Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies
It’s very rare to find a cookie recipe that is as delicious as it is beautiful. These chocolate peppermint bark cookies are not only some of the most hands -down gorgeous cookies on the planet, but they’re also insanely good. The rich, chewy, chocolate, brownie-like cookie alone is killer, but when topped with pools of melty chocolate and my favorite peppermint bark, this is the holiday cookie to top all holiday cookies!
When I set out on the journey of recipe creation, I always do some research. I compare recipes, scrutinize pictures, and often try one or two. Usually, a recipe I try out isn’t quite what I’m looking for. Inevitably I start to tinker, and the recipe I end up with, several attempts later, is nothing like the first one I tried.
So believe me when I say that it’s very rare to find a recipe that is pretty much perfect from the get go! And that is where these beautiful cookies come in. This recipe is the brainchild of the lovely genius Jennifer of Beyond the Butter. And frankly, it’s perfect exactly as she wrote it. I am so grateful to Jennifer not only for allowing me to write about her beautiful recipe, but also for creating a cookie that has now become a true family Christmas tradition! You can find her lovely recipe and all her tips here.
Since Jennifer has the recipe notes handled, I am going to reflect instead on the other aspect of this website and my contribution to this particular recipe: photography. I didn’t really start out on this food blog journey with the intention of being a photographer. My first love and art was food, and I figured that since I could make beautiful edibles, the pictures would automatically be beautiful too. Well, I was wrong.
I have since learned that photography is not only its own art, but it's also equally important as the baking itself. And guess what? I have realized I actually love taking pictures! Not only do I enjoy the process of styling, staging, shooting, and editing, but I find that a photographic eye helps me create food that is more beautiful and, therefore, more tasty. After all, we do eat with our eyes first!
So for those of you who are looking to up your photographic game, I’m going to share my simple recipe for great food photos. Perhaps you too are a food blogger looking to showcase your recipes. Or perhaps you just want your photos to capture the beauty of the moments you create in your kitchen. Whatever your reasons and your equipment, here’s some tips for you.
Most of the photos you see on this website are taken with my Sony a7riv camera. I have two lenses, a variable length and a 90mm prime. And while I’ve had so much fun learning to use a “real camera,” I realize not everybody has a DSLR on hand. If you do, fantastic! I highly recommend you use it, but even if you don’t, these tips will work for you too!
Simple Recipe for Great Food Photography
Use natural lighting whenever possible. That buttery glow you see in good photography comes from late morning or early afternoon filtered light. Put your food scene next to a window with a sheer curtain drawn, and shoot away. You’ll be amazed at how big a difference lighting can make!
Tell a story. The seasons often inspire my food, and so I draw on the seasons for inspiration in my photos too. Use props, linens, and extra ingredients to set a scene and add interest to your picture. For these cookies, I used the tin from the peppermint bark, a marble cutting board, and a Christmas napkin to create the sense that I was packing away these cookies for a Christmas party.
Avoid shiny surfaces. Shiny surfaces will reflect light and create a glare, even if you’re using natural light. Try using matte finishes like cutting boards and non-glossy dishes. If your surface is too shiny, use a tea towel to diminish glare.
Use contrast. I try to choose surfaces and backgrounds that contrast in color and texture with the food I’m photographing. A brown cookie on a brown board doesn’t look as good as a brown cookie on a marble board. Throw in a red and white napkin and a metal tin, and you’ve got lots of contrasting colors and texture to showcase the gooey chocolatey cookie.
