Hello,

The festive season is upon us, and today we’d like to share an easy recipe that’s perfect for the time of year – sweet and salty chocolate bark, a decadent treat made with dried cranberries and salted pistachios.

sweet and salty CHOCOLATE BARK

Ingredients

• 16oz (450g) good chocolate, chopped – plain, semisweet, bittersweet, or white
• 8oz (200g) shelled, salted pistachios
• 4oz (100g) dried cranberries
• 4oz (100g) of any of the other variations below, if desired

Method

• Melt the chopped chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water
• Line a baking tray with parchment paper
• Pour the melted chocolate on to the paper and spread into an 8x10in (20 x 25cm) rectangle
• Sprinkle the pistachios and cranberries evenly over the chocolate, and press them in lightly
• Set aside until firm, about two hours
• Cut or break the bark into about 16 pieces
• Serve at room temperature

tips & variations

Tips

• Use good chocolate chips rather than chopping chocolate bars
• Melt the chocolate in the microwave. Use a microwave bowl and stir every 30 seconds until just melted.
• Draw an 8×10 in (20 x 25cm) rectangle on the parchment paper, using a pencil, and turn it over so the pencil does not touch the chocolate. The pencil will be visible and give you a guide for spreading the chocolate.
• If you are in a hurry, cool the chocolate in the fridge. Just keep an eye on it as this can cause a light condensation on the surface.

Variations

The red and green of the cranberries and pistachios make for a festive look, but you can add, mix and match any of the following:

• Almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans
• Dried apricots, cherries
• Candied citrus, ginger
• Coconut flakes, or shredded
• Crushed candy canes
• Pretzels
• A little flaky sea salt

Pop the chocolate bark in a cellophane bag or pretty box* and tie it with ribbon, and you have a perfect gift for anyone on your list – that’s if you can resist eating it all yourself.

For other festive recipes, see our cranberry treats, chestnut hummus, or look for the chocolate lime thins on page 36 of our book, Little Ideas for Living Life Well.

Enjoy!

Sam and Claire

*To make your own boxes, see Nancy Birtwhistle’s post here on Instagram