25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (2024)

Cranberry-Almond Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (1)

Credit: Oxmoor House

Chocolate bark is a classic treat during the holidays, and what's not to love about it? Simply melt chocolate, spread it out, and top it with your favorite ingredients. Plus, it makes a super-easy, giftable treat. Simply, wrap in clear plastic and tie with a festive bowfor a lovely homemade Christmas gift.

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Dark Chocolate Bark with Pretzels and Dried Cranberries

Dark Chocolate Bark with Pretzels and Dried Cranberries

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (2)

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Gerri Williams

Dark Chocolate Bark with Pretzels and Dried Cranberries Recipe

Three ingredients are all it takes to make this chocolaty treat of Dark Chocolate Bark with Pretzels and Dried Cranberries.

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Chocolate-Caramel Bark with Quinoa

Chocolate-Caramel Bark with Quinoa

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (3)

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Chocolate-Caramel Bark with Quinoa Recipe

Using a dark (72% cacao) chocolate brings an intense, not-too-sweet, almost fruity flavor to this bark. If you prefer a sweeter chocolate, substitute bittersweet (60% cacao) chocolate.

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Cranberry-Pistachio White Chocolate Bark with Sea Salt

Cranberry-Pistachio White Chocolate Bark with Sea Salt

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (4)

Credit: Tara Donne; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Cranberry-Pistachio White Chocolate Bark with Sea Salt Recipe

Microwaving the chocolate helps keep the temperature below 92°, ideal for tempering. Use the best-quality white chocolate you can find (not those labeled "baking chips").

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Dark Chocolate Bark with Roasted Almonds and Seeds

Dark Chocolate Bark with Roasted Almonds and Seeds

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (5)

Credit: John Kernick

Dark Chocolate Bark with Roasted Almonds and Seeds Recipe

This super-chunky dark chocolate bark is loaded with almonds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds.

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Coconut, Macadamia Nut, and Dark Chocolate Bark

Coconut, Macadamia Nut, and Dark Chocolate Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (6)

Credit: Melina Hammer; Styling: Vanessa Rocchio

Coconut, Macadamia Nut, and Dark Chocolate Bark Recipe

Hello, gorgeous. We use a blend of bittersweet chocolate and white chocolate for a swoon-worthy treat that's as beautiful to stare at as it is delicious to eat.

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Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (7)

Credit: Jeffery Cross; Styling: Kelly Allen

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark Recipe

Melt chocolate, spread it out, and add your favorite toppings--that's almost all there is to making bark. We added one important step, though: tempering the chocolate so the bark stays shiny and snappy.

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Chocolate Hazelnut Bark

Chocolate Hazelnut Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (8)

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Chocolate Hazelnut Bark Recipe

Dried cherries and crystallized ginger add a depth of flavor to this simple, four-ingredient chocolate bark.

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Superfood Chocolate Bark

Superfood Chocolate Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (9)

Credit: Romulo Yanes

Superfood Chocolate Bark Recipe

Healthier chocolate bark? We'll take it. This heart-healthy treat is loaded with almonds, dark chocolate, and goji berries.

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Peppermint-Pretzel Bark

Peppermint-Pretzel Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (10)

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Peppermint-Pretzel Bark Recipe

Make even larger quantities for gifting this easy microwave treat by skipping the jelly-roll pan and covering your counter with parchment. It'll take longer to harden at room temperature, but you can make large batches without pans or the refrigerator.

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Cranberry-Almond Bark

Cranberry-Almond Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (11)

Credit: Oxmoor House

Cranberry-Almond Bark Recipe

This addictive chocolate confection is a spectacular way to blend cranberries and almonds. You can also vary the recipe with other dried fruits, such as raisins, apricots, figs, or cherries. Wrap in clear plastic and tie with a dark green ribbon for a lovely holiday gift.

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Granola Bark

Granola Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (12)

Credit: Chris Villano; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Granola Bark Recipe

Add delicious crunch to classic Christmas bark by mixing in a few spoonfuls of prepared granola.

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Milk Chocolate-Peppermint Bark

Milk Chocolate-Peppermint Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (13)

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Milk Chocolate-Peppermint Bark Recipe

5-star rated and just 5 ingredients--it doesn't get much better than that!

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White Chocolate-Cherry Bark

White Chocolate-Cherry Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (14)

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr and Leigh Ann Ross

White Chocolate-Cherry Bark Recipe

We love adding dried cherries to our chocolate bark for a chewy addition.

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Peanut-Raisin Bark

Peanut-Raisin Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (15)

Peanut-Raisin Bark Recipe

Chocolate-covered peanuts meet chocolate-coated raisins in this easy and addictive candy.

