Chocolate Bark & Kris

With Hallie Baker

Once again Hallie Baker of Turtle Alley Chocolates shows you how easy it is to make your own candy. One of the easiest chocolate candies to do is a simple bark. You can make it with anything you like, such as nuts, dried fruit, and Rice Krispies.

One of the easiest things to do with tempered chocolate is to make a simple bark. You can make it with anything you like, such as nuts, dried fruit, Rice Krispies, etc. This recipe uses the Rice Krispies. Feel free to break up the finished sheet of bark by hand.

The countertop you do this on is important. To cool the bark evenly, a stone countertop or a marble board is optimum. Even simulated stone counters are better than other materials.

Ingredients

A bowl of tempered chocolate
Rice Crispies

Tools:
Silicon Spatula
Knife

Instructions

1. Toss whatever you’d like into your bowl of chocolate - nuts, fruit, Rice Krispies, (approximately 40% mixer to 60% chocolate)
2. Fold in gently, and spread an even layer on parchment paper.
3. Drag your fingers through the surface to make a design, but also to make sure its fairly uniform in thickness.
4. As this sets up, you may cut with a knife into small pieces, or wait until it fully hardens and break it up by hand.

Recipe courtesy of Hallie Baker, Turtle Alley Chocolates, 2009.

Proprietor, "Turtle Alley Handmade Chocolates." In her own words; "From the silkiest fudge, creamiest caramel, light, fluffy truffles and toffees enrobed in the finest chocolate and crushed nuts, to turtles (featured on NPR's "The Splendid Table") in all combinations: cashew, pecan, almond, or macadamia, in milk, dark, or white chocolate - clusters, exquisite barks, and original signature confections, Turtle Alley Chocolates tempts the sweet-lover in all of us. Located in historic Gloucester, Massachusetts, with a second store in Salem, Massachusetts, Turtle Alley's reputation for warm, personal service and the finest, freshest hand-made chocolates is based on these simple principles: use natural ingredients, finest grades of chocolate, real butter, fresh cream, imported nuts and spices, and handcraft small batches for the freshest taste experience available anywhere. It's not just our motto, it's our mission. And while we offer a vast array of traditional fare, Turtle Alley is also known for new and innovative taste combinations: smoked hot pepper barks, white chocolate blueberry cashew turtles, cherries steeped in brandy or gran marnier, chocolate covered ginger, and -- our very own "Umba" -- the perfect combination of coconut, caramel, and roasted almonds. Ask what's new as we're always cooking up fresh taste sensations."