Active Time

　　15 minutes

　　Total Time

　　45 minutes

　　A sweet snack, full of chewy dried cherries and apricots, to nibble or wrap as a gift.

　　

Ingredients

Makes 6 pieces

　　1 teaspoon anise seeds

　　1/3 cup dried tart cherries

　　1/3 cup dried apricots, coarsely chopped

　　1/3 cup salted roasted cashews, coarsely chopped

　　6 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), finely chopped

　　

Step 1

Line a small baking sheet with foil and chill.

　　

Step 2

Finely grind anise in an electric coffee/spice grinder.

　　

Step 3

Stir together cherries, apricots, and cashews.

　　

Step 4

Melt chocolate in a double boiler or a small metal bowl set over a small saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally, until smooth.

　　

Step 5

Stir in anise and half of fruit and spoon onto center of baking sheet. Spread with a rubber spatula into a roughly 10- by 5-inch rectangle and sprinkle with remaining fruit mixture, pressing lightly to help adhere.

　　

Step 6

Chill until firm, about 30 minutes, then break into pieces.

　　Cooks' note:

　　• Bark keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week.