St. Patricks Day

St. Patrick’s crafts and food.

St. Patrick’s Chocolate Bark

~ lindy

St. Patrick’s Chocolate Candy Bark

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Bark Toppings:

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These are toppings I used but you could use any toppings like;  Cookies or candy or nuts or sprinkle toppings, pretzels and etc…

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*9.6 ounce bag Caramel M&M’s, we used only Green,use as desired

*1 (2 ounce) Airoheads Xtremes Rainbow Berry sweetly Sour Candy

*10.8 ounce bag M&M’s Minis Baking Bits, we used only Green, use as desired

*1/4 cup Whole Cashews, unsalted and Slightly Chopped, I roasted mine for 2-3 minutes on low heat in a small frying pan, optional

*Coarse Sea Salt or Flue de sel a finishing salt, optional for sprinkling after adding toppings

Chocolate Base

*8 ounces 66 percent Cacao Bittersweet Baking Chocolate, like Bakers, chopped

*4 ounces 56 percent Cacao Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, like Bakers, chopped

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In a glass Microwavable Bowl, add 3/4 of the chocolate and save the remaining for adding after the chocolate has melted. Melt in the microwave  3/4 amount of chocolate in two 30 second increments, stirring in between with a small rubber spatula. Then melt in 15 second increments if needed until chocolate is almost completely melted, still stirring between increments.  Then remove the bowl of melted chocolate from the microwave and add the remaining chopped chocolate. Stir the chocolate and allow chocolate to cool at room temperature stirring every minute or so until chocolate is completely smooth, about 4-5 minutes.

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Then pour the melted chocolate on a piece of parchment-paper and spread the chocolate with a small rubber spatula, about 8″ X 11″ rectangle. Then start to add the toppings of your choice. Press all the toppings into the chocolate with your hand to make sure all the toppings are attaching to chocolate. Sprinkle with coarse Sea Salt or fleur de sel, a finishing salt.

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Chocolate should set in about 3-4 hours, depending on room temperature and humidity.

Chocolate Shards:  When chocolate bark is set, move the bark to a cutting board with the parchment paper. Cut the bark with a chef’s knife on the diagonal, about 2-3 inches apart. Then break the strips with your hands or knife making triangle shard pieces. Eat or add to cupcakes, cake and etc…

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Also See Pioneer Honey Bee Party

See St. Patrick’s Cupcakes

Enjoy!

Lindy

St Patricks Cupcakes

~ lindy

St. Patrick’s Cupcakes

Makes 12 to 14 Cupcakes

*1 (16 ounce) box Pound Cake Mix, like Betty Crocker, make cake batter according to directions on box, 2 cups of the batter set aside for green Shamrocks

*Kelly Green Color Paste, small amount, add more until color desired

*Small Deep Shamrock Cookie Cutter, optional

*Cupcake Liners

*1 (9″ X 5″) Bread Pan

*Muffin/Cupcake Pan

*Parchment Paper

*Cooking Spray, such as Pam

*Neon Green Butter Cream Frosting

*Disposable Bag, with end cut to desired size for piping,optional

Directions:

Mix together the pound cake mix as directed.  Remove 2 cups of the batter and color it  green and bake in a parchment covered cooking sprayed bread pan. Set aside the white batter.

Green Batter Shamrocks: 

Bake 350*F.  for 20 minutes or until center springs back when touched.  Allow the green cake to cool and remove the cake and freeze for 20 minutes or until firm, cut out shamrock shapes.

Cupcakes with Shamrock Center: 

Pour a small amount about a tablespoon of the white  batter into each cupcake liner.  Then add shamrocks to the center, cover each shamrock cup with the rest of the batter evenly for 12 cupcakes and bake cupcakes 30 minutes at 350*F.  Allow cupcakes to cool and frost or pipe frosting of cupcakes.

Cool and frost/pipe on frosting with Butter Cream Frosting colored with Neon Green Frosting or desired color.

Butter Cream Frosting:

*1/2 cup Butter, room temperature

*1 and 3/4 cups Powder Sugar, more if needed

*3 to 4 tablespoons half and half, more as needed for piping/frosting

*1 teaspoon Lemon Extract

*2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

*Pinch of Sea Salt, literally

*3 to 4 drops Neon Food Coloring, as desired

Cream together the butter and sugar with hand mixer on medium speed.   Add lemon, vanilla, food coloring and salt.  Then add slowly in thirds the powder sugar and half and half, alternating. Continue mixing on medium- low-speed until Incorporated. Then on high-speed until light and fluffy.

See St. Patrick’s Chocolate Bark

Enjoy!

Lindy