Chocolate Anise Bark
A sweet snack, full of chewy dried cherries and apricots, to nibble or wrap as a gift.
Cooks' note:
• Bark keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week.
Recipe information
Total Time
45 minutes
Yield
Makes 6 pieces
Ingredients
1 teaspoon anise seeds
1/3 cup dried tart cherries
1/3 cup dried apricots, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup salted roasted cashews, coarsely chopped
6 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), finely chopped
Preparation
Step 1
Line a small baking sheet with foil and chill.
Step 2
Finely grind anise in an electric coffee/spice grinder.
Step 3
Stir together cherries, apricots, and cashews.
Step 4
Melt chocolate in a double boiler or a small metal bowl set over a small saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally, until smooth.
Step 5
Stir in anise and half of fruit and spoon onto center of baking sheet. Spread with a rubber spatula into a roughly 10- by 5-inch rectangle and sprinkle with remaining fruit mixture, pressing lightly to help adhere.
Step 6
Chill until firm, about 30 minutes, then break into pieces.
