Circus Bark

This loaded Circus Bark is made with graham crackers, pretzels, peanuts, toffee, popcorn, chocolate, and toasted marshmallows. Betcha can’t eat just one!

OK, so this is possibly the most fun thing I’ve ever made on Broma Bakery. Just look at them! They’re happy-looking nuggets of goodness. And they taste like… well it’s one of those things where you can’t stop eating them because you notice something (ooh, peanuts!), then notice something else (oh but that marshmallow…), and before long you’ve eaten a quarter of the batch and have melted chocolate all over your face.

Not like that happened to me or anything. 

I had the hardest time finding a title for these, so I took to social media to name them, and said the best name would be the name I put on Broma. The responses were hilarious and so creative! Some of my favorites:

Chocka Wocka Flocka Bars
S’mores Gone Wild
Bromabars
Ooey Gooey Yum Yum Bars
Crazy Babies

…the list goes on. In total, there were 140 names to choose from. Circus Bark was actually suggested by multiple people in different forms: Circus Squares, Circus S’mores, etc. I took it as a sign!

I had so much fun hearing everyone’s thoughts. Thank you to those of you that commented. You all made my day!

Who watched the Super Bowl last night?! We had a party at our house. The text that Alex sent out said “BYOB and Sarah will make food.” So I made buffalo chicken dip, artichoke dip, homemade pizzas, loaded beef nachos, guinness chocolate cupcakes with frosting footballs on top, and this Circus Bark.

I have to say, I love hosting get togethers when food is involved. There’s something about dreaming up a menu, preparing all day, then sharing it with friends that is so special to me.

And it was an especially good night because the Patriots won! Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

Now back to this bark. It’s crazy addicting. You think you can stop at one, but you just can’t. You find yourself wanting just a leeetle more, and the rest is history.

It’s so easy to make, and can be replicated with whatever ingredients you have on hand. It’s perfect for an after-lunch treat or a movie night in.

The name itself is hard to say without having warm and fuzzy feelings inside.

And sweet, salty, and chocolatey? Swoon.

Hope you enjoy!

Circus Bark

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Sarah Fennel
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 25 mins

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 15 graham crackers
• 40 mini salted pretzels
• 1 cup popped popcorn
• 1/2 cup roasted & salted peanuts, roughly chopped
• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces dark chocolate, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup mini marshmallows

Instructions

1. On a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper, arrange graham crackers in a single layer. Top with rows of salted pretzels, then sprinkle with popcorn and chopped peanuts. Set aside.
2. In a small pot, combine room temperature butter, sugar, and salt. Place on medium-high heat and allow to cook for 8-10 minutes. Alternate using a spatula and swirling the pot to stir the toffee every minute or so.* Your toffee will be ready when it is a medium golden brown color, similar to caramel. Quickly remove from heat and carefully pour over the graham cracker bit.
3. Top everything with dark chocolate and mini marshmallows, and place in the broiler on high heat for 30 seconds- any more and the marshmallows will burn. Remove from heat and allow bark to cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Notes

*In the beginning, the butter and sugar may be separated, and this is OK! However, after 3-4 minutes, the granules will melt and the sugar should begin to melt into the butter. By 5 minutes of cooking, the mixture should be homogenous.