White Chocolate Almond Bark
November 27th, 2011
The day after Thanksgiving my Christmas tree went up. I sent my husband outside in the rain and cold to wrap the trunks of the trees in little white lights, and I bedecked every possible mantle and railing on garlands, lights and tinsel flecked ribbons. I just L-O-V-E the Holidays.
One of my favorite things about the Holidays is sharing with others. There are so many ways to do this, but my specialty is sharing through food.
I recently chronicled some of the ways I do this by making a book on edible gifts for shutterfly. You can see the book here!
I thought it would be really fun to make a collection of Holiday recipes and include creative ideas for how to package them for friends, neighbors, co-workers and all of the other people whom you find yourself needing gifts for throughout this time of year.
They are all edible, easy and inexpensive, and most importantly: made with love!
I have recipes like this white chocolate almond bark. It is so easy and festively beautiful with the gorgeous gem like color of the dried cranberries and apricots! I packaged mine up in wine boxes covered with scraps of silk boxes and stuffed with tissue paper.
And again in a tin with a cellophane “window” so that the recipient can see inside to the beautiful and colorful White Chocolate Almond Bark.
Shutterfly was kind enough to send me 5 copies of “my book” to give away to you. Each book has 42 pages, is 12×12 and is a $75 dollar value.
This is what it looks like.
**To enter to win one of the 5 books, you can sign up in the following ways. Please leave a SEPARATE comment for EACH entry!!!
(also, even if you already like me on facebook or follow me on twitter, you can enter those as individual comments for more chances.
1) Leave a comment letting me know your family’s favorite variety of Christmas Cookies
2) Sign up for a subscription here so you don’t miss any fun posts or great giveaways!
3) Like me on facebook!
4) Follow me on twitter, handle name @heatherchristo
Ok guys! Contest ends Wednesday, November 30th at 11:59pm. I will let you know the winners Thursday morning so I can get these in the mail to you to actually use this Holiday season!
White Chocolate Almond Bark, makes 8 servings
-1 ½ lbs white chocolate, chopped
-1 cup raw almonds, chopped
-½ cup dried cranberries
-½ cup dried apricots, chopped
1) Prepare a sheet pan with a sheet of parchment paper.
2) Place the white chocolate in a glass bowl and microwave for 90 seconds.
3) Take the chocolate out and stir vigorously until it is smooth without any lumps.
4) Pour the white chocolate over the parchment paper and spread it to about ¼” in thickness.
5) Add the nuts and dried fruits to the white chocolate, and gently press them into the chocolate.
6) Let the bark set up until firm, this can take several hours to overnight depending on the climate.
7) When the bark is hard, break or chop it into pieces and serve. Enjoy!
I would LOVE this book….my family’s favorite Christmas cookies are oatmeal chocolate chip for my husband and toffee for the rest of us.
6:49 pm on November 27th, 2011
My family’s favorite Christmas cookies are peanut butter blossoms . I would love a copy of your new book and I hope I win one!
6:57 pm on November 27th, 2011
I am already a subscriber to your posts …but I wanted to have another chance at your new book!
6:58 pm on November 27th, 2011
And of course I already like you on FB!
6:59 pm on November 27th, 2011
Snickerdoodles!
7:01 pm on November 27th, 2011
Already follow on FB!
7:02 pm on November 27th, 2011
Monster cookies are our families favorite holiday cookie – yum!
7:07 pm on November 27th, 2011
We love Spritz using the cookie press! Used to make Rosettes with the rosette iron and hot oil but life just seems to hectic now to work those in.
7:08 pm on November 27th, 2011
Our family’s traditional holiday cookies are Grandma Marion’s sugar cookies (made with buttermilk) and Honey Ginger Biscotti. They are so good that we make them the other eleven months too!
7:23 pm on November 27th, 2011
I would LOVE to win this! What a fun give away! My family prefers cranberry pistachio biscotti over cookies for Christmas, although my hubby did request I make your Nutella cookies for everyone this year ;)
7:29 pm on November 27th, 2011
I subscribe to your posts
7:30 pm on November 27th, 2011
I like you on Facebook
7:31 pm on November 27th, 2011
I follow you on Twitter
7:31 pm on November 27th, 2011
My family’s favorite Christmas cookies are chocolate chip cookies and madeleine cookies.
