Mermaid Bark

Intro: Mermaid Bark

 Impossible to have just one piece. It is irresistible and beautiful.

Sweet and crunchy, tart and salty, this candy hits all the pleasure centers.

Yet, so simple that even beginners can say to amazed tasters,

"Oh, i made it myself."

STEP 1: Getting Started

A combination of fine white chocolate sprinkled with sea salt, toasted pecans, and dried tart cherries that adds up to more than the sum of its parts.

Ingredients

One pound of premium white chocolate such as four - 4 ounce bars of Ghirardelli White Chocolate, 1 pound total. 

1 cup of whole pecans, toasted in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, then broken with fingers as chopping creates unattractive nut dust.

1/2 cup of dried cherries, chopped to 1/4 inch pieces

Sea salt to taste. I like chunky sea salt with large crystals. I sprinkle about one teaspoon to one and a half teaspoon over the batch before the nuts and cherries.

Tools

Chopping knife
Measuring cups and spoons
4 quart Pyrex measuring cup
Spatula
Jelly roll pan 10 1/2 by 15 inches
Parchment paper

STEP 2: Chop Chocolate and Melt

Chop all of the white chocolate into 1/4 inch bits.

Melt one half of the chocolate in a heat resistant measuring cup in the microwave.

Start with one minute at 50 percent power, Stir, and repeat. Repeat until this half of the chocolate chocolate is entirely melted. This is a critical part of this simple candy. Watch the melting, stir  frequently and do not over heat. 

STEP 3: Add Unmelted to Melted and Stir

Add the second half of chocolate to the melted part and stir without returning to the microwave, all the chocolate will melt.

This tempers the chocolate. Do not return to microwave. Over heating at this point will cause chocolate to lose its glossy surface. It will still taste good but it won't be as pretty. 

STEP 4: Spread Into a Luscious Layer

Pour and spread melted chocolate on a parchment lined jelly roll pan to 1/4 in thickness.

It should about cover the flat surface of the pan.

STEP 5: Sprinkle Sea Salt

Sprinkle sea salt evenly over the surface.

Sprinkle toasted and broken pecans and chopped cherries evenly over the surface clear to the edges.

Press down gently to embed chunks into the cooling surface.

STEP 6: A Gift Fit for All Mythical Creatures

Cool and break into irregular shapes. Serve on silver platter or box as a gift.  

This homemade candy rivals expensive gourmet chocolates In taste and appearance.

Comments

[kltcarr]

Made as an entry for the local fair. The judges left 1 piece and took the recipe. Blue ribbon best of show in candy making. I only changed from pecans to walnuts to utilize my fresh ones this year. Thank you.

[sherrycayheyhey]

This is not my first time ending up on your Instructable and I intend on making it this Christmas but I have to ask about the title, Mermaid Bark. I was thinking salt...sea....mermaid...Is there a story behind Mermaid Bark? It looks delicious and has a fun name and if I make some for my family I would love to tell them any story behind the name.

[leapingsalmon]

Hi Sherry,
You are thinking exactly along the lines I thought of when coming up with a name for this candy.....plus we live on an island in the north Pacific ocean....I wanted a name that would entice commercial fishermen to make this recipe ...so if they created this Lure for Mermaids ... just perhaps.....

Thank you for your comments. This recipe adds up to more than the sum of its parts...truely delicious and simple to make.

[ihoi]

Eww, salt in candy? I'll try it anyways because it says "mermaid" in the title, but I don't think I'll like it... We'll see

[Popopopper]

well... have you ever had salt in candy, something like chocolate covered pretzels? I haven't had this, but I think it would be great, because salt usually brings out the sweetness in something.

[LadySapphira]

Thank you very much for this Instructable!!! I just tried it out - so easy and yummy!

I've been doing a bunch of random baking for Halloween, and decided to try these out while I was in the kitchen. I was thinking if they worked well maybe I'd make them during the winter holidays and hand them out to people I care about.

I took a bit too long to press in everything and it started to harden a bit so I had to cheat and quickly pop it in an ultra low oven. Didn't damage it too much but I'll be faster next time XD


thanks again!

[leapingsalmon]

Lady Sapphira,
So glad you liked the Mermaid Bark. It is simple and yummy. What I really do well is wild salmon.......www.wildsalmonkitchen.com/blog/ My wild salmon caviar is on a You Tube video WildLivinginAlaska Channel....Thank you for your comments!

[MichiganBelle]

I loved the pictures and the even better tastign snack. Being a Kingdom Hearts fan I eat Sea Salt Icecream all the time. To find another PERFECT salty-sweet treat really made me smile. : ]] Thank you so much for sharing your lovely recipe!

[Queen Esther]

tasty

[Zombie_BBQ]

Oh that looks so tasty...nom nom nom.. im going to have to try this.

[leapingsalmon]

What a surprise, this attracts Zombies too. I'm not surprised as it is very delicious.

[angelabchua]

love the photos!

[leapingsalmon]

Thank you, I appreciated your positive comment about the photos. My son said they were too contrasty...I'm learning.

[jessandstavro]

That does look yummy. You could up the 'mermaid' factor by sprinkling pieces of nori along with the nuts & cherries! Would that be too weird?

[leapingsalmon]

I would leave the ingredients to the perfect four, white chocolate, sea salt, dried cherries, and toasted pecans. If you add nori you might hear the call of the sea sirens and that wouldn't be good.

[Hamutt]

amelight

[leapingsalmon]

Hello,
I hope you can find the ingredients for this where you live. These four ingredients are the ones that create the special treat. Cheers!

[Lindie]

I must try this!!!! Yummy!

[leapingsalmon]

Thank you for your comment! Let me know if you attract any mermaids or mermen. I heard they really go for this.