DIY Edible Christmas Gifts: Chocolate

A message to all the chocoholics out there: you are right, there is no [b]gift[/b] better than chocolate! Take pride in your love affair and whip up a few treats to gift this season. We’re pretty sure these sweets will more than hit the spot.

The traditional chocolate bark, usually a chocolate sheet covered in various toppings, gets a lift with two new recipes. White Chocolate Cinnamon Almond Bark gets a boost from cinnamon, and a refreshing minty flavor from pure peppermint extract and crushed peppermint candy canes.

Chile Chocolate Almond Bark exchanges mint for almond crunch and white chocolate for dark. Can’t decide? Make both.

For those who crave spice, fresh made fudge with dark and semi-sweet chocolate, walnuts, marshmallows, ancho chile, cayenne combines to make a thick, creamy, luscious Chile Chocolate Walnut Fudge that is simply irresistible.

Prefer something a little more refined? Throw together a batch of Ancho Almond Truffles. Here, chile chocolate fudge is mixed with chopped candied almonds, rolled in a mixture of cocoa and cayenne powder, and then dipped in dark chocolate and chilled. From bark to fudge, this year share your love of chocolate with the masses.

Get the sweet recipes, next… [pagebreak]

Chocolate Chile Almond Bark 

• 12 ounces El Rey Venezuelan dark chocolate, chopped
• 3/4 tablespoon vegetable shortening
• 1 teaspoon ancho chile, ground
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 3/4 cup candied almonds, chopped

Get the full recipe.

Chile Chocolate Walnut Fudge 

• 2 cups dark chocolate chips
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter
• 4 cups marshmallows
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 cups walnuts, chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ancho chile
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 2 cups cane sugar
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Get the full recipe.

Next, more sweet treats… [pagebreak]

Ancho Almond Truffles 

• 1 cup chile chocolate fudge
• 1/2 cup candied almonds, chopped
• 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 1/4 cups dark chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Get the full recipe.

White Chocolate Cinnamon Peppermint Bark 

• 12 ounces El Rey Venezuelan white chocolate, chopped
• 3/4 tablespoon vegetable shortening
• 5 peppermint candy canes, crushed
• 1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Get the full recipe.