7:38 pm on November 27th, 2011
Already subscribed.
7:39 pm on November 27th, 2011
I would have liked you on FB if I had FB :)
7:41 pm on November 27th, 2011
Fudge made with marshmallow creme – the easy way! Everyone loves it here.
8:03 pm on November 27th, 2011
Hey Heather. I just clicked on the shutterfly link and your name is misspelled in the header above the book. It says “Heather Cristo’s Homemade Holiday Treats”.
8:10 pm on November 27th, 2011
Thanks Katie!! I just emailed them to change it :)
8:15 pm on November 27th, 2011
Heather, I LOVE the yummy fruit and nut additions to this bark. So refreshing from your typical peppermint holiday bark. I love the holidays too – enjoy!
8:24 pm on November 27th, 2011
I already subscribe but my family likes peanut butter blossoms I like Russian teacakes
8:31 pm on November 27th, 2011
Family Favorites are called Nighty Nights, a meringue with chocolate and walnuts that goes in a hot oven that is immediately turned off. Cookies are ready in the morning. Easy.
8:44 pm on November 27th, 2011
Love the book! A family favorite is a toffee cookie made with Club Crackers, of all things, sometimes we top with almonds, sometimes walnuts!
8:47 pm on November 27th, 2011
Lisa – can you send me the recipe!?
8:57 pm on November 27th, 2011
Aunt Mary I am going to email you for that recipe :)
8:57 pm on November 27th, 2011
my family doesnt really have a cookie recipe, we make simple sugar cookies that i just make beautiful with the help of my two little elves… We come to you for the recipes and most of all photography. I liked you on facebook even before your contest, and will keep on liking you even if i dont win anything. You tend to inspire a lot of women…:-)
10:04 pm on November 27th, 2011
I already subscribe to your emails. I have a question….where do you get your chocolate? I am guessing that it is not that white bark stuff purchased at the grocery store. :) Thanks!
10:44 pm on November 27th, 2011
what a great book!! My family likes whatever cookies i make them…because we all have such sweet tooths! :(
11:52 pm on November 27th, 2011
and of course I like you on facebook!
11:52 pm on November 27th, 2011
My boys love anything with peanut butter and chocolate!
3:27 am on November 28th, 2011
This sounds delightful!
4:24 am on November 28th, 2011
Our family favorite is sand tarts – wafer thin crispy delights with a tiny bit of cinnamon dusted on them. I always assumed they were Polish, but may not be.
4:47 am on November 28th, 2011
Heather, I would LOVE to win one of your books! I go online every morning to see if you have posted another beautiful photo and recipe to inspire me for the day! (I have even called your agent to see if you have any books for purchase yet!) I already subscribe to your posts. However, my favorite holiday cookie is a fruit drop cookie that my mother makes every year. They are loaded with fruit and nuts and even people who say they don’t like fruitcake love this recipe. Although I am in my 50′s, when I eat one of these cookies, I feel like I am reliving my childhood. I have made the recipe myself, but somehow, my mother’s batches always taste best!
5:22 am on November 28th, 2011
What an adorable book! My grown kid’s favorite cookie is a very soft, puffy sugar cookie that was my great grandmother’s recipe. It has nutmeg in it.
5:41 am on November 28th, 2011
Our favorite cookies (or at least my fav-my kids all have different ones) is window pane-I’m not sure they are cookies, but they have colored marshmellows in a chocolate log that you freeze and cut when ready to eat!!! Happy Holidays….thank you, its been a delightful year cooking with your recipes!!!!
6:31 am on November 28th, 2011
We love anything with chocolate and nuts–no particular recipe
6:58 am on November 28th, 2011
Our favorite Christmas cookies are peanut butter. Simple, but always delicious!
7:21 am on November 28th, 2011
I also follow you on facebook. Thanks for the giveaway!
