DARK CHOCOLATE + GINGER FLATBREADS
Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 4:54PM 
My intention this year was to give edible gifts and charity donations in peoples' names for Christmas. Everyone starts talking about lists and ideas and I worry that my idea won't go over so well - that my gift will look chintzy regardless of the cost. It's going to be on my new years resolutions to really follow through with that next holiday, if that is what I WANT to give. Because the season is about giving joyfully, not fulfilling a list. And yes, I am aware it isn't too late to do that this year, but the ship has sailed on committing to that for this year.
I got the idea for these treats from a Food & Wine magazine and thought they'd be nice to have around this time of year for when people stop over (which actually doesn't happen too often come to think of it, which is why I end up eating them). They're kind of like the ever popular "bark", except there is a whole grain cracker standing in for some of the chocolate thickness, making them lighter. They have a nice snap to them, a perfect sweetness and wrap up beautifully for a gift. The sturdiness makes them ideal to send in the mail too! So whether you need a treat around for you or someone else, it doesn't get much easier than dipping crackers in chocolate.
We are sharing this recipe with our lady friends over at Wedding Chicks so be sure to check out their other great edible treats!

DARK CHOCOLATE + GINGER FLATBREADS // Makes 16
Inspired by Grace Parisi at Food + Wine magazine
Get creative with your toppings. I added a dribble of peppermint extract to some extra chocolate and sprinkled crushed mint candies on top, sort of like a cracker peppermint bark. Some chopped pistachios and dried cherries would be great too, you could gift a variety pack!
6 oz. Dark Chocolate (I used Valrohna 71%)
16 Flatbread Crackers such as Ak Mak or Finn Crisp
1/4 Cup Crystallized Ginger, minced
3 Tbsp. Toasted Sesame Seeds
Maldon Flaked Sea Salt

Break up the chocolate and melt it in a double boiler (set a glass bowl over a pot of simmering water, being sure the water doesn't touch the bowl). Stir it every so often until the chocolate is completely melted, about 4 minutes.
Lay your crackers on a baking rack with some parchment paper underneath for easy clean up.
Coat the top of each flatbread with a generous layer of the melted chocolate (I use a spoon and a silicone pastry brush, an offset spatula or butter knife will work as well). Set them on the baking rack.
Sprinkle the chopped ginger and sesame seeds on top, no need for perfection, just go ahead and sprinkle. Add more if you please.
Finish them with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and put the tray in the fridge to set.
They will last about two weeks in an airtight container.



