Salted Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Pecan Bark: Your Ultimate Easy Holiday Treat
Welcome to Day Two of our enchanting **12 Days of Christmas Cookies** series, where we celebrate the season with delightful homemade treats! Today, we’re diving into a truly spectacular creation: **Salted Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Pecan Bark**. This isn’t just any holiday dessert; it’s a vibrant tapestry of flavors and textures that promises to be a memorable addition to your festive spread or a much-appreciated gift for loved ones. Imagine a single bite bursting with sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy, and tart notes – this Holiday Bark genuinely has it ALL!
Why This Holiday Bark is a Must-Make
Chocolate bark is one of those wonderfully simple yet elegant desserts, even if its name sometimes conjures images of tree bark rather than a delectable confection! No matter the quirky nomenclature, this specific Salted Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Pecan Bark recipe stands out as an exceptional treat. It’s not only a fantastic item to have on your holiday dessert table, perhaps alongside my delightful Pecan Snowball Cookies, but it also makes for thoughtful homemade gifts for home cooks. Plus, for those seeking a sweet indulgence with a bit more substance, this bark offers a satisfying mix of nuts and fruit, making it a surprisingly wholesome holiday snack.
The beauty of this bark lies in its complex flavor profile and appealing textures, all wrapped up in an incredibly easy-to-make package. It’s the kind of dessert that looks impressive but requires minimal effort, perfect for busy holiday seasons. Its versatility means it can be enjoyed by everyone, from those who love a classic chocolate fix to those who appreciate a gourmet touch with a blend of unique ingredients.
A Symphony of Flavors and Textures
This bark isn’t just about combining ingredients; it’s about crafting an experience. Each component plays a crucial role in creating a harmonious and utterly addictive treat:
- Salty Roasted Pistachios: These bright green nuts bring a fantastic crunch and a savory counterpoint to the sweetness of the chocolate. Their inherent saltiness is perfectly balanced, making them an ideal partner.
- Crunchy Toasted Pecans: Toasted pecans offer a buttery, earthy depth and another layer of satisfying crunch. Their warmth from toasting enhances their natural flavor, adding a gourmet touch.
- Tart Dried Cherries: The vibrant, tangy sweetness of dried tart cherries cuts through the richness of the chocolate, providing a delightful burst of fruitiness and a pleasant chewiness.
- Sweet Golden Raisins: These plump, sweet morsels add another dimension of chewy fruitiness, contributing a mellow sweetness that complements the tartness of the cherries beautifully.
- Smooth, Creamy Dark Chocolate: The foundation of our bark! Using high-quality dark chocolate (at least 65% cacao) is paramount. Its rich, slightly bitter notes provide the perfect canvas for the other ingredients, creating a sophisticated and indulgent base.
- Crunchy Flakes of Fleur de Sel: This is the secret weapon that elevates this bark from delicious to absolutely irresistible. The delicate, irregular pyramids of Fleur de Sel deliver bursts of intense, clean saltiness that enhance the chocolate and brighten all the other flavors. It’s truly a game-changer that takes this bark way past merely addicting!
You simply can’t get enough of this incredible combination. The interplay between sweet and salty, crunchy and chewy, creates a sensory delight that keeps you coming back for just one more piece. The quality of your salt and chocolate will genuinely not go unnoticed here. These are the types of recipes that demand a splurge – investing in large, irregularly shaped pyramids of fleur de sel and decadent, silky dark chocolate is so worth it for the profound difference it makes in the final taste and texture!
Effortless Elegance: Microwave Tempering for Perfect Bark
I genuinely thought about giving this bark away. I really did. But oh, the allure of that chocolate with sea salt! It’s my ultimate weakness, and I just couldn’t part with it. And you might find yourself in the same delightful predicament!
One of the best aspects of this recipe, especially during the bustling holiday season, is how incredibly simple the process is. Forget the lengthy, often intimidating process of tempering chocolate by hand. Let’s be honest, “ain’t nobody got time for that” when there are gifts to wrap, carols to sing, and other festive preparations! Instead, we’re going to use a secret weapon for perfectly smooth, glossy, and snap-able chocolate: the microwave.
The Magic of Microwave Chocolate Tempering
This method makes the whole process so much easier and unspeakably fast, ensuring your chocolate sets beautifully without any blooming (those unsightly white streaks that appear on untempered chocolate). By melting the chocolate in short intervals and stirring in fresh chocolate, you’re essentially “seeding” the melted chocolate with stable cocoa butter crystals, achieving a perfectly tempered result with minimal fuss. This technique is a lifesaver for holiday baking, allowing you to create professional-looking treats without the stress.
