Chocolate Caramel Apple Bark

 Good afternoon my dear friends.  I am so happy to see you back, and welcome to anyone who may be new here!  We are back with an easy dessert for fall, or anytime you need something sweet.  These are getting right up outta this house and going to work with my husband.  They aren't safe here.  And neither am I!

I have seen this "recipe" if you will, all over the place.  I mean, I have seen them done 10 different ways.  Make your own caramel, caramel sauce (still haven't figured out how that works), caramel bits, traditional caramels...you get my point.  I would have chosen to make my own caramel, it is so easy, but I had already bought these caramels, and can we get to the real questions??  Do you say CARMEL, or CARAMEL?  Inquiring minds....

I can't believe Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away.  Random I know.  I am not cooking this year!  Well, I am but just having the holiday at my sisters so I am bringing Pineapple Stuffing because my family can't have a holiday without it, green beans, because I accidentally bought 10 bags of frozen green beans while doing my Wal-Mart grocery delivery order, and stuffing, because I like mine best.  I will probably crank out a huge pan of baked mac and cheese as well for good measure.  I think I am subconsciously all ready for it to be here.  Thanksgiving dinner is my favorite meal of life, besides good seafood which is hard to come by in Nebraska!  The end.

I will have explained in this video why I did a few things differently than maybe some other recipes you have seen for this.  I did change up a major thing which was using freeze dried apples instead of fresh.  Ain't nobody got time to risk apples turning brown, including me!  I hope you enjoy and HAPPY FALL!!  Sending blessings to you all!

You Will Need:

• 2 cups chocolate or white chocolate chips (I choose 1 cup of milk chocolate and 1 cup white chocolate
• 2 cups of caramels (measure before melting)
• 1/2 cup pistachios (shelled)
• 1 cup freeze dried apples (smoosh them up a little so the bark is easier to break when done) OR use 1 apple of your choice, diced small.
• pretzels, between 1/2 to 1 cup.  

Line your cookie sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.  Melt your chocolates you can do it in the microwave or on the stove.  If you do them in the microwave, you need to heat them in 30 second increments, and stir between ever 30 seconds.  If you overheat/scorch them, it will be a clump of what appears to be half dried mud.  Not a good look or taste.  Now you canc use all chocolate chips, milk or semi-sweet, but I opted for 1 cup of white chocolate chips and 1 cup of milk chocolate chips because I don't LOVE chocolate with the caramel apple flavor.  No don't come for me, a little is fine, but the entire base of the bark, no thanks.  It worked out more than perfect.  Make sure your chips are at room temp when you heat them.  Mine were out of the freezer and tried to seize up but I rule and caught them in the nick of time.  You will see this on the video.  When I spread the chocolate out, I then crushed up pretzels in my hand.  You can lay them out nice and tidy if you so choose, I didn't so choose.  I then sprinkled the pistachios on.  I saw some bare spots and panicked!  Hehe

Next, melt the caramel, SLOWLY heat it.  I did my caramel on the stove.  When it is completely melted, (keep stirring soldier) stir well and then pour on top of the chocolate/pretzels/pistachio layer and spread out evenly.  I left a small border so you could see the chocolate layer around the edges.  Work quickly so you can get your apples on top before it sets.  I just used my hands to crunch up my apples still in the bag.  I happened to get these apples at Dollar Tree because I was there, and we have tried them before, and I didn't want to use fresh apples. Problem solved.  Get them on, press them down a bit and let sit for at least 1 hour.  

Break it up and place in an airtight container.

The textures of this you guys....is awesome.  A slight chew from the freeze-dried fruit, crunch from the pistachios and pretzels, creamy chocolate, chewy caramel.......it all comes down to the fact you just need to make these.  It doesn't have to be more difficult than that!

ENJOY!

Cinnamon Caramel Crunch

Hello friends!

Hoping this finds you all happy and healthy!  It is November 1st.  WHAT?  How is this even possible?  NOVEMBER!  CHRISTMAS SEASON!  AACCKK!  Most unnerving is that there will be snow soon.  At the beginning of every winter, I ask myself why we are still here?!  Then the first snow happens, and I am thrilled, and then I am over it again.  I mean, it is what it is.  Right?  

This is an easy little snack, fun for your kids' lunchboxes, snack time or anytime.  I am using things up in my pantry and I challenge you to do the same, use things already in your cupboards or freezer, pantry, or wherever you may keep your food.  Don't let anything go to waste, go bad, or become unusable.  I don't think you can have too many of these quick snack recipes.  I feed people, it is what I do, so when someone is coming over.... forget about it!

Be ready to get addicted to this.  I always try to warn you but, I mean, it is the least I can do!

Let's get the show on the road.  

• 5 cups oyster crackers
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1.5 tsp cinnamon
• 2 T granulated sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Get your oven preheated to 350F.  Line a cookie sheet with foil and set it aside.  Place the oyster crackers in a large bowl and also, set them aside. 

In a medium saucepan, combine the butter and brown sugar.  Once it is melted bring it to a boil and let boil for 2 minutes while you stir.  DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT forget you are dealing with hot sugar, and you WILL land in the ER if you try and taste this!  After 2 minutes, remove from the heat and add in 1.5 tsp cinnamon and the vanilla.  Stir until completely combined.  Pour over the oyster crackers and stir with a rubber spatula until the crackers are well coated.  Pour unto your cookie sheet and spread them out into as single of a layer as possible.  Bake for 10-15 minutes.  WHILE that is happening, mix together your 2T sugar and 1tsp cinnamon, you will need to sprinkle your crackers when you remove them with this mixture and let sit until cooled.  Break up the crackers and store in an airtight container or a Ziploc bag!

ENJOY!