Christmas Chocolate Nut Bark Candy

• 1 lb. butter (real butter only)
• 1 lb. chocolate, shaved or chopped fine
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups chopped walnuts
• 1 T. vanilla

Put parchment or wax paper on bottom of jelly roll pan. Spread 1 c. chopped walnuts, then 1/2 of chocolate. Set aside.

Put butter and sugar in a HEAVY pan on stove at medium heat. Stir constantly until it reaches hard crack stage (use candy thermometer, or when a drop in cold water “cracks”). It will take 20-30 minutes. Will be a carmel brown and very smooth and shiny when ready.

Remove from heat and very carefully stir in vanilla until evenly mixed. Pour over chocolate. Top with remaining chocolate and then nuts. Press lightly (I put another sheet of wax paper over and very gently roll a rolling pin over so nuts get “imbedded” Let cool completely and then break into pieces.

Notes:

1. Do not use unsalted butter. I don’t know the chemistry involved, but if you use unsalted butter the butter and sugar separate as it heats.
2. You can use milk or dark chocolate, or even “white” chocolate.
3. You can make it with pecans or almonds if you prefer. You can also make without nuts if you have someone on your Christmas list who is allergic.
4. If you mix layers of dark, white, and milk chocolate in a glass container it makes a very pretty (and delicious) gift.