Posts may contain affiliate links that help enable me to continue to provide you with free recipes. Please see my Privacy Policy for further details.
With today being National Almond Day (and the fact that I feel guilty for neglecting you all the past few days) here is one of my all time favorite bark recipes.
I’m warning you though.. it’s addictive. Like really, REALLY addictive.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnd…. you have to promise, like as in pinkie swear, that you will not get mad at me nor hold it against me that if after eating this your stretchy pants are no longer stretchy. Just step away from the bark and hit the gym with me. LOL
Consider yourself warned…
And because I’m evil like that, I’m going to tease you first with some pictures… yeah I’m that big of a meanie.
MUAHAHAHAHA… LOL
OMG… So Mr. Fantabulous just comes in from the kitchen and says “OMG honey! What ever those chocolate thingies you made with the nuts and caramel are, they are AMAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZING!!! Is there salt on it? Great addition, wow, REALLY good! Don’t eat it all cause I want it!” LOL
Wait… “Don’t eat it all.” Did he just say that to me? The woman who rarely eats sweets??? I really think he hit his head recently and hasn’t told me! LOL
Now you can make this with other nuts but I prefer almonds the best in this with the addition of caramel and sea salt. And yes.. for those that are going to ask (Terri and Megan), you can add cooked bacon to it too. LOL Just watch how much salt you put on at the end. Taste your cooked bacon first just to see how salty it is.
Am I driving you nuts yet? BAHAHA ! NUTS! Get it.. “Nuts”.. cause it’s Almonds…and they are nuts… LOL
Think I’m stalling? *wink*
Seriously look in that picture above. Just LOOK at the caramel ribbons in it! Seriously, it’s insane! And no, you can’t use caramel sauce for like ice cream.. It HAS to be homemade caramel that thickens as it cools.
Your mouth watering yet???
Toasted Almond Chocolate Caramel Bark with Sea Salt
Find more fantabulous recipes, tips and tricks at www.thekitchenwhisperer.net. Also, join our TKW Family on Facebook
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups almonds, toasted
- 1 1/2 cups Homemade Luscious Caramel Sauce, warmed to a pourable state
- 3 cups milk chocolate, rough chopped – see note
- 1/2 cup white chocolate, rough chopped – see note
- 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate, rough chopped – see note
- 1–2 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, add the almonds and cook for 5- 7 minutes stirring frequently. You’ll know they are done when they just lightly turn in color and you can smell the ‘nuttiness’.
- Remove from pan and set aside.
- Line a metal 9×13” pan or a jelly roll pan with parchment paper ensuring that the sides extend up 1”.
- In a large glass bowl over a simmer pan water (ensuring the bowl does not touch the water), add 1/2 of your chocolates (you want to combine all 3 types of chocolates into this melt. If it’s easier, just place all of your chocolates in a big bowl first then measure in half of that into the glass bowl). As the chocolate melts add more chocolate in increments until all the chocolate has been added and you have a smooth melted consistency.
- Carefully grab your glass bowl of chocolate (you may need a pot holder) slowly pour 1/2-2/3 of the chocolate into the parchment lined pan.
- Set the bowl down and gently jiggle the chocolate pan side to side to spread out evenly.
- Take your caramel sauce and drizzle over top of the melted chocolate.
- Top with the toasted almonds and gently press down slightly.
- Drizzle the remaining chocolate on top.
- Top with sea salt.
- Allow to cool completely (to speed up the setting time, pop in the fridge for at least 30 minutes).
- When completely cool, pick up by the parchment paper and set on a large cutting board.
- Break bar in pieces and store in an air tight container.
Notes
For the chocolate you want melting chocolate not chocolate chips. I would use chocolate bars that you have to chop up or melting discs.
Yes, you can add cooked bacon to this if you want. I would taste the cooked bacon first to see how salty it is.
You can use other nuts but I think almonds work best in this.
you do not say what the white chocolate or bittersweet is for ~` do you melt them all together so then that would make 4 cups or do you press them on with the almonds ?? or do you chop them and use for garnish on top with the sea salt ? i am confused ~` thanks for your time
Hi Denise,
Look at step 4. In that I tell you to add half of your chocolates as in 1/2 each of the milk, white and bittersweet. You want to use that combination of chocolates for the bark. What I’ll do is add another step prior to say something like “add of your chocolates to a bowl prior to melting” or something like that in hopes to clarify the steps.
