First things first.The winner of the Nestle gift basket is #25-Jen, who likes it sweet and salty. Congrats! (E-mail me your address at prudencepenny@aol.com)
But wait! Have you made the Magic Mint Bark yet? Do not pass go. Do not collect $200 dollars. Go directly to the kitchen and make some. In betweeen my classes last night, I went to Target and stocked up on Nestle Dark Chocolate and Mint chips last night for $2 a bag. (Your Target should have them on sale this week too.) I bought white chocolate chips, butterscotch, milk chocolate, and semisweet too. That's really about all you need for the bark. So think: For around $2 bucks, you could make nice little neighbor gifts, all wrapped up in cellophane. Easy, fast, and fab. Oh, I know bark has been around forever, but this Nestle recipe is a revelation. No careful melting, no dishes to clean, no worrying about the correct temperature for the chocolate. All you have to do is spread a single layer of chocolate chips on a foil lined cookie sheet. Bake at 325 for about two minutes and then swirl the chips around with a knife. Sprinkle on a topping (nuts, pretzels, peppermint, sprinkles,dried fruits, etc) and then pick up your cookie sheet and wham it down on the counter. Shazam! The impact imbeds the toppings just enough so that they remain visible but stay put. Last night, I tried making some Chocolate-Peanut Butter Pretzel Bark. It honestly took all of three minutes. All I did was spread the chips on a foil lined baking sheet and place them in the oven for two minutes.
West broke up some pretzels for me while the chips were melting.
I sprinkled the pretzels on top of the melted mass and smacked the cookie sheet on the counter. This is what I've got.
I've ravaged a few edges (who could blame me?) and the stuff is sweet and salty and heavenly. It's like an inside out chocolate dipped pretzel only better, since it's more chocolate than pretzel. You better believe there's going to be a few more variations made today. Click here for the original Magic Mint Bark Recipe from Nestle-then use your imagination.
If all goes well, I'll be back this weekend with Smore's Bark and Peppermint Marshmallow Chocolate Bark and Milk Chocolate Cereal Bark. Somebody stop me before I go too crazy!
It's a Christmas Miracle! A recipe that requires hardly any clean up, taste delicious, and is inexpensive?! Wow. That's all I can say. Wow.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to make this recipe for all of my neighborhood Christmas gifts. It sounds perfect Prudy! Thank you!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You have saved me by sharing this easy recipe!! Merry Christmas to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Pru! Now I know exactly what my neighbors are getting for Christmas this year!
ReplyDeleteLOL I probably sound like a broken record of the last three comments, but this really is amazing! I always want something simple an easy (but SUPER cute and tasty) to give neighbors, teachers, friends, and this is perfect!! :) I'm actually excited to make this....
ReplyDeleteThat bark reminds me of a Take Five bar. Yummy! What an easy neighbor gift. I can't wait to hear about any other combos you invent.
ReplyDeleteI am SO excited to give this recipe a whirl! I just need to get the kid's to hit a few candy canes with a hammer while I melt the chocolate chips! Your a life saver, Prudy!
ReplyDeleteWow, this does look insanely easy. Great for Christmas parties. I normally hate pretzels, but suddenly I love them when covered in chocolate.
ReplyDeleteare you kidding me? that peanut butter chocolate bark with pretzels looks amazing. i wish i'd looked before sunday morning because i want some now and am not sure if i have all of the necessary ingredients. wow.
ReplyDeleteI bet that taste so good. I like all the ingredients.
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