DIY Cranberry Delight White Chocolate Bark

Tweet this!

Happy November, one and all! Now that Halloween is done and dusted, my mind is already focused on the holidays. I've done a number of healthy holiday recipes (which you really should try, just sayin'), but today I'm kicking off the first month of the holiday season with a not-so-healthy recipe!

I made these "Cranberry Delight" white chocolate bars to emulate Starbucks' even less healthy version. This recipe is extremely easy to make and is not very time consuming, and it keeps quite well in a glass jar, so it is a great gift idea for friends and family. Going to your in-laws for Thanksgiving? This will make a wonderful host gift!

Cranberry Delight White Chocolate Bark

Ingredients:

• 2 cups white chocolate chips (white chocolate bars or white almond bark will also work)
• 1 tsp olive oil (optional)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries (this would also be delicious with dried cherries)
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds

Directions:

1. Line a pan (preferably a deeper pan, like a cake pan) with parchment paper. If possible, try to make sure the paper lines the sides as well. If you need to use multiple sheets to do this, go ahead.
2. Melt chocolate in a medium or large bowl. Put the bowl in the microwave for 90 seconds, then stir before putting it back in the microwave for 15 second intervals (only do one or two of these 15 second intervals, and be sure to stir well in between). Once most of the lumps are gone after stirring, stop microwave intervals and stir until the lumps dissolve.
3. Pour melted chocolate onto the parchment paper. Spread and even out the chocolate using a large spoon.
4. Sprinkle cranberries and almonds on top.
5. Place in the freezer to cool until hardened. Remove from the freezer and wait an hour before breaking into small pieces.

DIY Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Tweet this!

A no-nonsense way to cure your cravings. Go ahead. Indulge yourself.

Years ago, I babysat for a family that seemed to always have a tin of chocolate bark sitting out. In between playing with the kids and loading the dishwasher, it was part of my tradition to sneak a piece. It made my night.

From the initial snap as you break off a morsel to the melting sensation as the chocolate dissolves in your mouth... sometimes something simple is hard to beat.

Especially when you add crushed peppermint on top. Which I obviously had to do.

I know what you're thinking. And no, this won't ruin your new years resolution diet. At least, not if you have self control and use the right ingredients. Here's why:

First, dark chocolate is good for you. It can cure your sweet tooth without causing a spike in your blood sugar -- which means it won't leave you high and dry thirty minutes later, which would cause you to eat more. Add to that the powerful antioxidant qualities of dark chocolate (and a laundry list of other benefits which you can read about here) and you've got yourself a good deal.

The key? Make sure you're finding dark chocolate. Most store bought barks don't use dark chocolate, and frequently companies add oils to the mixture to help keep the melted chocolate texture consistent. Those changes degrade the health benefits while adding extra calories. So, take it from me: find some dark chocolate to melt!

If you don't eat it all, this is a great treat to share. Bring it into the office and leave it out for your coworkers, or place it in a beautiful glass jar to give as a gift.

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Recipe Size: Fills one pan
Serving Size: ~2 pieces
Ingredients:

• 3 cups dark chocolate morsels (or chopped up)
• 1 cup soft peppermint - Peppermint can be in stick or small candy form, and can use soft or hard peppermint. soft peppermint is easier to break, so if you can find it, I suggest that.
• Parchment paper

Directions:

1. Line a pan (preferably a deeper pan, like a cake pan) with parchment paper. If possible, try to make sure the paper lines the sides as well. If you need to use multiple sheets to do this, go ahead.
2. Break peppermint into small, crumble size pieces. To do this, I used sticks of softer peppermint and put them inside three layers of plastic bags. Then, I placed them on a wood cutting board and used a mallet (a blunt meat tenderizer would also work) to hammer the pieces until they break into small pieces.
3. Melt chocolate in a medium or large bowl. Put the bowl in the microwave for 90 seconds, then stir before putting it back in the microwave for 15 second intervals (only do one or two of these 15 second intervals, and be sure to stir well in between). Once most of the lumps are gone after stirring, stop microwave intervals and stir until the lumps dissolve.
4. Pour melted chocolate onto the parchment paper. Spread and even out the chocolate using a large spoon.
5. Sprinkle peppermint pieces on top. If you want the pieces to be deeper in the bark, feel free to press them down with clean fingers.
6. Place in the freezer to cool until hardened. Remove from the freezer and wait an hour before breaking into small pieces.

