie sheet

Combine butter and sugar in a small heavy bottomed pot.  Cook over medium heat until bubbly about 3-4 minutes.

Pour over crackers; bake 7 minutes at 375 F.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Allow chips to melt and then spread chocolate over crackers with a spatula.  Sprinkle with nuts usuing spatula to press them in.

When cool, break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

Noodle Clusters {12 Days of Christmas Treats}

These Noodle Cluster thingies are my husband's favorite Christmas treat.  Honestly, I'd never had them until I met him and was introduced to his family.  HE claims it just isn't Christmas without them and since his Mom gave me the recipe I figured I better make him some.

I did make some alterations to her recipe.  No way was I melting the chips over the stove.  Just.  No.  That's what microwaves are for.  It also called for peanuts.  Hmm, how about some peanut butter instead?  Yum, peanut butter!  I guess if you really like biting into nuts you could use chunky peanut butter instead or add in some chopped peanuts.

I have found out that these are also called Haystacks in some circles.  I just find it weird that something that is usually a Chop Suey topping can be transformed into something so sweet and delicious.  Who comes up with these things?

Noodle Clusters are really easy to make.  In a medium sized microwave safe bowl combine all your ingredients. Microwave on 50% power 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until all melty and smooth.

Add in the chow mein noodles and stir to combine.

Drop spoonfuls to cool and harden onto waxed paper.  Then eat till your stuffed!  Or you could share them.  I guess.

Noodle Cluster

adapted from a recipe given to me by Peter's Mom

12 oz chcolate chips

12 oz butterscotch chips

6 oz Chow Mein noodles

2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

In microwave safe bowl, combine ingredients.  Melt in microwave at 50% power 1-2 minutes stirring at 30 second intervals until ingredients are melted and smooth.  Add noodles, stirring to coat evenly. Drop by tablespoonful onto wax paper to harden.  Store in airtight container.