Peppermint bark is a seasonal favorite everyone loves! This super easy recipe assembles quickly and looks spectacular with little effort. The secret to outstanding peppermint bark is in the quality of chocolate. You can pick and choose – if your crowd is mainly teens who eat quickly and move on, use the easiest available chocolate such as almond bark or melting wafers. If you are gifting pepper mint bark or serving it to, say, your boss and co-workers, anyone who will savor and appreciate the creamy texture and holiday flavors, choose a higher quality. If you prefer, you can use all dark, semi-sweet or all white chocolate for this recipe. Festive Peppermint Bark Print Prep time 15 mins Total time 15 mins Crushed peppermint chunks and smooth, creamy ... [Read More]
chocolate
Double Chocolate Toasted Almond Clusters
Double Chocolate Toasted Almond Clusters are so very easy to make and yet look super elegant and gift worthy! Toasting the almonds takes a little extra time and effort, but so worth it for the extra flavor and crunch. Toast them ahead of time, if you want, while baking dinner one night or another batch of goodies. Only ten minutes in a 350 degree oven makes a big difference. When adding white melting chocolate to slow cooker, break into pieces at the score. Or some brands come in little “cubes” in individual cups. Easier to melt than a big chunk. Baker’s German Chocolate is a sweet baking chocolate – also scored to break into easy to melt chunks. The chocolate chips add a different flavor to the mix. I have also used dark chocolate chips--but I like dark chocolate. Use the low ... [Read More]
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls -- a yummy takeoff on a certain peanut butter filled chocolate cup. They are easy to make with only five ingredients and go together very quickly. Plan for time - and space in the freezer - so they set up firmly before dipping in melted chocolate. You can use melted chocolate chips for dipping. I prefer the melting chocolate wafers with a bit of coconut oil added. I've also used almond bark with coconut oil. Practice does help! (These Peppermint Patties were my first attempt at dipping candy.) Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls Print Prep time 20 mins Total time 20 mins Creamy peanut butter filling wrapped in chocolate. Author: A Pinch of Joy by Charlene Vance Recipe type: cookie Serves: 30 Ingredients 1 ½ ... [Read More]
Chocolate and Cream No Bake Cookies
Chocolate and Cream Cookies are a fun addition to a cookie tray. If you are talking and laughing as I usually am when faced with a cookie tray – we’re talking choices of cookies and chocolate here!! - you could do a double take. Not meat, just a fun soft cookie!! Would you eat it if it were called Salami Cookie? You’ll need two fully packets of graham crackers. There are nine crackers in each packet. I didn’t open the packets, just started crushing them with my hands. Once you get them started, the crackers will breakdown fairly quickly. Don’t worry about crushing them evenly. You’ll want some larger pieces about ½ inch square, some nice crumbs and everything in between. Dump them in the mixing bowl, with 8 ounces of cream cheese (unwrapped) on top to soften slightly. Mix ... [Read More]
Buttery Brownie Bark
For a brownie lover, brownie bark seemed a no brainer. Who wouldn’t go for that rich chocolate brownie taste in a different form? Especially with toffee on one pan full and slivered almonds on the other. Turns out Bytes was not a fan. He had his mouth set for the rich chocolate flavor, but also for the fudgy texture. What he got was crisp and crunchy. He felt cheated. I didn’t care because I got chocolate and crunch, both of which are high on my list. Wheels will eat anything that looks good so both the toffee topped bites and the ones with almond slivers disappeared in short order and without discrimination. That was the first time I made brownie bark. The second time I made them, I found a better buttery recipe. I made one batch just a bit thicker when spreading the batter in ... [Read More]
Brownie Baked Oatmeal
Brownie Baked Oatmeal is wonderful for a special breakfast. Soo decadent and delightful with 8 grams of protein and, with milk, 32 carbs per serving. When Valentine’s Day falls in the middle of the week, it is sometimes hard to find time to celebrate. Make this the day before and refrigerate before baking 20 minutes on Valentine’s morning – a special glow all day long! Or celebrate birthdays – or acceptance into college of choice – or making the cheer squad – or any other special occasion. Customize Brownie Baked Oatmeal with your choice of chocolate chips. We like dark chocolate so that’s what I usually choose. If all I have on hand is semi-sweet, that’s the choice. Both good. I’ve not tried white chocolate chips, but I bet they would be good and have some “visual interest” , ... [Read More]