“In a large glass bowl over a simmer pan water (ensuring the bowl does not touch the water), add 1/2 of your chocolates. As the chocolate melts add more chocolate in increments until all the chocolate has been added and you have a smooth melted consistency.”
Make sense?
Best Kitchen Wishes!
★★★★★
I want to make this bark as it sounds deeeeeeelicious. But, when the recipe calls for 3 cups/1/2cup of a certain
kind of chocolate, is that melted, and if so, how do I know how much solid to melt? Sorry if this is a stupid question.
Thanks, Kathy
Happy Holidays!
Hi Kathy!
The chocolate is measured when it’s rough chopped, not melted. That’s why in step 4 I discuss melting it. Also do not use chocolate chips. Chocolate chips are made differently than say melting chocolate. Chocolate chips are made to withstand high heat so they can retain their shape. Often if you try and melt them they end up more clumpy versus smooth and silky. Try a candy store for melting wafers or Trader Joe’s for a large bar of baking/melting chocolate.
And please it’s not a stupid question – I just didn’t clarify it in the recipe. So thank you!
Merry Christmas!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
★★★★★
Thanks so much, I’ll let you know how it turns out
both of the barks, bacon/ almond and the bacon/Fritos were a HUGE hit.. at first ppl were questioning the bacon and chocolate combo, then it freaked them out when I showed them the Fritos,, they LOVED it.. anything different always throws ppl off but how are you going to know how it tastes if you don’t try it right?? hmmm next time I’ll add a bit of a kick to it with Cayenne pepper or the Chili Fritos… the possibilities are endless.. Thank you so much for sharing………
Stella
★★★★★
That’s awesome Stella!!! If you really wanted to throw them for a loop, add in candied jalapeno to the bark! It’s insane!!!
WAIT until you see the next bark I’m posting! I took 6 quarts to work and it was gone in under an hour! This stuff is BEYOND amazing! Check back in a few days and you’ll see it… and drool! LOL
Best Kitchen Wishes!
★★★★★
chocolate, bacon AND Fritos……. that’s just sooooooooooo wrong……….. my waistline just doubled in size…. holy smokes batman! ok! I think I may just do that instead, that’ll throw my friends totally off, but I like to do stuff like that… “think outside the box”
Thank you…..
Love it!!! Go for it! Blow their mind!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
★★★★★
this recipe is enough to drive anyone crazy… I’m going to try it this weekend but I’m adding BACON.. who doesn’t like chocolate and bacon…. Oh sweet Baby Jesus… quick question….. can the bittersweet chocolate be exchanged for semi-bittersweet chips?
thanks for sharing……….
Stella
★★★★★
Hey Stella!
HAHA love it! Yes you can exchange those two! And I am so with you on the bacon and chocolate!
Have you by chance seen this Bark recipe? Has Chocolate, Bacon AND Fritos! http://www.thekitchenwhisperer.net/2013/12/24/day-2-countdown-christmas-2013-chocolate-peanut-butter-caramel-bark-fritos-bacon/
Best Kitchen Wishes!
★★★★★
OMG! Your recipes are driving me insane just looking at them! Why do I look at recipes when I start a diet??
I LOVE your site and your humour! I just wish we lived next door to each other and were best pals, and I could just pop in whenever a delicious aroma drifted into my window from something you were busy cooking something incredible so I could sit and lick all the bowls and plates and keep you company! LOL!
I’m sitting here drooling!
Linda
Hi Linda!
*giggle* Well I’m thrilled they are driving you insane (but in a good way!) 🙂 It’s okay to look at recipes when dieting. Trust me, you cannot gain weight by looking at food. If there were the case they would have to build a house around me! LOL
But even still, you can have ‘treats’ while dieting if you incorporate it into your daily intake along with proper diet and exercise. Trust me, I know this VERY well! I’m around this stuff 24/7 and being a cook I have to taste it no matter what. So I adjust my diet for the day and increase my workout if I say have a few extra cookies or so forth. For me, I find when I deprive myself of something I’m craving is when I ‘over-do’ it and then feel totally guilty later on.
You can do this girlfriend! And I would LOVE for you to live next door 🙂 You can lick the bowls and help me out but you’re on dish duty too 😉
Best Kitchen Wishes!
★★★★★