12 Days of Cookies: Day 8, Almond Bark

So here is where I started to deviate from my original plan.  I decided to move from cookies to sweets, but no one complained.  I didn't end up following this recipe exactly, but it was still delicious!

Chocolate-Almond Bark with Sea Salt

We like the rich flavor and look of Marcona almonds in this bark, but roasted almonds work nicely, too.

Makes about 1 3/4 lb.

Recipe by The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen

Photograph by Diane Fields

December 2011

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups roasted Marcona almonds (not in oil)
• 1 pound good-quality dark chocolate (62%–70% cacao), finely chopped
• Coarse sea salt (for sprinkling)
• 
  

Preparation

• Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or foil. Combine sugar with 2 Tbsp. water in a small saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil and cook, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with a wet pastry brush, until caramel is dark amber, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Immediately add butter; whisk until melted. Add almonds; stir until well coated. Transfer to baking sheet, spreading out to separate nuts. Let cool. Break up any large clumps of nuts. Set aside 1/4 of nuts.
• Stir chocolate in a medium bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until melted. Remove from heat, add nuts from baking sheet, and stir quickly to combine. Spread chocolate-nut mixture on same baking sheet, keeping nuts in a single layer. Top with the reserved nuts; sprinkle with salt. Chill until chocolate is set, about 3 hours.
• Break bark into pieces and store between layers of parchment or waxed paper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Keep chilled.
  
  

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