Jill Myles | Gentlemen Prefer...Holiday Bark

As we wind through the holidays, my mind is set on my upcoming book release instead of the actual Christmas holiday itself. The stockings are hung, the tree is up, and my mind is still fixated on succubi, vampires, and fallen angels.

Not an entirely terrible problem to have, of course. My first novel GENTLEMEN PREFER SUCCUBI comes out on December 29th, so it’s understandable that I’m starting to babble to myself and spend all day either clicking on Amazon.com to check my book ranking or mailing out bookmarks. Or weeping incoherently. But that doesn’t put the holiday goodies on the table, right? And when family is expecting you to bring over something tasty and delicious and holiday-themed, this could leave you in a bit of a quandary.

So to keep in theme with my books AND the holidays, I’ve created a few Holiday Bark recipes that remind me of my favorite characters.

But first...the basics.

To create any holiday bark, you need:

Wax Paper
A pan
A microwave
Chocolate Chips

Do you lean a little toward the good side of things? Are you wholesome? If so, you might like Angel Bark. To make this, you need:

1 package of coconut shreds
1 16 oz bag of White Chocolate Chips
Several drops of peppermint extract

To melt the chocolate chips, simply pour them into a microwave-safe bowl in your microwave, and heat for 30 seconds. Then stir. Then heat for 30 seconds again. Repeat until completely melted - some microwaves take longer than others. Once your chocolate is melted, add the peppermint extract (add less or more depending on how strong you want the taste) and the coconut shreds. Stir together. Line your pan with the wax paper and pour the mixture over. Put in the fridge to make it harden, and then you can break it into smaller pieces. Voilà - white chocolate goodness with just a hint of fluff and a taste of peppermint.

Or maybe you’re into vampires? The darker side of things? Try a decadent Vampire Bark.

1 small package of almonds slivers
1 16 oz bag of Dark Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup of candied cherries (no juice) - chopped into fine bits

Again, to melt the chocolate chips, simply pour them into a microwave-safe bowl in your microwave, and heat for 30 seconds. Then stir. Then heat for 30 seconds again. Repeat until completely melted - some microwaves take longer than others. Once your chocolate is melted, add the almond slivers and the chopped candied cherries. Stir together. Line your pan with the wax paper and pour the mixture over. Put in the fridge to make it harden, and then you can break it into smaller pieces.

There you have it – dark, rich bark with a hint of red sweetness (cherry) and nuts.

So there you have it! My two favorite holiday barks - both sweet and easy to make, one dark and rich, and one light and delicious.

So which would you choose? Vampire or angel?