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Chocolate Jumble, Candy Cane Bark, and More Easy Chocolate Treats to Make

Do you start a project when there's something on your mind and you need a distraction?  Well, the early morning found me making chocolates, that's a quiet time before the traffic starts, even before the birds get up and Lucy is watching me from the archway, waiting for the slightest gesture from me to give her a hug or something to eat.

On this morning I decided to tackle the candy making as I was getting short of time left to do so.  This is what I was making at 4am.

Gather your ingredients, this is incredibly easy to make.





I like to melt the chocolate in a small nonstick saucepan, slowly between the Low and #2 setting.  You could microwave it.  Check on it, stirring to blend and see how fast and thin the chocolate will drip.
Crushed candy canes added to some of the chocolate, stir and then pour the mixture on a waxed paper lined tray.  Spread with the back of the wooden spoon and then put the tray in the fridge to cool, or on the counter until it's firm.  Give it several hours, depending on the temp in the room, humidity, etc.    
Put as much or as little candy cane as you like.  I made the cane pieces very small, didn't want any broken teeth for anyone.  Once this tray of chocolate was broken, you could see the pieces of candy cane and it looked pretty good.
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With some of the plain melted chocolate, I spooned it over the pretzel rods, then I sprinkled crushed candy cane over them and put the rods on the waxed paper lined tray to set, putting it in the fridge to firm them up.

A second dipping would be nice after the first was set and cold, using a different chocolate and then the topping.  Today I was short on time and used one     thick chocolate layer and topping after it.




This is the Chocolate Jumble.  It's broken pretzels and Reese's Peanut Butter Chips  with melted chocolate poured over them in a bowl and mixed thoroughly.  Then the combo is spread on a waxed paper lined tray where I sprinkled ground walnuts and cinnamon sugar on top.

After this was thoroughly set and cooled I lifted it off the paper, turned it smooth side up and whacked it into pieces with a kitchen mallet.  A clean hammer or other strong tool would also work.  I break it up on the smooth side to keep the toppings side looking nice.

One regular size bag of Hershey's Special Dark chips made the tray of Candy Cane Bark and 30 Pretzel Dipping Sticks.  The tray size for the bark was the toaster oven tray.

A second bag of the Hershey's Special Dark chips and about 3/4 bag of Reese's Peanut Butter chips made the Chocolate Jumble.  I used about half a bag of pretzels for the Jumble. It's really good!  The tray size was the long cookie sheet, not the regular size.

With the teeny bits that were left after smashing, I gathered them to save for another use such as ice cream topping, put over frosting, put into cookie dough, etc.

Chocolate and pretzels- good.  Chocolate, peanut butter and pretzels- really good.  If you make it, I'd like to hear how you like it.

14 comments :

Magic Love Crow said...

4:00am Gloria!!! Wow!! You start early! I have to say, these recipes are truly something I would like to try, because I love pretzels and chocolate! One of my favorite treats to buy, at one of our local bakery's, is pretzel sticks, with carmel and chocolate! Yummy!! Thanks for making me hungry! LOL! Have a great one my friend ;o) (By the way, I think I will be keeping the white corner button. I come home late tomorrow night, so I might be e-mailing you in the week, so some help!)

Gloria said...

Thanks Stacy! I was sent a TY from a group of ladies who rec'd this chocolate and they said it was Superb! Their word, not mine. It is pretty tasty. It's so easy to make, you might not have to go to the bakery. Talk to you when you get back.

Cindy Adkins said...

Hi Gloria,
Wow, this looks delicious!!! What a great tutorial, my friend. I wanted to tell you that we went out to see the meteor shower the other night, but the sky was too hazy to see them...I had seen one in Calif. several years ago and it was so clear. But, we don't know why it was too hazy here in New Orleans...but, it was still exciting!!!
XO
Cindy

Miss Val's Creations said...

These goodies look delicious Gloria! I would love to attempt making bark one of these days. It is so fun to eat!

We did watch the Once Upon a Time marathon but missed the last 2 episodes because we fell asleep! Last night I was too tired to get through the new episode so tonight I plan on watching it On Demand. Can't wait!!!!

Claire Justine said...

These look great and fun to make.Thanks for linking up to Creative Mondays :)

Additionsstyle said...

Good for you for starting early. Your candies look really tasty, I love chocolate and pretzels. I usually don't make a lot of sweets, but these are so easy I may have to give them a try.
Valerie
Everyday Inspired

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the baking tips....I need all I can get! BTW....I wanted to invite you to stop by my blog. We are having an "impossibility" challenge for 2012!

Gloria said...

Hi ladies, this was a labor of love, and restraint- I only kept a little bit for myself!

Cindy, once I saw my first meteor shower and the Aurora Borealis, the night sky was never the same. There was cloud cover here, too, not a very clear view, but I did see a few shooting stars, until I was nearly frozen and went back into the house!

Val, this series makes me relive my old fairytale books, thanks for mentioning it on your blog.

Clairejustine, thank you and you're welcome!

Valerie, this is so easy and you can personalize to suit your tastes. It's only the third time I ever made chocolate covered pretzels.

thistle, thanks and I'll be over for that series, too.

Lucy said...

This sounds delicious and I am going to have star this and give it a try!

Gloria said...

Lucy, give it that try!

Kristin Aquariann said...

Yum!! The Chocolate Jumble sounds dangerously delicious. *drools*

Gloria said...

aquariann, I can attest that it is! ha ha

Hanna said...

Hi there. I'm Hanna! Found you on the bacon link up!!! BEAUTIFUL, lovely, wonderful inspiration here adn I love your blog too. New follower!!!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! You can find me anytime at www.bouffebambini.blogspot.com

Kristin Dawn said...

Hey, new follower from the Blog Party over at Sincerely, Paula. These look delicious, can't wait to try it out! :)

xo,
Kristin
aboutagirl.ca