7:22 am on November 28th, 2011
I just grabbed the ghiradelli bulk chocolate sold in bags at Met Market.
7:42 am on November 28th, 2011
Thank you Meredith- that means so much to me :)
7:42 am on November 28th, 2011
So pretty! Would make a great holiday gift!
7:59 am on November 28th, 2011
I like you on facebook
9:18 am on November 28th, 2011
i follow you on twitter.
9:18 am on November 28th, 2011
I started making my holiday gifts 30 years ago and each year it evolves. I always make favorites; dream bars, toffee, jam thumbprints, and the list goes on, but each year I introduce 1 or 2 new ones. Our favorite newbee’s are shortbread peppermint bark and lemon ginger sandwhiches!
9:21 am on November 28th, 2011
Fav holiday cookies have to be gingerbread men – so much fun decorating them all together.
10:24 am on November 28th, 2011
What a beautiful book! my favorite is a german hazelnut cookie with raspberry jam in the middle!
10:36 am on November 28th, 2011
I subscribe to your emails & posts. Last night I mixed up a batch of Snowball Martinis for my husband & myself – after we used the cotton candy machine for our son’s 1st birthday party!
10:40 am on November 28th, 2011
I like you on Facebook
10:41 am on November 28th, 2011
awesome!!!! So glad that someone made those martini’s!
10:52 am on November 28th, 2011
Peanut butter kiss cookies are required, but peppermint topped chocolate fudge is more of our tradition. My daughter gets really mad if I don’t make it!
11:41 am on November 28th, 2011
My new favorite holiday treats are sea salt caramel crackers with a dark chocolate layer.
Matzo crackers really are the ideal ones for this! Unfortunately I can eat a whole batch in one sitting…
12:16 pm on November 28th, 2011
we love sugar cookie cutouts!
1:10 pm on November 28th, 2011
My dad’s German mother’s Sugar Twist cookies. They are an absolute bear to make. Layers of vanilla soaked sugar, rolled out, and folded over like crescent rolls. But they are divine.
1:25 pm on November 28th, 2011
Love this idea. Almonds & dried apricots are my favorite snack. (i had them today as a matter of fact!) For Christmas, you can’t go wrong with sugar cookies in fun shapes. My 4 yr old gets to help decorate this year! Good times!!
1:33 pm on November 28th, 2011
Our favorite cookies are peanut butter blossoms, I suspect though, it is because my three little kiss openers eat just as many as I use! :)
1:41 pm on November 28th, 2011
I already follow you on facebook and by the way, thank you for the fabulous beer bread recipe! :)
1:42 pm on November 28th, 2011
My family always has me make my snickerdoodle cookies every year for Christmas! They’re our favorite!
5:00 pm on November 28th, 2011
I follow you on facebook!
5:00 pm on November 28th, 2011
I subscribed to your blog by email
5:01 pm on November 28th, 2011
Russian Tea Cakes…mmmm. I could eat a whole batch by myself!
5:22 pm on November 28th, 2011
I love shortbread cookies. Any new flavor ideas?
8:14 pm on November 28th, 2011
Favorite Christmas cookie is Chocolate Crinkles (soft ,chewy, chocolate cookie with powder sugar on top) …
8:58 pm on November 28th, 2011
I already like you on Facebook
8:59 pm on November 28th, 2011
I subscribe to your emails.
8:59 pm on November 28th, 2011
Saffron Bread is my favorite!
11:21 am on November 29th, 2011
This bark is so beautiful for gifts and I love the presentation!!
6:24 pm on November 29th, 2011
Our family cookie fave around this time of year are the Danish butter cookies in the tin (or making them from scratch), or a variation, like jam thumbprints. Simple but delish!
6:34 pm on November 29th, 2011
I liked you on facebook too.
