Chocolate Bark

The addition of smoked chilli and spices into this chocolate bar is subtle but utterly addictive. It makes a wonderful finish to a meal, accompanied by hot chocolate or coffee.

Prep time 15 mins + setting
Cook time 5 mins
Serves 12-16

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp very finely chopped dried smoked chilli
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp five-spice powder
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp fine black pepper
  • 500g dark chocolate (at least 60 percent cocoa solids), coarsely chopped
  • 1½ cups coarsely chopped dried cranberries
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped unsalted roasted cashews
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped pistachios, plus extra to sprinkle

Method

  1. Place the chilli, cloves, five-spice, cinnamon and black pepper in a heavy frypan and toast over medium heat until they just start to smell fragrant (about 30 seconds). Don’t overheat or they will burn.
  2. Line an oven tray with baking paper for easy clean-up. Gently melt the chocolate in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, or in a large bowl over a pot of boiling water. Remove from heat and stir in toasted spice mix and dried fruit and nuts, reserving about ½ cup pistachios. Spread evenly on the prepared tray, sprinkle with extra pistachios and leave in a cool place until set (about 45 minutes). Break or chop into chunks. Store in a sealed container in a cool place for up to a month.

 

View a video of Annabel making this recipe in her new TV series Annabel Langbein The Free Range Cook: Through the Seasons at annabel-langbein.com