Chocolate Bark Variations

Preparation 15 Minutes

Cook 5 MIN | CHILL: 1 HR Minutes

Serves

Method

Place the chocolate in a large heat-proof bowl over a pot of gently simmering water. Cook until the chocolate is almost entirely melted, stirring frequently.

Cover a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a silicone or rubber spatula to spread chocolate evenly over the centre area of the baking sheet—aim for about ¼″ thickness

Sprinkle the nuts, seeds & fruit evenly over the chocolate. Lightly use your palms to press the toppings into the chocolate.

Place the pan on a flat surface in the refrigerator to set.

Once the chocolate is completely hardened, use your hands to break it into about 25 pieces. Serve immediately, or cover and store at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Ingredients

400g quality chocolate

3/4 cup toppings. Choose from any of the following, and chop or crush them if they’re large.

Sunbeam Nuts: almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, macadamias, cashews

Sunbeam Seeds: pepitas

Sunbeam Fruits: Sultanas, Raisins, Currants, Glace Cherries

Recipe Collection

Christmas Chocolate Fruit Truffles

  1. Heat cream in small saucepan until just below boiling. Remove from heat and add chocolate. Set aside for 1 minute, then stir until melted.

  2. Combine 1/2 cup of the currants and half of the hazelnuts in a bowl and set aside for decorating. Place remaining currants and salt in a bowl, pour over the chocolate mixture and stir to combine. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm enough to roll.

  3. Scoop tablespoons of the chocolate mixture and use clean hands to roll into balls. To decorate, roll balls in the reserved currant and hazelnut mixture, remaining hazelnuts or coconut. Store in the refrigerator and allow to soften slightly before serving.

Handmade Chocolate Bars

  1. Line the base and sides of 2, 10 x 20cm loaf pans, or 4, 6 x 12cm mini loaf pans.
  2. For topping choice Rum ‘n Raisin, combine raisins, rum and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside until required.
  3. Place chocolate in a glass bowl and heat in the microwave in 30 second increments until half chocolate is melted. Stir chocolate constantly until all the chocolate is melted.
  4. Pour chocolate evenly between pans and whilst still in melted form, working quickly, decorate with preferred toppings. Allow to set at room temperature and store in an airtight container when set. Wrap and give away as gifts.

Sultana & White Chocolate Shortbread

Beat the butter and sugar until creamy, approximately 2-3 minutes, add the sifted flour, when almost combined add the sultanas, choc chips & continue to beat with the flat beaters until a firm dough is obtained, be aware that it does take time to bring it together. If you knead by hand it will take approximately 4 minutes of kneading.
Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes or even overnight.
Remove the dough from the fridge, and if very firm, gently knead, place the dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper and roll to ¼ inch thickness, cut out with your feastive cookie cutters, place on the prepared cookie sheets. Refrigerate the cookies while the oven is pre-heating, for about 15 minutes.
Pre-heat the oven to 160C. Line 1 or 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Bake the cookies for approximately 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, let sit 2-3 minutes on the cookie sheet then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy!

Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge

  1. Line a 20cm x 20cm slice tin. Combine condensed milk and butter in a saucepan until heated through and butter has melted. Remove from heat and add chopped chocolate. Stirring until smooth.
  2. Add cherries to chocolate mixture and mix well. Pour into prepared pan and tap on the bench gently so the surface is smooth. Sprinkle with hazelnuts and refrigerate for 1 hour until firm.
  3. For serving, remove from pan and trim the edges. Cut into squares and package up to give as gifts.

Traditional Christmas Puddings

  1. Combine fruit, cranberry sauce, brandy and spices in a large bowl, cover and leave to stand overnight.
  2. Brush 10 x 1 cup pudding basins (ramekins) or one 10 cup basin, with melted butter and line the base with baking paper.
  3. Mix eggs, butter, brown sugar and flour until well combined, then stir through fruit mixture.  Spoon mixture into prepared basins
  4. Cut a large circle of foil and baking paper, and place over each pudding, foil side up. Secure tightly with kitchen string.
  5. Place puddings in a large saucepan and add enough boiling water to fill halfway up the sides.  Cover and bring to the boil, reduce the heat and cook for  1 ¼ hours for the small puddings or 5 hours for the large pudding, replenishing water when needed.
  6. Remove from water and store well wrapped until Christmas.

Easter Rocky Road

Place almonds in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 3-4 mins, stopping every 30 seconds to stir, until nuts are lightly toasted.
Grease a 20cm square cake pan and line the base and sides with baking paper.
In a large bowl combine almonds, raisins, marshmallows, cherries, coconut and 200g of the Easter eggs; toss to combine.
Place chocolate into a microwave safe bowl and microwave on medium for 2 mins. Stir every 30 seconds or until melted. Pour 1/4 of the chocolate into the base of the prepared pan; sprinkle the nut and marshmallow mixture over the top. Pour remaining chocolate evenly over the top. Tap pan gently to remove any air bubbles from the chocolate, then sprinkle the top with extra almonds, raisins, coconut flakes and remaining 100g Easter eggs. Refrigerate until set then cut the square into quarters and each square into half to form 8 rectangular pieces.

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