Saturday, December 18, 2010

Peppermint bark & 10 min. fudge recipes

PEPPERMINT BARK

Super easy. Ingredients and instructions are photographed and below. A couple things to remember when doing this.


1) I don't measure the candy canes. I just use the one box of small candy canes.
2) when you crush the canes, lay a towel down. With the canes in 2 ziploc bags, pound the crud out of em with a meat tenderizer's FLAT side. Make the crushed pieces as small or big as you like.
3) When melting the white pieces, I use the microwave. I melt in 30 second increments for about 2.5 to 3 minutes total. Here's the key. I also add 1 Tbsp. of Canola oil 3 times during the process (after first 30 seconds, then second 30 seconds, then third) stirring each time. This helps keep the chocolate from burning during the process. NOTE: this is only for microwave melting and is a trick I learned from my mom. Just do not use too much.
4) once all chocolate is melted, stir well, add crushed candy canes and peppermint extract (1 tsp or LESS to taste.)
5) Lastly, spread out on cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Once chilled you can flip sheet upside down over counter and bark will come right out. Just peel the paper off. WARNING: Do not use aluminum foil as a substitute, it sometimes tears and sticks to the chocolate.
Once out, break into different sized pieces and enjoy.


FUDGE
This recipe is inside the BAKER'S SemiSweet chocolate box. You need 2 boxes, 2 tsp. vanilla extract, 1 can sweetened, condensed milk. You can add chopped walnuts if you like.
Break chocolate into pieces and place in microwave safe bowl and add condensed milk.
Microwave on high 2.5 to 3 minutes total. Remove and stir well. The chocolate will melt with the hot milk. Once it starts to thicken, add the vanilla. Stir a bit more then pour and spread into a lightly greased (I just use butter spray and it works fine and you don't taste it) 8x5 inch pan.
Put in fridge to cool for a couple hours. Once hardened, remove and cut into 2" pieces.  Enjoy!

5 comments:

Myra said...

That Peppermint Bark sounds wonderfully different, and so easy to make! My kind of stuff!!! thanks for sharing the recipe!!! 8-)

Marg said...

Yum! Thanks for sharing these recipes. The Peppermint Bark looks like a great recipe, and both recipes are nice and easy and quick.

Shay said...

Thankyou !

That fudge looks pretty easy....maybe I'll do some of that. It sure beats standing over a stove constantly stirring for 15 minutes with a sugar thermometer.

Anonymous said...

Forget easy!!! Make these people work at making the best cookies EVER! KOLACZKI (Kol-ach-kees).
I hope you will have some fudge left over for Christmas?
What do you want us to bring, other than my fantastic photo skills??

Bean

Regina said...

Must.Have.Fudge. Lucky for you the snow storm has made me a wimp and I won't be driving there today so your fudge is safe and sound. Looks like we'll just be there for a day or two.