Pin it
My holiday Christmas Bark brings the festive cheer, mixing layers of white and semi-sweet chocolate topped with goodies like nuts, pretzels, and colorful sprinkles. It's super simple to whip up and makes a great gift – plus it'll look amazing on any dessert table.
What You'll Need
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: They form a tasty foundation with just the right amount of sweetness.
- White Chocolate Melting Wafers or White Chocolate Chips: These make a lovely, smooth top layer that looks stunning against the darker chocolate.
- Coconut Oil or Shortening: This stuff helps your chocolate melt without clumping and gives each layer a nice shine.
- Mix-ins of Your Choice: Grab whatever sounds good - broken pretzels, your favorite nuts, candy pieces, crushed cookies, and holiday sprinkles all add fun crunch and color.
How To Make It
- Step 1:
- Put your semi-sweet chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or shortening. Heat at half power for 1 minute, then give it a good stir until the bowl cools down.
- Step 2:
- Keep microwaving in 45-second bursts at half power, making sure to stir between each round, until everything's melted and looks smooth.
- Step 3:
- Grab a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and pour your melted chocolate on it. Gently tilt the sheet around to spread the chocolate out evenly.
- Step 4:
- While the chocolate's still warm and soft, scatter your favorite toppings across the surface - try pretzels, nuts, candy bits, cookie chunks, or festive sprinkles.
- Step 5:
- Let the tray sit so the chocolate can harden for about 2-3 hours.
- Step 6:
- Do the same melting trick with your white chocolate and the other tablespoon of coconut oil or shortening. Spread it on another wax paper-lined sheet, add your toppings, and wait for it to set completely.
- Step 7:
- Once both chocolate layers are totally firm, snap them into irregular pieces and dig in!
Serving Ideas & Storage
- Show off your Christmas Bark on a pretty holiday plate at parties or pack it in cute bags or boxes for homemade presents.
- Any leftover bark stays fresh in an airtight container at room temp for up to a week.
- If your house runs warm, stick the bark in the fridge so it won't melt, but let it warm up a bit before eating for the best taste and texture.
Extra Advice
- Try different mix-ins like smashed candy canes, dried cranberries, or tiny marshmallows for fun holiday twists.
- For folks with nut allergies, just leave them out and add extra sprinkles or candy chunks instead.
- Always use wax or parchment paper under your bark - it makes cleanup way easier and stops the chocolate from sticking.
What The Pros Say
- Ina Garten always says don't skimp on chocolate quality when making bark - the better your chocolate, the tastier the results.
- According to Martha Stewart, letting bark cool naturally at room temperature keeps it looking shiny and pretty.
- Jacques Torres recommends finding a cool, dry spot to keep your bark so it maintains its texture and flavor profile.
What Makes This So Great
- This Christmas Bark doesn't need baking and comes together fast, perfect for last-minute holiday treats or gifts.
- You can switch up the toppings however you want, making it match your taste preferences or create special holiday themes.
- With just a few ingredients and quick prep, you'll get amazing results that look fancy but didn't take much effort.
Mix It Up
- Sprinkle some broken candy canes on top for a minty twist.
- Try sandwiching crushed graham crackers between your chocolate layers for extra texture.
- Swap the semi-sweet chocolate for either dark or milk chocolate depending on how sweet you want your bark.