The result is a decadent, silky dark chocolate base that perfectly binds all the delicious toppings. The combination of high-quality ingredients and this simple tempering method guarantees a gourmet treat that tastes like it came from a high-end confectionery.
Perfect for Gifting or Indulging
Despite the fact that this bark would be a delightfully easy and delicious gift, my husband and I confessed: we gave none of it away. We savored each and every last chocolaty, salty, sweet, and nutty bite. And you will too! #noregrets
Whether you choose to share or keep it all to yourself, this Salted Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Pecan Holiday Bark is truly a holiday highlight. It’s the second day of our special **12 Days of Christmas Cookies** feature, and if you enjoyed this, you absolutely won’t want to miss yesterday’s delectable Cherry Pecan Cookies! Each day brings a new opportunity to bake, share, and enjoy the flavors of the season.
When gifting, consider packaging pieces of this bark in small cello bags, tied with festive ribbons. Not only does it look beautiful, but it also preserves the freshness and makes for a charming homemade present. For those who prefer to keep their stash, storing it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place (or the refrigerator, as I prefer) will ensure its lasting deliciousness.
If you tried this recipe and loved it, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below. I love hearing from you; your comments make my day!
Salted Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Pecan Bark
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Ingredients
- 1 pound dark chocolate at least 65%, finely chopped
- ¼ cup salted roasted pistachios
- 2 tablespoons toasted unsalted pecans*, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup golden raisins
- 2 tablespoons dried tart cherries
- several pinches Maldon Fleur de Sel
Instructions
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Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. I like to secure it with binder clips so that it won’t slide around. This ensures a clean break and easy removal of your bark once set.
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In a medium heat-proof bowl, place about ¼ of the finely chopped dark chocolate. Melt on high in your microwave in 20-second intervals until mostly melted. Stir well after each interval to distribute heat. Watch it like a hawk – chocolate can burn quickly!
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Stir another ¼ of the chopped chocolate into the melted chocolate. The residual heat will start to melt it. Microwave again in short bursts (10-15 seconds) until it’s almost fully melted. Repeat this process, adding the remaining chocolate in ¼ increments, stirring thoroughly after each addition, until all the chocolate has been added and the mixture is completely smooth and lump-free. This microwave tempering technique ensures a beautiful, snappy bark.
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Pour the perfectly melted chocolate onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. Using an offset spatula, spread it out evenly to about ¼ inch thick. Work quickly, as tempered chocolate begins to set. Immediately sprinkle your chosen toppings – the salted roasted pistachios, toasted pecans, golden raisins, and dried tart cherries – generously over the surface, trying to get a little something of everything all over! I recommend sprinkling on the Fleur de Sel last so that the chocolate has cooled a tiny bit, preventing the salt flakes from immediately melting away and preserving their delightful crunch.
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Refrigerate the bark for at least an hour, or until it is completely set and firm to the touch. Once set, you can either cut it into neat squares or, for a more rustic look, simply break it apart into irregular pieces. You can place them in small cello bags and tie them with ribbons for lovely homemade gifts, or indulge yourself and keep them all! No judgment from me – it’s that good! I personally store mine in the refrigerator to maintain its crispness, but it can also be stored in a cool, dry place.
Notes
*Toasting Pecans: To enhance their flavor and crunch, toast whole pecans on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer for about 10 minutes in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven. Watch them carefully and remove when you can smell their nutty aroma and the light parts of the pecans have turned a light golden brown. If you’re using pre-chopped pecans, they will toast faster, so adjust the time accordingly (5-7 minutes). Allow them to cool before adding to the bark.
Storage: While I stored mine in the refrigerator for optimal freshness and a firm texture, you could also store yours in a cool, dry place in an airtight container for up week. The refrigerator will make it last longer and keep it from softening.
Chocolate Quality: The success of this bark heavily relies on the quality of your dark chocolate. Opt for a brand you love eating on its own, with at least 65% cocoa content. Higher quality chocolate melts smoother and tastes richer.
Variations: Feel free to experiment with other dried fruits (cranberries, apricots), nuts (almonds, cashews), or even a sprinkle of orange zest for an added layer of flavor. A pinch of cayenne pepper can add a surprising and delightful kick!
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