Ritz Cracker Chocolate Cherry Bark: Holiday Cooking

Friends and family absolutely love to get surprise packages in the mail, and it’s even more special when you add a personal touch of a home-made treat. The problem with many baked goods is that they don’t ship well if they are crumbly or gooey. This chocolate bark is packed with holiday flavors, is easy to make, and is easy to ship your loved ones without a mess. Sit back and savor the thank-you’s (along with a little leftover bark).

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Tips for Using Candy Thermometers

Sometimes candy-making is avoided because using a candy thermometer is a kitchen tool that isn’t used very often.  I rarely make candy, but the recipe below was easy and turned out great the first time around.

4 main things to be aware of that will help immensely:

1. You have to work fast once the candy has reached the right temperature, so make sure and have all utensils, potholders & baking sheets prepped and ready;
2. The candy gets really, really hot so be careful not to get any on your skin (it will burn).  Make sure the thermometer is secured well on the pot (an alligator clip works well for the round thermometers) so you don’t have to be moving it around;
3. make sure the pot is the right size so the thermometer reaches down to the candy syrup;
4. try to get someone to help you when it is time to pour it out onto a baking sheet.

More Ideas for Holiday Care Packages

Try this Mexican spiced peanut brittle

Or try this Chocolate Pistachio Quick Bread for Gifts

Recipe for Ritz Cracker Chocolate Bark

Ritz Cracker Chocolate Bark

This is a beautiful and unique holiday candy recipe that includes golden Ritz crackers, chocolate and dried cherries. With the help of a candy thermometer it is actually quite easy and it ships well in holiday care packages

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Servings 12

Calories 421

Author Dorothy Stainbrook

Equipment

• baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Fairly deep sauce pot
• Candy thermometer

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• 14 oz. Ritz crackers
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup honey
• ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 6 oz. bittersweet chocolate melted
• ½ cup dried cherries tart cherries
• ¼ cup roasted hazelnuts chopped (can substitute other nuts)
• 2 Tbsp. chocolate chips
• 2 tsp Maldon sea salt or other flake salt

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Line a 10 x 14 inch baking sheet with parchment paper and using your hands, crumble the Ritz crackers onto the sheet to form a layer of crackers that extends to within about 1 inch of the baking sheet rims.  Toast in the oven about 10 minutes, or until golden brown.  Remove from oven and let cool.
  14 oz. Ritz crackers
• In a saucepan that is deep enough to fit a candy thermometer onto the side of the pan and still reach the bottom, heat up the sugar, honey and butter over medium-high, stirring occasionally until butter is melted.
  1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• Secure the thermometer onto the side of the saucepan (an alligator clip will hold some models of thermometers, but make sure it is secured).  Cook the mixture over med-high to high heat, whisking frequently, until  thermometer reads 300° (about 8-10 minutes).
• Working quickly, turn off heat, stir in baking soda(it will bubble up), and pour out as evenly as possible over the Ritz cracker sheet.
  1 tsp baking soda
• Cool completely.  Melt the chocolate and drizzle over the cooled cracker bark.  Immediately top with cherries, nuts, chocolate chips and sea salt (sprinkle the toppings onto the melted chocolate so they will stick).
  6 oz. bittersweet chocolate, 1/2 cup dried cherries, 1/4 cup roasted hazelnuts, 2 Tbsp. chocolate chips, 2 tsp Maldon sea salt
• Cool until chocolate has hardened (about 15 minutes) and break bark into pieces.  Wrap and keep chilled to store.

Nutrition

Calories: 421kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 4gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 776mgPotassium: 139mgFiber: 3gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 429IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 73mgIron: 3mg

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