Almond Bark Question

17 years ago

I have cooked for years, but have never used bark. Is it worth using? My sons caregiver was talking to me as I was choosing some recipes, and suggested using it. She thinks the ease and quality make it very useful. I am a skeptic to many shortcuts, but thought the best advice I could get is from here. So, what do you think? There sure are a lot of recipes using it, but that doesn't make it good.

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Comments (16)

Terri_PacNW
17 years ago
Hi Cathy..
I'm a label reader now....and I've not read an Almond Bark Label..but I happen to have some Candiquik in my pantry..now in front of me...Naturally flavored Vanilla.
I do use it occasionally for certain things..but I much prefer to use "real" chocolate or white chocolate. Ghiradeli used to sell chunks of their chocolates to Trader Joes and I'd buy all three kinds there and use it for all things that needed to be filled, dipped or eaten plain. LOL
But alas..they've stop carrying it in my area...
So back to more expensive options until I saw this at Walmart I believe and picked it up for my little peppermint heart candies at Christmas time. I appreciate the simple ingredients list..
Sugar (sugar, cornstarch), partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil(not something we normally consume around here!) corn syrup solids, nonfat dry milk, natural flavors, soy lecithin, milk powder.

Again "bark" does have it's place..but if you can get away with using and finding affordable "real" stuff use it instead!
Tracey_OH
17 years ago
What do you want to use it for? I am an avid label reader, but for us all the rules go out the window during Christmas. I use almond bark for peanut clusters and I use Merckens candy melts for peppermint bark. Honestly, I don't like the flavor of regular white chocolate. I prefer the vanilla taste of the bark in my candies, but the rest of the year, I don't touch the stuff.
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You don't say where you live..It looks to me like a winter bark cracking if you are from a colder area or the spring freeze..but that is a bit unusual for an older tree ..I have had younger hard maples and fruit trees do this..it usually heals over time ..but it could be vermin or something else I would have your local extension service or a licenced arbourist look at it ..without on the spot inspection we might do more harm than good with arm chair diagnosis..I think it could be serious and my instinct it is a bark defoliating thing that could be a symptom of something much more dangerous..I personally don't agree with Matt on this or your statement of storm damage ..i have seen this before and it looks like a bark related thing to me NOT storm stress...but as i said your best bet is to get a pro analysis.David
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Hi - I'm thinking the 'snap' may be due more to ambient temperature than anything inherent in the chocolate - do you store it in the fridge as the recipe directs? Or maybe...2 pounds spread on 11X17 baking sheet sounds rather thick - maybe use 2 sheets & spread thinner? I make almond bark w/ Sunspire organic choc. chips & a bit of fresh vanilla bean seeds(split bean & scrape out) &/or a few drops orange oil plus toasted almonds - spreading the melted mess onto parchment paper as thinly as possible. It comes out quite hard. Perhaps it's the white chocolate in the above recipes - doesn't that have a higher cocoa butter content? FWIW, HTH
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maureen_me
17 years ago
Boy, am I ignorant. The only thing I've ever known as "almond bark" is the chocolate candy that comes in big sheets and has almonds sprinkled through it, where you break off hunks of it to eat. I had no idea what you all were talking about, so I looked it up. Now I have to hunt some down just to see what I've been missing. Live and learn.
caliloo
17 years ago
Maureen - you and me both! I only thought it was the already made sheets with nuts in it too. Live and learn!

Alexa
jojoco
17 years ago
Almond bark does not taste like almonds. It works in ways that other, better quality chocolates do not. Melting real chocolate chips and putting them on candies never guarantees a good set up of the chocolate. Almond bark will always set perfectly. Not great for things where chocolate is the main focus (like bark), but indispensible for dipped candies.
Jo
lindac
17 years ago
I don't "do" almond bark....never bought it never used it...but have tasted it in stuff made by others.
I don't like it nor "white chocolate"....give me the real stuff.....dark and rich...as they say! Preferably with blue eyes!!
Linda C
lakeguy35
17 years ago
I only use the bark during the holidays for White Trash. It's a combo of ceral, peanuts, and pretzels. Love the sweet and salty combo. I've just dipped mini pretzels in it too. I just checked my label and it's the same as Terri's but the vanilla is artificial. I didn't think I'd like those Cheeto things from last year...but we did. LOL!

David
Terri_PacNW
17 years ago
Yeah but David..if it had REAL vanilla in it, it would say so..LOL so what is the "natural flavors" that make it vanilla flavored candy coating?? hmmmmmmmmm

Like Tracey, the rules go out the window at Christmas..LOL

And Almond Bark is a brand name for confectionary coating.

And Almond Bark is also a "chocolate" almond "candy"...
cathyid
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the replies. I also didn't really know about bark either, until this lady told me about it. I think I will try it, or what Terri has from WalMart. It is for dipping, mainly pretzels and making peanut clusters. She said it was a sure thing, which made me curious. Thanks again.
Terri_PacNW
17 years ago
Yes, Cathy, that will work perfectly for that...
lakeguy35
17 years ago
Who knows Terri..lol! It's Christmas like Tracey said. I make three double batches of the trash. One for the office, one for family, and one for trays and entertaining....it's gone by the first of the year.

David
Tracey_OH
17 years ago
David, I love the white trash recipe! I haven't made it in a few years, but it's definitely a favorite. May have to pull that one out for xmas! Although when I made it, I used 2 bags of Nestle white chocolate chips.

Tracey
lakeguy35
17 years ago
I'll have to try it with the white chips Tracey. Thanks for the tip!

David
PRO
Total construction of florida
10 years ago
Almond bark so simple taste like chocolate. Place four squares in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute stir with fork. Continue microwaving and 2o second intervals until creamy. Caution do not over cook. Now dip any of your favorite foods in it.

My personal favorite. Brown coconut in oven until chrispy. ( not black)

One package of coconut to 4 squares of almond bark. Blend well.

Spoon onto wax paper .place in freezer ten minutes. Sets up almond bark. Now enjoy.

This is called hay stacks.

7.00 each in the store.
lindac92
10 years ago
Nope....not buying it....nor your recommendation.
cathyid
Original Author
10 years ago
Boy was this post dug out of the archives. lol I bought two packages of bark, used one to let the great -grandkids dip pretzels and dried apricots, the other got shoved to the back of the pantry and forgotten and I tossed it out because it was old. It worked fine for what we used it for, but never crossed my mind to buy it again.

Almond Bark Question

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