Spicy Chocolate Bark
Add a little spice to your Monday with this easy chocolate bark. From my daughter’s recipe collection Spicy Chocolate Bark.
Chocolatl derived from the Nahuatl word “xocolatl” made up from the words “xococ” meaning sour or bitter, and “atl” meaning water or drink.
A few lines from her baking curriclum:
We recently researched chocolate as part of my baking curriculum and what I learned really changed my outlook on this amazing ingredient. We all know of how chocolate was brought to Europe by the conquistadores. The Aztecs idolized chocolate. Chocolatl derived from the Nahuatl word Xocolatl was served during important ceremonies and was given to the soldiers to improve their stamina, helping to fight off fatigue. What I wanted to find out is how chocolate found its way into our kitchen.
What I learned is that between Central Mexico and western Honduras cacao was taken to another level for cooking. At the time the only part of the cacao that was eaten was the white pulp. Not wanting to waste any part of pod, the seeds were treated as they would treat all produce. The pumpkin seeds, chiles, and extra corn left from harvest were left in the sun to dry, and then roasted on a comal to grind for cooking.
A technique used for produce transformed cacao from a bitter taste to sweet paste. The heat from the sun and the roasting on the comal released the natural oil from the beans. Grinding the beans with its oil created a sweet paste that was formed into little balls to dry for later use. This development opened the window for experimenting with chocolate. Herbs, flowers, spices, and honey were added to create new flavors of chocolate. This method is still used today in Mexico.
- 12 ounces dark chocolate or semi sweet chocolate
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- ¾ teaspoon Mexican cinnamon grated with a zester
- ¾ teaspoon ancho chile powder plus more for garnish
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds
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On a baking sheet toast pumpkin seeds at 350 degrees for 4 minutes.
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Cool.
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Melt chocolate.
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Add spices and more than half of the pumpkin seeds.
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Stir to incorporate the spices.
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Spread chocolate on wax paper.
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Lightly press the left over pumpkin seeds and sprinkle ancho chile for color.
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Freeze for 5 minutes or until chocolate sets.
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Break into pieces.
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Serve.
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Store in fridge.
This recipe was originally published over at Mommy Maestra where my daughter shares her monthly adventures in the kitchen.
Yum, love the idea of a spicy chocolate bark.
a few years back i received a book about chocolate. i was so surprised to read how actually chocolate came to life.
great looking bark!
What a great post and history! This looks so amazing and just love a bit of spice with my chocolate 🙂
That looks super neat—it should be wrapped up with a ribbon.
Your chocolate bark is incredible! I love that you included pumpkin seeds and some spice… Very original. I have featured this post in today’s Friday Food Fetish roundup. Let me know if you have any objections and thanks for the inspiration
Have tasted spicy chocolate bars but have never ventured into making my own..this looks perfect!
Regular chocolate bark is good…but this hint of spice would have me seriously addicted.
i just love your posts–they’re generally pretty informative as well as ridiculously enticing!
Chocolate and cayenne & chile powder is such a neat combo, and I really like the addition of pumpkin seeds here too!
lovely 🙂
Oh my, I love chocolate bark! What a wonderful recipe with a ‘kick’!
Very interesting. Thanks for the lesson.
Spices and pumpkin seeds sound like a perfect pairing with chocolate.
LL
wow this look amazing!!! Vianney!
I love the idea of sprinkling ancho chile powder onto and into chocolate. That spice and warmth really plays well against the chocolate. Looks delicious!
How very interesting! I agree with Rosa, this IS a wonderful treat. 🙂
What a great combination of flavors! I really love chocolate and chile pepper!
That is a FANTASTIC combination! I would devour it. De. Vour. 😉
Mmmhhh, a wonderful treat!
Cheers,
Rosa