Reader Comments (65)
What a great idea! thank you.
oh. my. gosh. drooool.
Oh my! This is the smartest thing I've ever seen. I'm a huge fan of dark chocolate (right now I've been munching on an 87% and an 86% -- we usually keep at least 2 kinds in our pantry) and ginger is one of my other favorite things...this is bookmarked and going to be made soon! Now, I just need to find a decent gluten free cracker.
These sound so lovely!
this is a wonderful gift idea! I can't wait ot make them, honestly this is just the inspiration i needed.
This is a great idea! Even just for a snack around the house.. I've just bought all my gear to make gingerbread this Christmas as gifts.
This looks so amazing, these would make great treats for small christmas gifts!
i had the same lofty aspirations but failed to follow through this year. AND! i also made it my new year's res to send christmas cards this year, and the ship has definitely sailed on that plan. maybe next year i will force myself to finally do both....
I love this idea! I'm so making these and treating a few people to them as gifts! Thanks Sara!
ha! I just ate akmak crackers for dinner tonight! It never occurred to me to smother them with chocolate! Dang!
Sounds really good and not too complicated. Love the idea!
What a lovely idea. I really like the look of these and can see why you end up snacking on a few yourself. I know what you mean about giving home-made gifts. Each year I scour my recipe books and the internet for ideas, make up different presents. And then end up buying something for most people as well. The home-made gift just doesn't seem enough, too naff or something. I wonder why that is.
Love these shots. The double chocolate melty one is breathtaking. Did Hugh shoot some of these on a macro 50mm?
Easy, simple and looks great! How come I didn't came up with this idea? This ir really really on my list!
Chocolate dipped anything is a good idea in my book! I like the candied ginger and the crackers look so pretty!
Wow, so yummy and simple!
the stores here in Zurich are piled to the brim with cookie tins and chocolate containers. It seems to me like the Swiss are big on homemade gifts of linzer cookies, viennese crescent cookies and chocolate truffles. In an effort to assimilate I'm going to follow suit and give some homemade goodness. On the list of things to make are these amazing looking treats - I love that there is a cracker inside - genius!
What a great idea! I am making hot fudge sauce and pumpkin granola for gifts this year. I'll be bookmarking this one for 2012!
damn well sexy those little treats! beauties :)
I am so on board with your chocolate-covered cracker concept! Great idea, Sara!
These photos are just beautiful! I'm drooling.
I absolutely LOVE this idea, Sara. I have all of the ingredients! Also, I'm guilty of giving and getting based on a list, but I agree that the holidays shouldn't be about that. I'll try to be better about that in the future :) xo
AHH!!! I feel so honored that i got to eat these straight from mrs. sk herself, and a day before they were introduced to the world! i am so blessed ;)
Love this idea! And the contrast of the dark chocolate with the light seeds/ginger is beautiful.
I LOVE this idea! You are brilliant. Cannot wait to try it- think I will do a chopped hazelnuts version when I do. Thank you! You have such a great way of making healthy stuff taste interesting and good! :)
Thank you so much for sharing this with us! (:
I LOVE this idea. If I could, I would drop by all the time.
Love these tasty treats! What a wonderful holiday gift idea!
What a gorgeous idea...these look beautifully crispy and with all that dark chocolate and ginger they're practically healthy :-)
Boy, we must be on the same wavelength--I made something similar with nuts but no crackers to give this year. I love this idea, and I'm a big ak-mak fan. These look like much more fun than the usual peanut butter snack. Do you coat the bottom, too? They look so neat and pretty!
You have such a talent for creative and inspired foods. I probably write that everytime. Love these!
I think it's a wonderful idea to give hand made treats as gifts, especially when they are as delightful as these :)
Well, these are super cute and easy idea.
Yum--what a great idea. I love each of these ingredients individually and I've really been getting into crystallized ginger lately, so I think I'd love these. Thanks for inspiring and pursuing a season of delectable giving! :)
These just went on the menu for tonight's Christmas Open House in my building. Thank you!
Absolutely delicious! Are there any left over for me???
Thanks for great recipes!
Such beautiful shots. What a way to showcase chocolate. And I love this idea. It looks super scrumptious.
Ooooo, this looks amazing! Will definitely be trying out the recipe next Sunday! Thanks for sharing xx
Audrey
I love the idea of having something crunchy and a bit savory underneath the chocolate. As much as I love the stuff, I can get a little bored and overwhelmed with the flavor after too many pieces. What a lovely gift!
Gah! Sarah! Brilliant!
We do a version of this -- all the crackers laid out side by side in a pan, chocolate covered over all -- but the final iteration is always ultra-sweet, with butter + brown sugar and pecans and and ...
The ginger is brilliant, here, and reminds me of a dark chocolate-ginger-dried cherry-pistachio bark I did for years (also good, very easy). I'm thinking that tossing the two up in the air and landing with something like this, more adult, more excellent, would be a fine fate indeed.
Thanks, and a very happy holidays to you!
M
This sounds like such a wonderful idea for the holidays! And not too complicated to arrange on a large scale. I will definitely be trying it out.
This looks like a wonderful holiday gift! Thank you for sharing!
ak mak! my most favorite crackers!! this sounds perfect especially with the ginger and seeds. must make!
Simple,pretty,yummy and healthy. Great!
so pretty. and they look delicious!
you always come up such simple yet creative recipes Sara!
YUM! Would be such a pretty gift!
This seriously looks good. And although you think you're too late to commit to the idea for this year, I say you're not. People that you care about will get it and if they don't they shouldn't be on any list anyway.
Looks fabulous, Sara. That is amazing dark chocolate...the only kind that interests me. And that salt with the sweet? Divine.
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