Monday, August 10, 2009

Cook With Almond Bark

Cook with Almond Bark


Almond bark refers to two things: a chocolate candy bar containing almonds broken into large pieces and a bar-shaped, candy coating with no almonds in the ingredients. For cooking, use the candy coating version of almond bark, also known as white candy coating. Almond bark comes with a vanilla or chocolate flavoring, but even if almond bark has a chocolate flavor, it differs from traditional chocolate in use. Unlike regular chocolate containing cocoa butter, almond bark melts more easily, without the need for tempering. Although you can use almond bark candy coating to make almond bark candy, there are many other options for cooking with almond bark. Frequently, recipes use melted almond bark as a coating for pretzels, cookies or candy. Once you know use almond bark, this neglected candy coating will emerge in many of your recipes. Find it in the baking aisle of the grocery store or with candy-making materials at hobby or craft outlets. As almond bark contains no almonds, white chocolate has no cocoa. Substitute the cheaper almond bark for white chocolate in your recipes.


Instructions


1. Break the almond bark into smaller pieces, or chop it with a knife and place in a microwave safe bowl.


2. Microwave the almond bark on high power for three minutes, stirring after every 30 seconds until it becomes smooth and melted.


3. Line a baking sheet with wax paper.


4. Drop the items for dipping into the almond bark, pull from the melted almond bark with a fork and lay out onto the wax paper to cool and harden. Alternatively, stir all of the mix-ins into the melted almond bark and pour the entire contents onto the wax paper-lined baking sheet. Let cool before breaking into pieces for serving.


5. Substitute almond bark for an equal amount of white chocolate in recipes.







Tags: almond bark, almond bark, candy coating, almond bark, melted almond, melted almond bark, white chocolate