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White Chocolate Holiday Bark

white-chocolate-cranberry-bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (16)

Credit: Yunhee Kim

White Chocolate Holiday Bark Recipe

We add rice cereal to the classic recipe for a crunchy, flaky addition to the mix. Use the best quality white chocolate you can find--not the baking morsels.

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Cherry-Pistachio Chocolate Bark

cherry-chocolate-bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (17)

Credit: John Kernick

Cherry-Pistachio Chocolate Bark Recipe

Last-minute guests coming over for nibbles? Just five minutes of prep and an hour of freezer time will net you a fantastic dessert or homemade gift. If you don't have the ingredients listed, substitute any type of nut or dried fruit you have on hand.

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Nutella Bark

Nutella Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (18)

Credit: Jeffery Cross; Styling: Kelly Allen

Nutella Bark Recipe

Addictive chocolate-hazelnut spread stars in our two-tone version of chocolate bark.

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Holiday Fruit and Nut Bark

Holiday Fruit and Nut Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (19)

Credit: Yunhee Kim; Styling: Deborah Williams/Pat Bates and Associates

Holiday Fruit and Nut Bark Recipe

Bark should be kept in an airtight container in the fridge or a cool room. It will keep for up to 3 weeks.

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White Chocolate, Pistachio, and Apricot Bark

White Chocolate, Pistachio, and Apricot

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (20)

Credit: Jeffery Cross; Styling: Kelly Allen

White Chocolate, Pistachio, and Apricot Bark Recipe

Brightly colored fruit and nuts decorate this festive version of holiday bark. Making bark is easy--just melt chocolate, spread it out, and add your favorite toppings. We added one important step, though: tempering the chocolate (carefully melting and cooling it to specific temperatures while adding large chunks of unmelted chocolate) so the bark stays shiny and snappy. For other flavor options, try Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark or Nutella Bark.

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Fruitcake Chocolate Bark

Fruitcake Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (21)

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Fruitcake Chocolate Bark Recipe

Peppermint bark appeared in the Christmas-season marketplace several years back and quickly claimed a spot at holiday celebrations everywhere. Buying a tin of it is simple enough, but making a batch of bark is easy and fun and allows you to take it in a Southern direction, like our fruitcake-inspired version. Layering white chocolate with dark adds flavor and beauty, as does finishing your tasty creation with components of a classic fruitcake. You can go old-school with candied cherries, pecans, and pineapple or change things up by throwing in pistachios, cranberries, and dried figs that are cut lengthwise to show off a bit of stem. Can’t decide? Fortunately, Fruitcake Bark is so quick and easy to prepare that you can make multiple batches to nibble and share. Prepare your toppings ahead so you can quickly add a themwhile the chocolate is still hot and glossy.

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Marbled Peanut and Pretzel Bark

Marbled Peanut and Pretzel Bark image

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (22)

Credit: Brie Passano; Prop Stylist: Thom Driver; Food Stylist: Tina Stamos

Marbled Peanut and Pretzel Bark Recipe

This stunning treat couldn’t be easier to prepare, but makes for wow-worthy DIY holiday gifts. Feel free to change up the toppings to include your favorite nuts and crunchy treats—like cookie crumbles, cereal, or even potato chips.And to find even more inspired sheet pan recipes, you’ll definitely want to pick up a copy ofOne Sheet Eats: 100+ Delicious Recipes All Made on a Baking Sheet.

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Cranberry-Pistachio White Chocolate Bark with Sea Salt

Cranberry-Pistachio White Chocolate Bark with Sea Salt

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (23)

Credit: Tara Donne; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Cranberry-Pistachio White Chocolate Bark with Sea Salt Recipe

Microwaving the chocolate helps keep the temperature below 92°, ideal for tempering. Use the best-quality white chocolate you can find (not those labeled "baking chips").

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Spicy Dark Chocolate and Tahini Bark

Spicy Dark Chocolate and Tahini Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (24)

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Spicy Dark Chocolate and Tahini Bark Recipe

This treat will keep you from raiding your kids’ stash of Halloween candy.

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Rose Petal-White Chocolate Bark

Rose Petal-White Chocolate Bark image

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (25)

Credit: Whitney Ott; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Rose Petal-White Chocolate Bark Recipe

Absolutely gorgeous and so easy to make, this white chocolate bark would make the perfect hostess gift or wedding favor. You can find white chocolate melting wafers in many grocery stores or craft stores, such as Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Just be sure to microwave at 50% in short increments as white chocolate is easy to burn.

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Cranberry-Almond Bark

Cranberry-Almond Bark

25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (26)

Credit: Oxmoor House

Cranberry-Almond Bark Recipe

This addictive chocolate confection is a spectacular way to blend cranberries and almonds. You can also vary the recipe with other dried fruits, such as raisins, apricots, figs, or cherries. Wrap in clear plastic and tie with a dark green ribbon for a lovely holiday gift.

