Last week I appeared on KARK 4 to present some edible and DIY Christmas gifts. It seems like more and more people are turning to homemade gifts to give to friends, neighbors and co-workers. There’s just something that brings a smile to people’s faces when they get a tin, box or basket filled with homemade cookies, candy and drink mixes. Something so simple but that involves thought and love in the preparation of each item that it includes.
While I was on the set last week, one of the anchors said “what is it about peppermint? You can add it to everything to give it a holiday taste, feel and look.” There is so much truth to that. There’s just something about that combination of red and white that instantly brings Christmas to mind at the first glance.
So when I started thinking about something easy that could fill those Christmas tins I instantly thought of saltine bark. I made a batch of heath saltine bark a few weeks ago and it disappeared before I could get it out of my hands. There’s just something about the combination of saltines, brown sugar, butter and chocolate that when combined make an addicting candy. It went so fast with the heath bits I decided to try it with a different topping, peppermint baking chips.
This was every bit as good as the original. The bits of white chocolate and peppermint bits sprinkled over the semi-sweet chocolate no only scream Christmas but also taste amazing. If you love the combination of chocolate and mint then this is the bark for you and all those chocolate and mint lovers. This bark is so simple to customize with whatever flavor and topping you want; plain, toffee, peppermint, pecans, caramel, coconut, the list just goes on and on. Whatever flavor combinations are your favorite, just be sure to make this bark and customize it to your tastes!
After I shared this with some of my co-workers, one of them said they were going to buy all the saltines in a 20 mile radius from their home. Yes, they loved it that much, then they also said they were going to send me the bill for the bigger clothes they would have to buy after consuming all that bark. So when you give this to your friends, neighbors, family and co-workers you may include a disclaimer!
Peppermint Saltine Toffee Bark
Ingredients:
40 Saltine crackers (1 sleeve)
1 Cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 Cup brown sugar
1 3/4 Cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 Cup Andes peppermint crunch baking chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400.
Like a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray then lay the crackers in a single layer over the foil.
Place butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Once the mixture has reached a boil, reduce to medium and allow to boil for 3 minutes.
Pour over the crackers and spread evenly, being sure each cracker is covered.
Place in the preheated oven and bake for 5-6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the caramel crackers. Allow to sit for a few minutes, then evenly spread the chocolate over the caramel crackers. Sprinkle the peppermint chips over the chocolate. Allow to sit until the chocolate has hardened. Once the chocolate is hard, break the bark and store in an airtight container.
Recipe source: A Lynsey Original
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