M & M Bark

It is hotter than Hades outside this week.

I think I could bake cookies in my car right now.

Seriously.

Ridiculous.

I am adamantly refusing to turn on the oven.

That being said....I still need some chocolately/caramely treats to help me survive the heat.

I would make ice cream but that would mean driving to the store to buy ingredients and....that ....is just not happening right now.

M & M Bark

Ingredients

enough pretzel sticks to just cover the bottom of an 8 X 8 pan

30 or so caramels (I use Kraft caramels)

1 Tbsp cream (or whole milk)

1 1/4 cup chocolate chips

1 - 2 cups mini M & M's

Directions

Line an 8 X 8 inch pan with parchment paper. Spray lightly with cooking spray.

Spread out a layer of pretzel sticks, enough to cover the bottom of the prepared pan.

In a small, microwave safe bowl, stir caramels with the cream and heat, in 15 - 20 second intervals in the microwave, stirring until smooth.

Carefully spread the caramel on top of the pretzels.

In a small, microwave safe bowl, heat chocolate chips in microwave, stirring after every 10 - 15 seconds or so until smooth. (Be careful not to overheat or chocolate will seize.)

Spread over caramel layer.

Sprinkle with mini M & M's and lightly press into chocolate. (I put 1 to 2 cups of mini M & M's because you can use as many or as little as you want.)

Chill in fridge until solid, about an hour or two.

You can either cut it with a knife dipped in hot water OR simply break up with your hands.

A couple of good things about this recipe:

1. No oven involved (yay!)

2. Sooooooo easy

3. So so so tasty

4.  You can use what you have on hand and sub out the ingredients. ie: don't have pretzel sticks? Break up the bendy pretzels or use chopped nuts. Don't have chocolate chips? use a chopped up chocolate bar. Don't have mini M&M's? Use any candy or nuts you have. The only thing you really need to have is the caramels BUT, if you are so inclined, you can make your own.

Seeeeeeee...you can still have yummy treats without completely melting in the heat.

UPDATE!
We made this with Reese's Pieces for Thanksgiving!

It looked very pretty....this would be great for Halloween too.

Because the Reese's Pieces are bigger than the mini M&M's it is a little harder to cut into bars. The Reese's tended to pop off. It wtill worked out and looked pretty....and tasted very yummy!

Check out My Turn (for us) for some great links!