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25 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Does chocolate bark need to be refrigerated? ›

Just make sure it cannot melt, no need to store it in the fridge, at room temperatur (20 degrees Celsius) is fine (unless you live in a very warm place, 30 degrees Celsius is too warm). However, when storing chocolate bark the time limiting factor is generally what's in the bark.

How do you make chocolate bark that doesn't melt? ›

Temper the chocolate!

Many chocolate bark recipes don't require tempering the chocolate, but it makes a far superior bark. The chocolate has just the right shiny texture and crisp crunch, and doesn't melt at room temp.

Why does my chocolate bark not snap? ›

If you melt the chocolate and work with it without tempering, it will take a long time to set up, will not be shiny, and won't snap; rather, it may be flexible, dull and brittle.

How long can you keep Christmas bark? ›

Storing peppermint bark: You can store this homemade candy for a few days at room temperature, or up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

How long does chocolate bark last at room temperature? ›

this is a great do-ahead treat!

It just gets better, too – because you can make this marbled chocolate bark in advance and keep it in an airtight container for up to a week at room temperature or in the fridge or freezer for easily a month, till you're ready to gift or serve.

Why won't my chocolate bark harden? ›

That's because your chocolate wasn't tempered. Tempered chocolate sets at room temperature and has a snap just like a chocolate bar you buy from the store.

What's the hardest chocolate to melt? ›

Dark chocolate typically contains the highest cocoa content of the chocolate types, with around 86% or more cocoa solids. This makes it more resistant to melting. It has a melting point ranging from 113 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (45 to 48 degrees Celsius).

How do you make chocolate bark softer? ›

It's not a good idea to add butter to your chocolate in an attempt to soften it. The water content in the butter will cause the chocolate to seize. I suggest adding some coconut oil to the chocolate to make it less brittle.

How do you thin chocolate bark for dipping? ›

Cocoa butter is the best option as it's the natural fat present in chocolate. Alternatively, you can use a bit of vegetable oil or shortening. Start by adding just a small amount (a teaspoon for every 100 grams of chocolate should suffice), stir it in, and see if the chocolate is thin enough for your needs.

Why did my chocolate bark turn white? ›

Chocolate turning white is due to processes known as 'fat bloom' and 'sugar bloom'. These happen when the cocoa butter or sugar in the chocolate reacts to changes in temperature or exposure to moisture, leading to a white or greyish coating on the surface.

Should chocolate bark be tempered? ›

Tempered chocolate is wonderful to use when making homemade candy, such as truffles or peanut butter cups, or peppermint bark, because it maintains a nice smooth, shiny, and hard texture even at room temperature.

Does chocolate bark expire? ›

How Long Will Chocolate Bark Last? Homemade chocolate bark will last in an airtight container for 2-3 weeks. I recommend storing it in the fridge to ensure that the chocolate doesn't melt!

How do you store holiday bark? ›

How To Store Peppermint Bark. Peppermint bark will keep for weeks if stored in an airtight container at room temperature. This makes it a great gift idea around the holidays—make a big batch at the beginning of December and grab what you need for easy gifts for teachers, neighbors, and friends.

Does white chocolate bark go bad? ›

Generally, milk and white chocolate have a shelf life of about 8 to 12 months, while dark chocolate can last up to 2 years. However, if stored properly in a cool, dry place and away from direct sunlight, chocolate may still be safe to consume past its best-before date, although the quality may have deteriorated.

How long can chocolate bark last? ›

Stored in an airtight container in the fridge the homemade chocolate bark recipe will stay good for 2-3 weeks. If you decide to leave the chocolate bark out at room temperature it will last for about 5 days. Therefore, I definitely recommend storing it in the fridge to extend the bark's shelf life.

Does chocolate go bad if not refrigerated? ›

For example, let's say you've received an unopened milk chocolate bar as a gift. If it remains unopened and stored at room temperature in its original packaging away from direct sunlight or heat sources, it can last up to a year while still safe to consume.

What happens if you don't refrigerate chocolate? ›

Sugar bloom occurs when chocolate is exposed to humidity for an extended period of time, and fat bloom occurs when chocolate is exposed to heat. "Moisture draws out sugar, and when it evaporates, white sugar crystals rise to the surface of your bar," Gancia says.

Can you keep chocolate at room temperature? ›

The best place to store chocolate is in a cool, dry, and dark environment, like a pantry or cupboard. You'll want to store it away from heat, moisture, and light. Chocolate thrives at room temperature and low humidity levels, ideally between 65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and less than 55 percent humidity.

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