Pecan Cherry Bark Recipes

PECAN BARK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line a cookie sheet with foil and lightly grease.
• Place graham crackers on the cookie sheet in one layer.
• Sprinkle pecans evenly over the graham squares.
• In a small sauce pan melt the unsalted butter.
• Add brown sugar to the pan and stir until mixture begins to boil.
• Pour sugar mixture over pecans and graham squares.
• Bake in oven for 10 minutes.
• Remove pan from oven and place into freezer for 1 hour.
• Break bark into pieces while still cold.

THREE CHOCOLATE BARK WITH SPICED PECANS AND DRIED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large saute pan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Add the brown sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves and is bubbly. Add the pecans. Season the pecans with salt, cayenne, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar starts to caramelize and coat the pecans evenly. Cook for about 4 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and spread the pecans over a parchment lined baking sheet. Place the pan in the oven and roast the pecans for about 6 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and cool completely. Break the pecans into small pieces.
• Fill 3 small saucepans halfway up the pan with water. Place the pans over medium heat and bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. In three separate mixing bowls, add each type of chocolate into the individual bowls. Place the bowls over the saucepans. After about 2 minutes over the heat, the chocolate will start to melt. Stir each chocolate until totally melted. Remove the chocolate from the heat and stir 1 tablespoon of butter into each bowl of chocolate. Pour each type of chocolate over the marble or a large parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the pecans and cherries over the chocolates. Using a metal spatula, spread the mixture out evenly back and forth to about 1/4-inch thick. Either place the marble in the refrigerator or allow to sit out until set, about a couple of hours. Break the bark into medium pieces and serve.

3 CHOCOLATE CHERRY BARK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large saute pan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Add the brown sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves and is bubbly. Add the pecans. Season the pecans with salt, cayenne, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar starts to caramelize and coat the pecans evenly. Cook for about 4 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and spread the pecans over a parchment lined baking sheet. Place the pan in the oven and roast the pecans for about 6 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and cool completely. Break the pecans into small pieces.
• Fill 3 small saucepans halfway up the pan with water. Place the pans over medium heat and bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. In three separate mixing bowls, add each type of chocolate into the individual bowls. Place the bowls over the saucepans. After about 2 minutes over the heat, the chocolate will start to melt. Stir each chocolate until totally melted. Remove the chocolate from the heat and stir 1 tablespoon of butter into each bowl of chocolate. Pour each type of chocolate over the marble or a large parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the pecans and cherries over the chocolates. Using a metal spatula, spread the mixture out evenly back and forth to about 1/4-inch thick. Either place the marble in the refrigerator or allow to sit out until set, about a couple of hours. Break the bark into medium pieces and serve.

COOKIE CHALLENGE: PECAN BARS WITH CHERRIES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350. Line a 15x10x1 inch baking pan with foil, extending the foil over the edges of the pan. Grease the foil, set pan aside.
• 2. In a large bowl, combine flour, the 1/2 cup sugar, and the salt. Using a pastry blender, but in the 1 cup of butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press mixture evenly into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.
• 3. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, corn syrup, the 1 1/4 cups sugar, the 3 tablespoons butter, and the vanilla until combined.
• 4. Sprinkle pecans and dried cherries over hot crust. Slowly pour egg mixture over all. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Lift baked mixture from pan using the foil. Remove foil. Cut into bars. Makes 48 bars.
• 5. These freeze great!!!!