Wednesday 18 December 2013

Christmas recipe: peppermint chocolate bark


This isn't really a recipe, more of an idea. I bought a giant peppermint candy cane for my Christmas food tours which I used for people to recognise me at the meeting point and follow me through Dublin's crowded streets.



The candy cane was huge, broken by the end of my tours and I didn't really fancy eating it on its own so I thought I'd make a peppermint chocolate bark to use it up.  I love the combination of dark chocolate and peppermint, it tastes a bit like an after eight. The bark looks so Christmassy so if you put a few pieces in a clear gift bag and tie with pretty ribbons they make perfect edible gifts.


Peppermint chocolate bark (about 25 small squares)

Ingredients
200g dark chocolate
100g crushed candy cane (about 7 of the small peppermint candy canes)

Material
Clear gift bags (I buy mine in Decobake or Kitchen Complements)
Silver ribbons
Red ribbons

Method
Put your peppermint candy cane in a Ziploc bag, close the bag tightly and bash the candy cane using a rolling pin. You can use the blender but I think it's it nice if you have larger pieces of candy canes rather than powder.
Cut the chocolate into chunks
Melt the chocolate over a bain-marie until smooth
Line a sheet of parchment paper on a tray
When the chocolate is melted, pour it over the parchment paper
Sprinkle the crushed candy cane all over the chocolate
Put the tray in the fridge until the chocolate sets (at least an hour)
Remove from the fridge and cut little squares/chunks of chocolate
Put the little squares into clear gift bags and tie with pretty ribbons.
They melt quite easily so don't forget to store in the refrigerator 
Give them to whoever you think has been good this year!



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