The low whisper keeps repeating itself. “I’ll make your day so much better” it says. It follows along no matter where you go. You try to leave the house and it comes with you. You try to drown it with water. It swims back to the surface. The constant nagging only increases the craving. There is nothing to do except give in and take a big bite. Resistance is futile. Chocolate is very persistent. Stop the whisper and indulge with chunky dark chocolate bars.
I have a chocolate tooth. Some people say they have a sweet tooth. My mom is one of them. She won’t pass up a sweet treat or dessert for anything. I can occasionally pass on a sweet however it is very rare I’ll pass on chocolate. The only chocolates I could do without are salted ones (because I all taste is salt in those) and a few others including chocolate covered cherries. I can’t just take one bite of chocolate either. Two bites may do but six or so is better.
How are the chunky dark chocolate bars? They are similar in consistency to fudge and filled with graham crackers, dried fruits, and toasted pecans. The graham crackers soften and are not crunchy. They make airy pockets that break up the denseness. Chewy dried fruits add a certain sweetness. Pecans give yet another texture and added flavor. They are for people who love dark chocolate. You can make them a little sweeter by substituting bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate instead of unsweetened.
Does chocolate whisper to you? It calls my name every day. I’m glad this recipes makes a lot of bars. There are plenty for me to enjoy and share with friends and family. They are a great homemade holiday gift. For other chocolate fudge type recipes take a look at Rocky Road and Fantastic Fudge.
Chunky Dark Chocolate Bars
Ingredients
- 12 ounces unsweetened chocolate chopped or broken into small pieces
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 ounces
- 8 ounces graham crackers broken into small pieces
- 5 ounces mixed dried fruit
- 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
Instructions
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Line an 11- X 17- X 2-inch cake pan with plastic wrap.
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Melt the chocolate and butter in a large bowl over a pot of simmering water. Stir until well combined.
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Remove the chocolate from the heat. Stir in condensed milk until smooth.
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Add graham crackers, dried fruit, and pecans. Mix well to coat ingredients with chocolate.
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Pour the mixture into the cake pan. Spread evenly, making sure it is pressed into the corners.
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Cool to room temperature then chill until set, at least 1 hour.
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Lift out of the pan using the plastic wrap then peel away and discard plastic wrap.
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Cut in bars 1-inch wide and 2 1/4-inches long.
Recipe Notes
A recipe for chunky dark chocolate bars. The bars are lightly sweetened and filled with chunks of graham crackers, dried fruit, and nuts. They are a wonderful snack.
Recipe adapted from one in the Chocolate Fantasies cookbook published in 1998.
Holly says
November 26, 2013 at 11:13 amOh my gosh. It is no longer a whisper– after reading your post and drooling over your photos, I am hearing chocolate calling to me now and very LOUDLY! Yum.
Renee says
November 26, 2013 at 4:01 pmThanks so much Holly and hopefully you will get your chocolate craving satisfied soon.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
November 26, 2013 at 11:55 amI has a chocolate tooth too, it’s cool, I get it. I love these bars they look SO yummy and perfect for those cravings. I adore the graham cracker bits inside!
Renee says
November 26, 2013 at 4:00 pmI wondered about the graham cracker bits at first then realized how great they are in the bars.
Lyn says
November 26, 2013 at 2:30 pmOh Renee, chocolate never whispers at me. It always shouts 🙂 These bars got my attention. This is a keeper!
Renee says
November 26, 2013 at 3:59 pmThanks Lyn. I think chocolate shouts at a lot of folks.
Susan says
November 26, 2013 at 3:54 pmChocolate absolutely speaks to me, especially when it’s filled with stuff!
Renee says
November 26, 2013 at 3:59 pmMost of the time I prefer plain chocolate however I was in the mood for something different. These really fit my craving.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
November 26, 2013 at 7:35 pmoh for gosh sakes. That looks great!
Renee says
November 27, 2013 at 11:43 amThanks so much Dorothy and it is great, at least I haven’t been able to resist eating one or two every day.
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes says
November 27, 2013 at 9:42 amI used to hate dried fruits in chocolate, but that has changed completely in the last years. I’m so into these bars Renee! Dark chocolate and just about every bit and end of fruits and nuts and cookies thrown inside! My kind of recipe. It reminds me of a recipe from Nigella too that I’ve been meaning to make for years.
Renee says
November 27, 2013 at 11:45 amThanks Paula and you should make that Nigella recipe if you have had it on your to-do list for a while. Plus then I get to see it on your blog.
Nancy @ gottagetbaked says
November 27, 2013 at 12:38 pmRenee, chocolate yells at me every hour on the hour. I never tell people how much I really eat in a day because I imagine the look of disbelief and horror on their faces! You totally had me in mind when you were making these gorgeous, delicious, decadent bars. There’s no way I could stop at two bites with these.
Renee says
November 29, 2013 at 8:34 amThe secret of how much chocolate you eat on any given day is safe with me. I won’t tell anyone.
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
November 27, 2013 at 9:25 pmYour chocolate bars sound wonderful…I think I’ll use candied orange peel for the fruit.
Renee says
November 29, 2013 at 8:32 amWhat a great idea Karen. There are many possibilities for substituting the fruit or nuts.
Carla says
November 28, 2013 at 11:05 amMmm I love everything about these bars! Chocolate, nuts, fruit. Definitely makes any day better.
Renee says
November 29, 2013 at 8:30 amThanks Carla. It does have lots of goodies inside.
Liz says
November 29, 2013 at 6:43 pmMMmmm….I love all the wonderful textures from your add ins! What a delicious chocolate treat 🙂
Renee says
November 30, 2013 at 8:36 amThanks Liz and these bars do have such nice textures.
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
December 1, 2013 at 7:49 pmYeeeah, unfortunately I can’t resist sweets, especially chocolate. In fact, I’ve been known to be called a “sweet junkie”. Hehe. I’m loving these bars! I’ve never seen anything like them. They sound and look delish. 🙂
Renee says
December 7, 2013 at 9:27 amLooks like the chocolate weakness club is quite large. I’m glad you found these bars Tina and they are quite delish.