Valentine Chocolate Bark

V is for Valentine’s Day:  Valentine Chocolate Bark

Many years ago I was introduced to the recipe for this chocolate bark by a friend and colleague and it has become a regular treat in our house.  It is so simple to make and super yummy!  I seriously cannot stay out of it once I make a batch. This time I made a Valentine version for my little sweethearts.

Want to try it? Here we go:

Ingredients:

1 sleeve of saltine crackers

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 12oz package of chocolate chips – semisweet, white, dark, whatever you prefer! (I used white chocolate to make the Valentine bark).

Sprinkles, candies, or nuts for topping (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Line a jelly roll pan with foil (mine is 15.25 x 10.25 x 0.75 inches) – the important part is to have a pan with a lip rather than just a flat cookie sheet with no edges. Place crackers on the foil in a single layer.  If you line them up end to end in neat rows, one sleeve will completely cover the pan – this becomes the crust.  On the stovetop, bring the butter and brown sugar to a boil stirring regularly.  Once boiling, stir the mixture constantly until it becomes light and fluffy – about 3 minutes.  Pay careful attention to this step so that you don’t burn this yummy goodness! Pour the mixture over the crackers – spread it out using a spatula to coat the whole pan evenly.  Bake the crackers in the oven for 5-6 minutes – this allows the butter/sugar mixture to bake down into the crackers. Remove from the oven and let it sit for 3-4 minutes to cool slightly.  Next sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the crackers.  As the chocolate begins to melt, spread it evenly using your spatula to coat the entire pan.  You should not see any of the crackers – only CHOCOLATE!!!  Sprinkle your toppings into the chocolate.  Refrigerate for 1 hour and break into pieces.  Here is what mine looked like just before I broke it up:

That’s it! You’re done!  Try a piece!  Awesome, right?

There are many options for this recipe.  Try different kinds of chocolate chips.  Experiment with toppings – Sprinkles, crushed candy canes, mini M&Ms, almond slivers, walnuts, or pecans just to name a few.  Or make it naked – no toppings necessary! Let me know what your favorite combo becomes.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Enjoy!

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