White Christmas Crackles and Chocolate Bark

Living in the southern part of the world means that we are having Christmas in the hot summer!  Apart from traditional food such as turkey and pudding, we often celebrate Christmas with a BBQ.  It is the only time that we close our restaurant for 2 days, so our family would gather together and eat for the 2 whole day.  There is not much to do besides eating and drinking as most of the shops are closed on Christmas Day. Then the big sale will start on boxing day which is crazy to go to the shopping centres to find a car park space.  I'd prefer to stay home or go to the beach.  I do miss the cold weather as we have in Hong Kong for Christmas. The buildings in the Hong Kong city are decorated with neon Christmas lights and I'd like to wear thick coat, just to wondering around, just to breathe the cold air!  I haven't experienced a white Christmas yet, some people celebrate Christmas in July (that's our winter).  Maybe I'd do that one day, making snow man in July while saying Merry Christmas!  

Both of the White Christmas Crackles and Chocolate Bark are Christmas treats for the kids that don't need baking which is a lot easy to prepare for the summer time.  I like to close my eyes while biting onto the crackles and let the sweetness of the white chocolate infuses with the marshmallow rice crisps.  My son has chocolate all around his mouth after having the chocolate bark as it melts on his hands very quickly and gone messy!

White Christmas Crackles
(make 12)

2 cups rice bubbles
1 cup white marshmallows
50g butter
white chocolate, melted
coloured sprinkles
smarties

Method:

1. Melt butter and marshmallows in a small saucepan under low heat until smooth.
2. Pour the marshmallow mixture with the rice bubbles and stir well.  Spoon into patty cases and let it set for 10 minutes.
3. Pour melted chocolate over the top and sprinkled with coloured sprinkles then top with smarties.  Keep in the fridge until all set.

Chocolate Bark

1 block of dark chocolate, melted
white chocolate, melted

roasted hazelnut, roughly chopped
coloured sprinkles
crunchie bar
mini marshmallow

Method:

1. Crush the crunchie bar with a rolling pin. 
2. Spread melted chocolate onto a baking try lined with foil or baking paper to a thin rectangular shape. Sprinkle with crushed crunchie bar, hazelnut, sprinkles, marshmallow and then drizzle with white chocolate and leave to set in the fridge.
3. Cut chocolate bark into round, triangular or square shape.   

My daughter makes these sugar cookies and we decorate them together.   We should leave some to Santa on Christmas Eve!