6:34 pm on November 29th, 2011
I also subscribed :) Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
6:35 pm on November 29th, 2011
We enjoy eating and making Greek cookies and pastries especially koulourakia and melomakarona. We also enjoy peppermint bark during the holidays. Would LOVE one of your books! It would be a great Christmas present to me. :)
6:42 pm on November 29th, 2011
Well, being Greek, we make koulourakia, kourambiedes (my favourites! Greek style butter cookies), and melomakarona. Every weekend my nieces and nephews come over and we bake. Everything and anything from pancakes to cupcakes, from fudge to cookies. Our motto is “nothing from a box, everything from scratch”. We like to sit and create our recipes before we get started. They, and I, would love a copy of your book.
10:58 pm on November 29th, 2011
Our favorite Christmas cookie is a sugar cookie with white chocolate drizzle and crushed candy cane on top! On a side note we made your vanilla pumpkin pie for our Thanksgiving dinner (with a whopping 30 people) and everyone said it was the best pie they had ever had! Thanks so much for your amazing recipes!
7:16 am on November 30th, 2011
Oh, bark! It’s my last-minute go-to during the holidays. I like that this one is so colorful and flavorful!
7:44 am on November 30th, 2011
YES!!! that is so awesome- thanks for letting me know!
8:18 am on November 30th, 2011
That is so sweet. That is how my family is too!
8:20 am on November 30th, 2011
Our christmas favorite is gingerbread or shortbread cookies. Hard choice between the two!
9:10 am on November 30th, 2011
So many favorites to choose from. Clothes pin cookies are my fave, but the kids favor my peanut butter kiss cookies.
10:49 am on November 30th, 2011
We’re all suckers for gingerbread men.
10:55 am on November 30th, 2011
Nothing better than a homemade edible gift! This bark looks beautiful!
4:08 pm on November 30th, 2011
That book is such a cute idea! Looks like there’s lots of great recipe ideas in it! My family’s favourite Christmas cookies would probably be soft chewy ginger cookies
4:27 pm on November 30th, 2011
I think it’ll have to be double chocolate cranberry and white chocolate cookies! :)
5:13 pm on November 30th, 2011
Entering again for liking you on FB!
5:14 pm on November 30th, 2011
Entering again for following you on twitter!
5:14 pm on November 30th, 2011
I just subscribed and I’m so excited. I’m reading everyone’s favourite cookies and you realize how tough it is to choose as there are so many great holiday cookies. Though I can’t say that about the gingerbread cookies. Two Christmases ago I made about 125 gingerbread cookies. It was a day and a half of baking and icing.They were a huge success. Problem was that I was 6 weeks pregnant, and a few days after Christmas, my nausea kicked in right as I was trying to plate and serve them. To this day, I can’t even look at molasses without gagging!
7:10 pm on November 30th, 2011
Snowballs
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 Tablespoons sugar
pinch of salt
2 sticks of unsalted butter or 1/2 pound at room temperature
Powdered Sugar for rolling after baking
Preheat oven 325°F
Use your hands or a wooden spoon to mix the flour, nuts, butter, vanilla, sugar, salt in a large bowl.
Work the dough to combine ingredients until it forms a ball of dough, but do not overwork.
Make nuggets and roll into balls.
Arrange on nonstick baking sheet or parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from baking sheet and roll gently in 2 cups of powdered sugar. Place on rack to cool.
When cool, dredge again in the powdered sugar.
To store airtight, wrap in mini-muffin cup paper liners or waxed paper.
You can make these larger in 2 Tablespoon portions for 18 cookies.
I hope I win :^)
9:34 am on December 1st, 2011
I have never made “bark” but I think, after reading this, that is going to change! I adore your packaging ideas – so beautiful!!!
9:59 am on December 1st, 2011
Making sugar cookies is one of my favorite holiday traditions. That’s what I’ve been doing most of the day!
7:44 pm on December 1st, 2011
And I follow you on Twitter. Just got it today! Wild!
7:45 pm on December 1st, 2011
my favorite holiday cookies are the peanut butter ones with the chocolate kisses on top! yummy!!
10:34 pm on December 1st, 2011
i’m already signed up for your subscriptions :)
10:35 pm on December 1st, 2011
i like you on fb
10:35 pm on December 1st, 2011
i follow you on twitter!
10:36 pm on December 1st, 2011