Rebecca Nielsen's Recipe

Chocolate Caramel Toffee Nut Bark

Category: cookies

Serves/Makes: Varies on how large or small you break up your bark
Difficulty: 2
Prep/Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

2 packages of a box of Graham Crackers
2 sticks plus 2 T butter
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup caramel topping (not syrup)
1 1/2 cup salted cashews (finely chopped)
16 ounces dark (60% and up) chocolate
1 T plus 1 t Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar*
1 cup toffee bits (I use Heath Bar)
Kosher or sea salt for top

Directions:

Line heavy cookie sheet with parchment or silicone mat. Lay graham crackers on cookie sheet to cover entire sheet. Break some to fit if necessary.

Put butter, brown sugar, and nuts in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil for about 3 minutes stirring constantly. Turn off heat and stir in caramel topping. Pour mixture evenly over the graham crackers and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

While baking, melt chocolate in a glass bowl over a pan with 1 inch of simmering water. Do not let the water touch the bottom of the pan. When melted add Dark Chocolate Balsamic and stir to incorporate. Pour chocolate sauce over top of caramel and spread evenly with spatula.

Sprinkle chocolate immediately with toffee bits, then kosher or sea salt. Put in a cool place or refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. After 30 minutes lift out bark, it will come out in one big piece. You can break the bark up with your hands but the chocolate will have you fingerprints all over it and it doesn't make a very clean presentation. I take a dinner knife and poke it into the bark and twist it. It breaks off clean. Try to make different shapes and it presents better that way.

Store in a zip top bag at room temperature or freezer if wish.

*Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar can be found at The Olive Tap in Long Grove, IL

Cooks Notes - I found that bark with a caramel mixture of butter and brown sugar is very hard on your teeth. When I added the caramel sauce it made for a slight chewy texture and was very desirable. You won't be able to keep this around. It also makes a great "thinking of you" gift.