Enjoy!
P.S. What's your favorite wintertime snack?

White Chocolate Peanut Clusters

Tweet this!

[Click here for more Healthy Holiday recipes for a guilt-free holiday season!]

[Click here for more Healthy Holiday recipes for a guilt-free holiday season!]

Thanksgiving? Check.

Christmas? On deck.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Holidays often call for bark. No, not like what your dog does all morning. Bark as in hard chocolate pieces with peppermint or cranberries or nuts mixed in. Yum. But also... ouch. Ouch on the diet. Fail.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes
Yield: 20-30 clusters
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Cups White Chocolate (or White Almond Bark)
• 2 teaspoons Canola Oil
• 2 Cups Peanuts

Cooking Directions:

1. Melt white chocolate / almond bark in the microwave for 90 seconds. Add canola oil and stir. Then continue to microwave and stir in 15 second intervals.
2. Remove from microwave and dump into a larger bowl (large enough for chocolate and peanuts).
3. Add peanuts and stir/toss for 1 minute.
4. Using a large spoon, drop clusters onto a piece of parchment paper. Let air dry for 3 minutes.

[Click here for more Healthy Holiday recipes for a guilt-free holiday season!]

[Click here for more Healthy Holiday recipes for a guilt-free holiday season!]

[Click here for more Healthy Holiday recipes for a guilt-free holiday season!]

[Click here for more Healthy Holiday recipes for a guilt-free holiday season!]

[Click here for more Healthy Holiday recipes for a guilt-free holiday season!]

[Click here for more Healthy Holiday recipes for a guilt-free holiday season!]

[Click here for more Healthy Holiday recipes for a guilt-free holiday season!]

[Click here for more Healthy Holiday recipes for a guilt-free holiday season!]

100 Calorie Cake Balls?! Shut The Front Door!

Tweet this!

Me: “Did you know you can make delicious cake balls for 100 calories?”

You: “Shut the front door!”

It's the truth, I tell ya!  These are yellow cake balls, aka moist (hate that word) yellow cake truffles dipped in chocolate bark.  Mmmm!  Amaze-balls. Just be sure to make a lot of them.  Last time I made them, the entire batch was gone within 24 hours.  Thanks, roommates!  No, but really.  Sharing is caring... right?

Anyway, my friend David asked me for this recipe after hearing they were dee-lishh-ious.  $5 bucks says whoever loved and therefore suggested them had NO idea they were 100cal.  The evil health nut strikes again.  Muahahaha.

What you need:

• 1 box Yellow cake mix (I used Sugar-Free)
• 2 bananas (to be substituted for the eggs and oil in the cake mix directions – if you’re not going for a low fat recipe, skip the bananas and use the eggs/oil).
• Water (Pretty sure you know what this is/where to find it.  If not, send me an email.  We have some talking to do).
• 1 package Cream cheese (I used 1/3 Fat)
• 1 package Melting Chocolate (for melting – I used the almond bark squares from Kroger, but Dolci Fruitta would also work)
• Kitchenware: Pan (to bake cake), aluminum foil (or something to set them on while they cool), spoons (or toothpicks if you're a perfectionist - for dipping the cake balls in chocolate).

 What you gots ta do:

1. Bake the cake!  [Follow the directions on the cake mix].  If you’re cooking low-fat, use the bananas instead of oil/fat called for in the directions.  Throw the bananas into your mixer first so they are nice and mushy when you add the cake mix and water.
2. Let the cake cool!  All the way.  Seriously. Step. Away. From. The. Cake. Put it in the fridge if you’re impatient like me.
3. Mash the cake up (this is the fun part).  Just stick your hands in it and mash it up.  
4. Add the cream cheese.  I used about 2/3 of the package - it's really not an exact science.  Mix it up using your hands.  
5. Roll into balls about an inch or two in diameter.   If it’s getting really messy, stick it in the fridge for 30 minutes so it thickens a bit and get back at it.
6. Melt the chocolate in the microwave.
7. Using two spoons (or a toothpick if you want them to look perfect), dip each cake ball into the chocolate and set on a pan or aluminum foil to cool.

P.S. My lame joke at the beginning of this post was a desperate attempt to insert a need for the following (hilarious) video.  Seriously.  Shut the front door.  You're welcome :)